 |
Copyright Notice: Please obtain permission from the author before duplicating, re-publishing or adapting content of a trip report |
 |
Be a responsible traveler! Watch this video before you hit the road! Download Video: MP4|3gp |
 |
Do you like to contribute a Trip Report? learn how to or download template and start straight away! |
| Year and Month | 05th February 2017 |
| Number of Days | One day |
| Crew | Two-Myself and Chamara |
| Accommodation | Not applicable |
| Transport | Three wheel and walking along the rail track |
| Activities | Rail hike, Visiting wild elephants and photography |
| Weather | Excellent |
| Route | Gal Oya junction (ගල් ඔය හන්දිය)->Agbo Pura (අග්බෝපුර) railway station |
| Tips, Notes and Special remark |
|
| Author | Niroshan |
| Comments | Discuss this trip report, provide feedback or make suggestions at Lakdasun Forum on the thread |
If someone asks about the longest distance between two railway stations of Sri Lanka, do you know the answer? The longest distance between two railway stations is 25.3km from Gal Oya junction railway station to Agbo Pura railway station. Galoya junction station is the place where Batticalo and Trincomale railway line get separated. There was a railway station at Aluth Wewa (in between these two) and it was closed 30 years ago.
Special feature is this part of Trinco line is margined with Kaudulla NP (12km from Gal Oya junction) and Somawathiya NP (10km from Gal Oya junction). There is a high possibility of visiting wild Elephants and other wild animals in this rail walk. Therefore the speed limit is about 20kmph in most places.
It was continuation (2nd part) of rail walk in dry zone. Chamara has visited Polonnaruwa for Omanugala visiting in previous day and we have reached Minneriya early morning. Following breakfast we inquired about the bus to reach Gal Oya junction but it is scheduled at 8.30am. Then we hired a threewheel and came to Gal Oya junction station.
Weather was prefect and we started the rail walk to reach Agbo Pura railway junction. As usual we snapped rail way line with different angles, bridges and tried to capture some wild animals while they were crossing the railway line. Like previous sections of rail walk in dry zone this part also have less human activities. Main reason is due to national parks. According to history there was a station at Aluth Oya but closed 30years ago. We could notice the old entrance to Kaudulla National park as well. We have crossed Yodha Ela twice. One important thing is a slow train has stopped when we were capturing it at railway line. The driver and the guard blamed us for walking on railway line while train is coming. At one place railway line get closer to the A6 road and then deviates.
Agbo Pura town and station are situated close each other. We started the journey around 8am and spent 6 hours and 30minutes for this rail walk.
Enjoy the photographs of the journey:
 Gal Oya junction railway station |
 Tree coverage on either side of the railway line |
 Old pump house |
 Companion of the journey |
 Passing first Iron Bridge |
 Old is good |
 Railway line over the bridge |
 They have made the bridge. |
 Rail way line goes with greenish background |
 Trincomale-Colombo train is passing us. This will join with the crowd from Batticalo. |
 There is a foot pathway parallel to the railway line |
 Old elephant dung |
 Railway line goes through Kaudulla NP. |
 Mountains at Minneriya area are seen far behind |
 Foot pathway goes along with the railway line. |
 When we get exhausted by walking on the railway line we moved to foot pathway. |
 Simply made seat for railway workers |
 Wow !! |
 There were few water streams flowing. But not suitable for drinking. |
 Getting the bend. |
 Usually it is a straight line with less bends. |
 Railway worker’s den was found at one side. |
 Ayyiyanayaka Dewalaya is situated infront of worker’s den |
 |
 Most of the time you can see one or two kilometers beyond. |
 Weather was perfect. |
 This might be another reason to have a foot pathway on side of the railway line. |
 Walking was easy with old fashioned wooden slippers. |
 They have planned to fix new concrete slippers. |
 Another bend at railway line. |
 It was bit hard to walk with concrete slippers. |
 It was bit hard to walk with concrete slippers. |
 Crossing the railway line. Photo credit goes to Chamara. |
 Various railway sign boards were seen. |
 Bridge over “Yodha Ela” -යෝධ ඇල |
 “Yodha Ela”- යෝධ ඇල |
 The bridge over “Yodha Ela”-යෝධ ඇල |
 The bridge over “Yodha Ela”-යෝධ ඇල |
 Close up view of the bridge |
 Bridge with the railway line |
 The bridge over “Yodha Ela” (යෝධ ඇල) |
 Where Aluth Oya (අලුත් ඔය) railway station was situated 30 years ago. |
 Upside down board at old entrance of Kaudulla NP. |
 Foot pathway to enter Kaudulla NP. This was old entrance into Kaudulla NP. |
 Foot pathway to enter Kaudulla NP. This was old entrance into Kaudulla NP. |
 Railway line after passing Aluth Oya. |
 After passing Aluth oya there were less forest coverage. |
 Grassy land extending to the forest. |
 Journey was bit hard with afternoon heat |
 Train from Colombo is coming. Actually this train starts from Galoya junction and get passengers from there. |
 Train from Colombo is coming. |
 Train from Colombo is passing…. |
 Train from Colombo is passing…. |
 The bridge and railway crossing. Again we came across Yodha Ela here. This might be the margin of Kaudulla and Somawathiya NP. |
 This bridge is old more than 150 years. |
 Railway crossing |
 Simply wow. |
 Third train we met for the day. |
 She travels from Trincomale to Gal Oya junction to join with the slow train from Batticalo to reach Maho. |
 We had nice memories with this train. She stopped for us for a while. |
 She is passing. |
 She is passing. |
 Rail line passes Somawathiya forest reserve. |
 Elephant encounter at Somawathi forest reserve, closer to railway line. Photo credit goes to Chamara. |
 Another place we had a rest- Railway worker’s house. |
 One of few instances of human habitat closer to railway line. After this area railway line go closer to the main road (Colombo-Trincomale road). |
 Commonly found friend at railway line: star turtle |
 Small bump and getting down |
 Symmetrically staying…. |
 It is closer to main road |
 Last and fourth train we met for the day. This is an oil train goes to Trinco. Main road is situated on left hand side. |
 Abounded house closer to railway line. Nice place for a rest. |
 Back to wild. Again rail way line diverts s from the main road into the forest. |
 We met a group here |
 Another star turtle |
 Reaching the destination: Agbopura |
 At Agbopura railway station. |
 Agbo-Pura railway station. |
 Work out of the day: 25.3km between Gal Oya junction and Agbopura railway stations. |
Thank you