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Kollam : Kerala's heritage metre-gauge rail line linking Kollam and Sencottai in Tamil Nadu is getting closed with the last train chugging out from Punalur station near here this evening to pass through the picturesque hilly terrain this evening. Built at the turn of last centuy during the reign of Trvancore Prince Sree Moolam Tirunal with the expertise of British engineers, the track had served as a vital commerical and cultural link between southern Kerala and Tamil Nadu. The line is being closed down for conversion into broad- gauge. Its Kollam-Punalur stretch was wound up in 2007 where the conversion work is already on. The raiwlays plan to open the new line in another two years.
The 70-km long track, whose work began in 1902 and opened in 1904, had as many as 13 arch-bridges and several tunnels as it cut through verdant upland including Kerala's eco tourism hub Thenmala. The terrain is criss-crossed by small rivers, streams and rivulets, making it a tourist attraction as well. For decades, the line was the major rail link between the Kerala's
capital and Madras (Chennai), which was then the headquarters of South India. The track also served as a commercial and cultural bridge between the two states as it was through it that the traders conducted the two-way commerce.
It was also by the trains running through the line that people went for visiting grand Tamil temples in Madurai, Palani, Chidambaram and Tanjore as well as Christian and Muslim pilgrim centres like the Velankanni shrine basilica and Nagur Dargah. Till the last day, the signal system installed by the British egineers had been maintained along the track. A large number of train buffs have already reached Punalur to enjoy the last journey along the metre-gauge track before it becomes part of nostaliga. Acording to Railway sources, some of the old train engines and compnents of the signal system would be preserved in the Railway Museum.
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capital and Madras (Chennai), which was then the headquarters of South India. The track also served as a commercial and cultural bridge between the two states as it was through it that the traders conducted the two-way commerce.
It was also by the trains running through the line that people went for visiting grand Tamil temples in Madurai, Palani, Chidambaram and Tanjore as well as Christian and Muslim pilgrim centres like the Velankanni shrine basilica and Nagur Dargah. Till the last day, the signal system installed by the British egineers had been maintained along the track. A large number of train buffs have already reached Punalur to enjoy the last journey along the metre-gauge track before it becomes part of nostaliga. Acording to Railway sources, some of the old train engines and compnents of the signal system would be preserved in the Railway Museum.
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