Romancing the TT

emjoi · Jan 1st, 2006, 16:24

I'm in Chennai right now, visiting my wife's Anglo-Indian relatives.
Being good Catholics, they do an annual pilgrimage to Vellangani.
I'm not particularly religious myself, but anything to get out of Chennai....

So, they have this crowd of 33 people, and book out a Sleeper. Which only holds 30 people. The final 3 were late joiners and only had Unreserved tickets, but we figured they could sleep on floors or 2 to a skinny bunk bed (!!!).

But the TT, the guy who manages the coach, would have none of it. "Not worth my Job! It's not allowed".
All the slightly rummed up men start browbeating him, yelling abuse. A few hundred Rs are offered, but it's too late. The TT is upset and offended and aint in the mood for doing favours. One cousin who was once a Union Rep tells of the Good Old Days, where the TT would have just been physically pushed out the door at the next station... but "we have kids and wifes now so it wouldnt be right".

Later on, everything is quiet and no-one has been kicked off the train.
The solution was "The Wizard of Perambur". Cousin Howard. This man is slick work, and a person essential to any Chennai family. He knows EVERYONE.... he stops in the middle of busy intersections to chat to the cops, he can find you anything at any time in 15 minutes. His mobile is ringing and problems are being solved non-stop.
After the noise had died down he went up to the TT, offered him a little biriani, cigs and some whisky. And 300Rs. A friendly talk and it's all okay. The TT turns a blind eye.

Chatting later on with others, it seems to be a common part of travelling by train. Little bribes, coming to an understanding to get things solved.

Anyway, I found it facinating to watch.

PS, Vellangani was pretty good. Nice beach, learning first hand about the Tsunami, and even the intense Religious stuff is worth an observation. And it wasn't Chennai.

chapati · Jan 1st, 2006, 16:35

Great story!!! This sort of things would never happen in western countries......that's why I like India where anything is possible

vsp27759 · Jan 1st, 2006, 17:39

Dear Emjoi,
Your observation:-
""So, they have this crowd of 33 people, and book out a Sleeper. Which only holds 30 people.""
---------------
@@@If my presumption is correct, you must have travelled in 6875 Kamban Express, whose schedule is given below:-
----
You Queried For Train No Train Name Date Runs From Source Runs On
6875 KAMBAN EXPRESS 01/01/2006 TAMBARAM MON TUE WED THU FRI SAT SUN

SNo Stn Code Stn Name Route No. Arrival Time Dep. Time Distance Day Remark
1 TBM TAMBARAM 1 Source 19:45 0 1
2 CGL CHENGALPATTU 1 20:25 20:30 31 1
3 MMK MADURANTAKAM 1 20:59 21:00 56 1
4 MLMR MELMARUVATTUR 1 21:13 21:15 67 1
5 TMV TINDIVANAM 1 21:49 21:50 97 1
6 VM VILLUPARAM JN 1 23:05 23:10 134 1
7 NPM NELLIKUPPAN 1 23:46 23:47 167 1
8 TDPR TIRUPADRIPULYUR 1 00:02 00:03 177 2
9 COT CUDDALORE JN 1 00:11 00:12 181 2
10 CDM CHIDAMBARAM 1 01:07 01:08 219 2
11 SY SIRKAZHI 1 01:32 01:33 236 2
12 MV MAYILADUTURAI J 1 02:20 02:30 256 2
13 PEM PERALAM JN 1 02:49 02:50 271 2
14 NNM NANNILAM 1 02:59 03:00 280 2
15 TVR THIRUVARUR JN 1 03:45 03:55 294 2
16 NGT NAGAPPATTINAM 1 04:27 04:30 317 2
17 NCR NAGORE 1 05:30 00:00 324 2
============================== ==========
6875 is a Metre Gauge Train and I presume a MG Sleeper Coach holds 48 Berths but not 30.
-----------
Did you ""reserve"" 30 Berths (OR) booked a MG Coach for the entire Group?
================
V.Srinivasa Prasad
1.1.2006/16.40 hrs.

emjoi · Jan 3rd, 2006, 14:21

Okay... well, it wasn't the purpose of the story anyway, but to be more correct, the booked 30 sleeper tickets, but 33 people turned up.

