A very hot and humid climate welcomed me into Mumbai on November 01, 2006 at about 1030. The Deccan Queen royally rolled into Platform 9 of Mumbai CST sharp at 1030 (its schedule arrival time). Coolies roamed around the coach while I pulled down my trolley bag and rushed to purchase a Suburban Train ticket, and I boarded a Belapur bound local at 1045!

The journey was, overall, a mixture of excitement, disappointment, sadness and disaster! I was excited about my first journey(s) in First Airconditioned, and on Poorna Express. The first part went off will all excitements intact while the second part was a mixture of excitement hugely highlighted by disappointment. Poorna Express was delayed by over 2 hours and that ensured that we crossed the Braganza under the cover of darkness!

On October 19, 2006, I found myself at Mumbai CST along with my Father to Board the 6530 Mumbai CST - Bangalore Udyan Express. The rake was already in on Platform 8 while the loco was yet to come. I held my breath tight as I walked towards my Coach! The coach was 05029/A manufactured by ICF Chennai in December 2005. The coach was classified as WGFSCWAC (Quite unusual as opposed to the normal WGFACCW), and was numbered HA1. Our Seats were in "B-Cabin" and we got lower berths (or Beds?). The loco came in minutes later and that was WDP4 #20023 from Krishnarajapuram working Long Hood Forward. The train maintained schedule at both ends, and she managed to make it to Bangalore about 5 minutes early. The train urgently requires a Pantry car since most Vendors are not permitted to enter the HA1 coach by the Coach attendents! The train gets a 8 on 10. The cleanliness was perfect, the coach was well maintained. The only defect is food! Lunch was served at Pune, and Dinner at Wadi.

October 30, 2006 saw me wandering at Ernakulam Junction in the dead of the night (in a heavily crowded platform). I was to board the 1098 Ernakulam - Pune Poorna Express. The loco in charge was WDM3A #18754R from Pune in its "AB" livery! The train was delayed by 5 minutes at its origin, and by an hour and 45 minutes at its destination. The train now has a Pantry, and the food served is just okay. The station side catering is poor and one has to either depend on the pantry or carry food along! The coach was 99112A manufactured by RCF Kapurthala and was numbered AS1. Interestingly AS2 was 99111A! I had seen 99113A on Chalukya earlier! The Coach (99112A) was based now at Pune and was earlier at LTT. The maintenance is poor. The toilets were stinking right through the journey. The AC was set at a very ambient temperature. This train gets a 5.5 on 10. She loses mostly on cleanliness and punctuality. Catering is okay.

On 1st November 2006, I made my first trip onboard Deccan Queen. The loco was WCAM3 #21949. I travelled in C3 (WGSCZAC 99159/A, Manufactured by ICF, Chennai). The train was on-time at both ends. I had a window seat (#71). The catering, as famous, was superb! The train gets 9.5 on 10! The loco did a good job with 16-Coaches in tow and covering the 192-km journey in 3 hours and 15 minutes flat! The catering could have had a wider choice, but the food served was tasty. The coaches were Old (mostly pre-2000), but the cleanliness was perfect.

On October 21, 2006, Myself along with my Dad, Brother, and my Sister-in-law proceeded to Kerala by Road (onboard KA04 MC 2388 Toyota Innova G3). We took the Mysore-Gundlupet-S.Bathery-Kozhikode route to proceed to Alappuzha via Kodungallur and Ernakulam. I drove the first 370km section from Bangalore to Kozhikkode while my brother took charge of the remaining. The section is too picturesque to be written in words (expect a travelogue soon!). The car had just misses (with accidents) about 2 times during the run.

On October 25, 2006, at about 1115, the car finally met with an accident on the Cherthala-Ernakulam section of NH47, under the Aroor Police station limits in Alappuzha District of Kerala. A cyclist suddenly jumped right in front of the car (running at about 65kmph). The person was thrown off and the car suffered extensive damages to the front portion (Repair bill of Rs. 70000). This accident ensured me some journeys on Local private buses and KSRTC buses!

All photographs and travelogues are now available!!!