Iconic Deccan Queen train completes 93 years

The iconic MumbaiPune Deccan Queen train completes 93 years of public service on June 1 this year officials said on WednesdayThe introduction of lsquorsquoDeccan Queenrsquorsquo between the two premier cities of Maharashtra on 1st June 1930 was a major landmark in the history of the Great Indian Peninsula Railway the forerunner of the Central Railway This was the first deluxe train introduced on the railway to serve 2 important cities of the region and was aptly named after Pune which is also known as lsquorsquoQueen of Deccanrsquorsquo Dakkhan ki RaniInitially the train was introduced with 2 rakes of 7 coaches each one of which was painted in silver with scarlet mouldings and the other with royal blue with gold lines The under frames of the coaches of the original rakes were built in England while the coach bodies were built in the Matunga Workshop of the GIP RailwayThe Deccan Queen initially had only first class and secondclass accommodation First class was abolished on 1st January 1949 and second class was redesigned as first class which continued up to June 1955 when third class was introduced on this train for the first time This was later redesignated as second class from April 1974 onwards The coaches of the original rakes were replaced in 1966 by antitelescopic steel bodied integral coaches built by Integral Coach Factory Perambur These coaches incorporated improved design of bogies for better riding comfort and also improvements in the interior furnishings and fittings The number of coaches in the rake was also increased to 12 from the original 7 coaches providing additional accommodation Over the year the number of coaches in the train has been increased to the present level of 16 coachesFrom its inception apart from providing high standards of comfort to the passengers the train has witnessed various improvement such as introduction for the first time in India of coaches with roller bearings replacement of end on generation coaches with selfgenerating coaches with 110 volts system and introduction of first and second class chair cars providing increased accommodation to passengers The distinctive colour scheme of cream and oxford blue with red band above the window level was adopted as the colour scheme for this trainWith the evergrowing aspirations of the travelling public for better amenities improved standards of comfort and better quality of service it was considered necessary to give a complete facelift to the Deccan QueenThe rake was changed in 1995 with the following special features with air brake coaches The 5 first class chair car in the old rake were replaced by 5 AC chair cars providing an additional seating capacity of 65 in a dustfree environment Also the 9second class chair cars provide additional seating capacity of 120 seats compared to the old coaches Thus new rake provided a total seating capacity of 1417 as against 1232 seats in the old rake ie an increase of 1537 The dining car even today offers table service for 32 passengers and has modern pantry facilities such as microwave oven deep freezer and toaster The dining car is also tastefully furnished with cushioned chairs and carpetldquoThe history of Deccan Queen Dakkhan ki Rani is literally a tale of two cities The public of both the cities are happy with the impeccable record of ldquoright time startrdquo and ldquoarrivalrdquo of Deccan Queen Over the last 92 years of its colourful history the train has grown from a mere medium of transportation between two cities into an institution binding generation of intensely loyal passengersrdquo CR chief public relations officer Shivraj Manaspure saidRailways decided to replace all the Conventional coaches of Train no 1212312124 CSMTPuneCSMT Deccan Queen Express with LHB coaches with effect from 22062022 from Mumbai and from Pune with effect from 23062022 with a revised composition of four AC Chair Car 8 Second Class Chair Car One Vista dome coach One AC Dining Car One General Second class cum Guardrsquos brake van and Generator Car