Around 2, our connection to Mettupalayam, The Nilgiri express, popularly called as Blue arrived at Salem with a red beast at its helm.

It was around 00:30 when we reached Salem and our connection was around 2 AM in the morning. We had some time to kill and a stomach to fill. The lonely unnamed rake composition demanded our attention which it duly received.

We waited for close to 15 minutes until we could see the distant headlights and high pitched whine of the Legendary TVC mail and it overtook us in a hurry. The very fact that we had to wait close to 15 mins for this overtake vouches for the thrilling run upto Tirupattur.

Island express covered the KJM – WFD distance in close to 7 minutes, a feat never before heard of for any train even those skipping KJM. It was a clear indication of what was in store for us. Island was on a carnage run upto Tirupattur for its scheduled halt. The section controllers decided that it is time for a short break and let us wait until the Legendary TVC Mail overtook us at Tirupattur on the mainline.