I traveled by 12493 on Oct 23, '11 with my wife and two year old kid. As it was first train journey to my Kid and a first Long Distance Train Journey to my wife, they both were too very exited. And me too was bit exited as was expecting new LHB Rakes. Here is a small diary for my journey....
DAY 1: As my cab driver was quite kind and helpful, he dropped us to the Back Side of the SBC, otherwise, with 7 Full Bags (Don't take us wrong.. I got a kid and my wife was going to his Brother's wedding and everyone wanted Bangalore Silk) , it'd've been very difficult for us to manage all...
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the stuff with Kid. However, the fun part is if I was not sure about the distance, I hired two Coolies and they asked for 300 Rs. collectively. I happily negotiated for 250 Rs. My Coach was A5. To my surprise, they just walked 20 Meters and there was our coach... Anyways, she was quite exited to see a beautiful coach from outside covered with Incredible India advt. (Though, I was disappointed not to see LBH). We were quite lucky to have wonderful company of Lady Air Force Officers (5-6). While we were settling up our luggage, train whistled and started moving. Fifteen Minutes and a very witty Sardar Ji welcomed us as TTE. Within next one hour, attendants served us with Tomato Soup with Breadsticks and Butter. Soup was piping Hot and OK but dresses of attendants were filthy as they are wearing the same from last few months without even thinking about washing them. In next half an hour, they served us Dinner and it was pathetic... Curd was OK, Dal was OK but Paneer was tasteless. Chapatis were like rubber sole and almost everyone just had Rice. To my surprise, the Ice Cream was wonderful and it was from Barrista Lavazza... (WOW). Also, though attendants were filthy but they served with a wonderful smile. After Dinner, our Kid started flirting with all the possible girls and aunties in the Coach and in an hour or so, almost all the coach was quite friendly. Bed Sheets and Pillow cover provided was neat and clean but blanket was full of dirt and I asked my wife not to use it. we managed with Sheets only.
DAY 2: Woke up with "Good Morning Sir Jee... Tea or Coffee".... The same attendant was there with same dirty dress but awesome smile.... Breakfast was OK, Lunch was again the same story like last Dinner but this time, sweet was Rasgulla and seems like from a box with expiry date in 2009.... Almost everyone left it untouched.... "Yes, one Lady Officer cried at Secunderabad as her boyfriend didn't turn up to meet her at the platform"... Evening Coffee was good and Attendant helpfully got Maggi boiled for my Kid and I paid Rs 50 to him for it and he went go ga ga about it. He even asked if I smoke or drink, he can arrange the same for me on next station. And he fulfilled his promise by getting Classic Regular Packet and Rajnigandha at Nagpur. He also continuously kept coming to ask he we need extra Water Bottle or Milk or Boiled Water for our Kid... Dinner was again the same story but this time, our guy ensured that we get fresh Paranthas. Again, we played Antakshari and after 20 Mins, it was a group of almost 15-18 people playing... In the night, we asked for Extra Pillow and they happily provided us with the same and a new set of sheet which he denied to many but don't know why happily gave to us.. May be the respect and smile we were giving to them!!!!
Day 3: Bang on time, we were at NZM... and thanks to the ever smiling attendant, we haven't faced hard time getting our luggage out.
IT WAS A WONDERFUL JOURNEY MADE SPECIAL BY THE AWESOME CO-PASSENGERS AND SMILING ATTENDANTS... AND HOW CAN I FORGET THE WONDERFUL SARDAR JI TTE WHO KEPT CRACKING JOKES ON SOMETHING OR OTHER WHENEVER HE PASSED THROUGH THE COACH...........
NO ONE CAN BEAT A TRAIN JOURNEY IN INDIA.. U want to feel India, travel by Indian Rail