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METROMAIL

S. Muthiah’s informative piece (Madras Miscellany, MetroPlus, June 16) on the Egmore Station must have been read by all who have nostalgic memories about the railway terminus. What could have been added was that Egmore Station was the point where the metre gauge lines started. Except for the South Indian Railway, most of the great railway organisations were broad gauge.

The metre gauge lines starting from Egmore carried passengers, for example, from Madras to Trichy, Madurai and beyond to Trivandrum. I still remember when studying in MCC, Tambaram, students during the holiday recess would board the many metre gauge trains starting from Egmore at Tambaram which was a stop en route to Virudhunagar and way beyond to the Travancore State. The Travancore-bound people would get down at Kottarakara and take the bus onwards to Tiruvalla and Kottayam and so on. (The Railways came to Travancore State much later). There were, of course, students who preferred going via Central Station on broad gauge to places at the northern end of the princely state and also to Cochin. The metre gauge trains from Egmore (like the Trivandrum Express) were pulled by the famous steam engines known as YB engines noted for their speed and efficiency. The YB engines speeded the trains on the metre gauge tracks up to Virudhunagar. Thereafter it was B Class (smaller engines) which took the trains on to Trichy and Madurai and thereafter to Travancore State. I still remember at Egmore the Anglo-Indian drivers of the powerful YB engines boasting as was their wont: “I have brought her again on time.”

Another wonderful aspect of Egmore Station was the Spencer’s refreshment room. Those were the days when luxury hotels were few and so too fancy restaurants. I remember some of the elite of the city, including politicians and senior editors, making a beeline for the station for a sundowner in what was considered a very respectful place. I must add that the Central Station refreshment room of Spencer’s was equally popular, except that the stairs had to be used.

Jaiboy Joseph,

Kilpauk

This has reference to the article “Taking Centre Court” (MetroPlus, June 19). Ramanathan Krishnan put India’s name on the tennis map of the world. I had the pleasure of watching matches against Neale Fraser, Drobny and Mckinley at City Club, Tiruchi. What strikes one is Krishnan’s friendly behaviour even now. Wimbledon, no doubt, is the jewel of all grand slams and the grass courts are so attractive. Let us continue to enjoy tennis and Krishnan in our thoughts.

R. V. Ramanathan,

Adyar

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