JagRail's video: Light Loco Trials in Tambaram - Guduvancheri Gauge Converted BG Third Line

Here are captures of the Light Diesel Loco Trial conducted between Tambaram and Guduvancheri using Tondiarpet Deemer, WDM3A 16678, on the newly laid Broad Gauge Third Line as part of Tambaram - Chengalpattu Gauge Conversion. The 11 km long Tambaram - Guduvanchery stretch comprises two Automatic Block Sections and three intermediate stations namely Perungalattur, Vandalur & Urappakkam. The track inspection using the Diesel Locomotive was done through three trail runs with differing speeds. The first trial was captured at ~55 kmph, the second at ~53 kmph though it was supposedly intended to be done at 90 kmph and the final trial at the track's Maximum Permissible Speed (MPS) of 110 kmph. Following the light loco trials, this section awaits the Commissioner of Railway Safety (CRS) to inspect and conduct a high speed trial for clearing the section with the intended MPS, thereby declaring the section fit for passenger train movement. This Tripling or the third line would help in streamlining the rail traffic with Chennai Suburban EMU local Train services and the occasional freight trains no longer requiring to be looped for the Mainline Passenger Train services to go ahead. Tambaram - Chengalpattu Metre Gauge (MG) train services were stopped in 2007 to facilitate Gauge Conversion as part of 'Project Unigauge'. Since then the works were going on extremely slow with the rails and sleepers of the old Metre Gauge line not even removed in the first four years. The project gathered a greater pace only in the last couple of years and with the commissioning of this section, the Tambaram - Chengelpet section would become a Triple line section. The 11 km long Guduvancherry - Singaperumal Koil stretch was the first to have the gauge conversion works completed and CRS Inspection took place on September 29, 2020. Following it was the 9 km Singaperumal Koil - Chengalpattu stretch which was inspected by CRS on March 03, 2021. The remaining section between Tambaram and Guduvancheri had light loco trials on September 17, 2021 as seen in this video. This video is best experienced when viewed at 1080p60 with headphones. Thank you for stopping by! © 2021, JagRail