vinayverma · Jan 3rd, 2006, 14:48

Oh..leave the details...I loved reading it anyway.
Reminded me of my old uni days when we did the same.traveing almost 45hrs without a sleeper.
Its easier to do this even today in Sleeper class..but difficult (not impossible

) in Air con.
I found TTs in South India to be bit more strict than in Northern and Eastern part of India, at least they appear to be so.

vsp27759 · Jan 3rd, 2006, 14:50

Dear emjoi,
Thanks for your clarification.
-----
Your observation:-
""the booked 30 sleeper tickets, but 33 people turned up.""
-----------
@@@While travelling in Groups, it is always advisable to inform the TTE about the excess number of passengers than booked (***in your case it is 3) before he ""detects"" them and then pay the difference between SL Fare and Un-Reserved Second Class Fare.
----
If "vacant" berths are available - either in the same coach or in the next coach, they will be allotted to theser ""excess"" passengers. Even otherwise, the TTE will accept, if you tell him that ""you will adjust"" these excess passengers among the booked Berths, after payment of difference of Fare.
-----
You will be interested to know, when passengers travel in Groups, there are bound to be Excess Passengers, who normally happen to be Last Minute Decision Takers.
---------
@@@But what we will do in such cases, subject to availability of sufficient time, is to purchase a Waitlisted Ticket so that atleast the stigma of paying the difference of fare can be avoided, thus, leaving us with an opportunity to tell the TTE that we will adjust.
================
V.Srinivasa Prasad
3.1.2006/13.50 hrs.

dan37_123 · Jan 3rd, 2006, 14:53

Quote:

Originally Posted by chapati

Great story!!! This sort of things would never happen in western countries......???

I disagree, it happens all the time- and even to a higher degree, but at a level higher.

dan

mridula · Jan 3rd, 2006, 15:02

Interesting story and it used to happen to us all the time in college days when we would be travelling as a bunch to participate in a sports meet! The outcome was always the same, the TTE would let us adjust among ourselves.

Jan 1st, 2006, 16:24	#1
emjoi Some dude Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Melbourne Australia Posts: 134	Romancing the TT I'm in Chennai right now, visiting my wife's Anglo-Indian relatives. Being good Catholics, they do an annual pilgrimage to Vellangani. I'm not particularly religious myself, but anything to get out of Chennai.... So, they have this crowd of 33 people, and book out a Sleeper. Which only holds 30 people. The final 3 were late joiners and only had Unreserved tickets, but we figured they could sleep on floors or 2 to a skinny bunk bed (!!!). But the TT, the guy who manages the coach, would have none of it. "Not worth my Job! It's not allowed". All the slightly rummed up men start browbeating him, yelling abuse. A few hundred Rs are offered, but it's too late. The TT is upset and offended and aint in the mood for doing favours. One cousin who was once a Union Rep tells of the Good Old Days, where the TT would have just been physically pushed out the door at the next station... but "we have kids and wifes now so it wouldnt be right". Later on, everything is quiet and no-one has been kicked off the train. The solution was "The Wizard of Perambur". Cousin Howard. This man is slick work, and a person essential to any Chennai family. He knows EVERYONE.... he stops in the middle of busy intersections to chat to the cops, he can find you anything at any time in 15 minutes. His mobile is ringing and problems are being solved non-stop. After the noise had died down he went up to the TT, offered him a little biriani, cigs and some whisky. And 300Rs. A friendly talk and it's all okay. The TT turns a blind eye. Chatting later on with others, it seems to be a common part of travelling by train. Little bribes, coming to an understanding to get things solved. Anyway, I found it facinating to watch. PS, Vellangani was pretty good. Nice beach, learning first hand about the Tsunami, and even the intense Religious stuff is worth an observation. And it wasn't Chennai.

Jan 3rd, 2006, 14:48	#5
vinayverma Maha Infrequent Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Gurgaon Posts: 1,295	Oh..leave the details...I loved reading it anyway. Reminded me of my old uni days when we did the same.traveing almost 45hrs without a sleeper. Its easier to do this even today in Sleeper class..but difficult (not impossible ) in Air con. I found TTs in South India to be bit more strict than in Northern and Eastern part of India, at least they appear to be so. __________________ If Life is a journey....travel on...and on..on..on.....

