chennai to goa by Train...HOW?

Hi,
want to go from chennai to goa by train mid march( in India at the moment
Wouldn't mind stopping overnight somewhere if the journey is over 24 hours
Any advice ( i.e. don't do it or if you've done it really appreciate it

maybe chennai allepi and then up te coast??? any better places, wouldn't mind doing somewhere inland

Chennia to goa ,difficult . That's across southern India with somewhere interesting to overnight?? Is it possible that you could give yourself more time ? This area is full of very interesting place's to go and experience .Kerala and up the coast ,stopping of in Maduria sounds good nipping down to Rameswaram sounds good .Stop in the Coorg sounds nice or you could always fly..That's quicker

The direct train No 7311 MAS VASCO EXP takes 23 hours.
There are many trains from Chennai to Cochin, the fastest is the conveniently timed overnight express No 2623 TRIVANDRUM MAIL leaving MAS at 20.00 to reach ERN at 06.40 in the morning.
Stay at Fort Kochi for a day or two.
The 2431 RAJDHANI EXP leaves ERS at 22.35 reaching MAO in Goa at 10.25 in 11.50 hours.

yes of course I'll give myself time, I guess my route so far hasn't been planned so to speak to I've done kovallam, kollum (Quinlon) and kaniyakumari already but my flight is out of bombay on the 21st so Just ideas stilll floating
all responses read and appreaciated

Well, yes, I'd suggest to, with the help of a guidebook or this site or something, pick a route to take you through Tamil Nadu, head over roughly towards north Kerala/Coorg region (possibly over Mysore?), do a sidetrip to Hampi, end up in Goa and on to Mumbai, possibly throwing in a sidetrip to Ajanta & Ellora on the latter stretch. Should be all quite doable in a month, and always for instance, of course (EDIT: Oh I see now, mid-March till 21st would obviously make it a different ballgame though.)

(I've never used this series but it comes recommended by many, you could see if you can get hold of a copy in Chennai. Despite its title, it seems to cover much of the south: http://www.outlooktraveller.com/bookdetail.aspx?id=2 . They do a "Heritage Holidays South, West & East India" title too, but it's listed as out of stock, you might get hold of an old copy though. Check also their Bangalore edition http://www.outlooktraveller.com/bookdetail.aspx?id=13 for Coorg etc. while you're at it. There's a Mumbai title as well, etc. and so forth.)