Jan 3rd, 2006, 15:02	#8
mridula Sair Kar Duniya Ki Galib , Jindagani Fir Kahan ... Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: India Posts: 1,469	Interesting story and it used to happen to us all the time in college days when we would be travelling as a bunch to participate in a sports meet! The outcome was always the same, the TTE would let us adjust among ourselves. __________________ mridula http://www.gonomad.com/traveltalesfromindia/

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Jan 1st, 2006, 16:35	#2
chapati Senior Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Netherlands Posts: 159	Great story!!! This sort of things would never happen in western countries......that's why I like India where anything is possible

Jan 1st, 2006, 17:39	#3
vsp27759 V.SRINIVASA PRASAD Join Date: May 2005 Location: HYDERABAD Posts: 1,689	Dear Emjoi, Your observation:- ""So, they have this crowd of 33 people, and book out a Sleeper. Which only holds 30 people."" --------------- @@@If my presumption is correct, you must have travelled in 6875 Kamban Express, whose schedule is given below:- ---- You Queried For Train No Train Name Date Runs From Source Runs On 6875 KAMBAN EXPRESS 01/01/2006 TAMBARAM MON TUE WED THU FRI SAT SUN SNo Stn Code Stn Name Route No. Arrival Time Dep. Time Distance Day Remark 1 TBM TAMBARAM 1 Source 19:45 0 1 2 CGL CHENGALPATTU 1 20:25 20:30 31 1 3 MMK MADURANTAKAM 1 20:59 21:00 56 1 4 MLMR MELMARUVATTUR 1 21:13 21:15 67 1 5 TMV TINDIVANAM 1 21:49 21:50 97 1 6 VM VILLUPARAM JN 1 23:05 23:10 134 1 7 NPM NELLIKUPPAN 1 23:46 23:47 167 1 8 TDPR TIRUPADRIPULYUR 1 00:02 00:03 177 2 9 COT CUDDALORE JN 1 00:11 00:12 181 2 10 CDM CHIDAMBARAM 1 01:07 01:08 219 2 11 SY SIRKAZHI 1 01:32 01:33 236 2 12 MV MAYILADUTURAI J 1 02:20 02:30 256 2 13 PEM PERALAM JN 1 02:49 02:50 271 2 14 NNM NANNILAM 1 02:59 03:00 280 2 15 TVR THIRUVARUR JN 1 03:45 03:55 294 2 16 NGT NAGAPPATTINAM 1 04:27 04:30 317 2 17 NCR NAGORE 1 05:30 00:00 324 2 ============================== ========== 6875 is a Metre Gauge Train and I presume a MG Sleeper Coach holds 48 Berths but not 30. ----------- Did you ""reserve"" 30 Berths (OR) booked a MG Coach for the entire Group? ================ V.Srinivasa Prasad 1.1.2006/16.40 hrs.

Jan 3rd, 2006, 14:21	#4
emjoi Some dude Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Melbourne Australia Posts: 134	Okay... well, it wasn't the purpose of the story anyway, but to be more correct, the booked 30 sleeper tickets, but 33 people turned up.

Jan 3rd, 2006, 14:50	#6
vsp27759 V.SRINIVASA PRASAD Join Date: May 2005 Location: HYDERABAD Posts: 1,689	Dear emjoi, Thanks for your clarification. ----- Your observation:- ""the booked 30 sleeper tickets, but 33 people turned up."" ----------- @@@While travelling in Groups, it is always advisable to inform the TTE about the excess number of passengers than booked (***in your case it is 3) before he ""detects"" them and then pay the difference between SL Fare and Un-Reserved Second Class Fare. ---- If "vacant" berths are available - either in the same coach or in the next coach, they will be allotted to theser ""excess"" passengers. Even otherwise, the TTE will accept, if you tell him that ""you will adjust"" these excess passengers among the booked Berths, after payment of difference of Fare. ----- You will be interested to know, when passengers travel in Groups, there are bound to be Excess Passengers, who normally happen to be Last Minute Decision Takers. --------- @@@But what we will do in such cases, subject to availability of sufficient time, is to purchase a Waitlisted Ticket so that atleast the stigma of paying the difference of fare can be avoided, thus, leaving us with an opportunity to tell the TTE that we will adjust. ================ V.Srinivasa Prasad 3.1.2006/13.50 hrs.

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