Event: Deccan Queen's 83rd Birthday Celebrations

Arrival at Shivajinagar. Loco of the queen looks beautiful, with all the decoration & headlight beam piercing through the darkness while it waits at Shivajinagar for its scheduled halt. More pics from the trip can be [url=http://www.flickr.com/photos/

The cake that was cut at CSTM in the dining car just before departure. Here is a video taken just after departure from CSTM. (Akshay Marathe)

Its time for Birthday celebration says the Deccan Queen !! (Ashwin Rao)

Beautifully decorated WCAM3 #21942 at Pune Electric trip shed after hauling the birthday girl Deccan Queen from Mumbai to Pune. Taken with official permission. (Ashwin Rao)

and the queen gracefully continues its evening journey towards Pune... Captured on Thane Creek Bridge. (Tushar Dhake)

Finally getting ready for the departure... a final long view of the loco and queen before saying it happy journey... captured from 5:00 pm Superfast Non-Stop MRVC EMU (Tushar Dhake)

Finally getting ready for the departure... a final long view of the loco and queen before saying it happy journey... (Tushar Dhake)

Mr. LP enjoying the first bite of the Cake for the Queen's Birthday (Tushar Dhake)

Mr. LP Cutting the Cake for the Queen's Birthday (Tushar Dhake)

Closeup picture of the Decorations done by Electric Loco Trip Shed at CSTM on occassion of the Queen's Birthday (Tushar Dhake)

Kalyan WCAM3 # 21942 getting attach to 12123 Deccan Queen on Platform No. 9 of CSTM, while the Panto changes for start up (Tushar Dhake)

Kalyan WCAM3 # 21942 getting attach to 12123 Deccan Queen on Platform No. 9 of CSTM (Tushar Dhake)

Kalyan WCAM3 # 21942 reversing itself to attach with the Queen at Platform 9 of CSTM (Tushar Dhake)

Queen crosses Udyan at Badlapur and we have some spectators as well. The Queen was running a little behind schedule and was trying hard to recover the lost time. (Bhushan Kale)

Her Majesty is about to enter a small tunnel at KM 120 under the Expressway. (Bhushan Kale)

Queen departs from Khandala after the mandatory Brake testing halt, taking the mid line. (Bhushan Kale)

The train is literally worshipped by the passengers and that is evident on the loco. (Bhushan Kale)

Putting on decorations is in progress while Sahyadri and its passengers are awestruck with such grandeur of the Queen. (Bhushan Kale)

WCAM-3 21942 gets the honour of taking the Queen back to Mumbai. It readies itself to take charge of its responsibility. (Bhushan Kale)

Deccan Queen completed 83 years of service to Indian Railways. (Amit Patel)

Kalyan WCAM-3 # 21942 coming to haul Birthday Queen at Pune. (Amit Patel)

A close up of florally decorated KYN WCAM-3# 21942 with Birthday Queen at Mumbai Cst. (Arzan Kotval)

Everyone anxiously waits for decorated KYN WCAM-3# 21942 coupling at Mumbai Cst. KYN WCAM-3# 21958 waits for a starter with Nandigram Express. (Arzan Kotval)

The colourful nameplate of Deccan Queen. (Arzan Kotval)

A phenomenally decorated KYN WCAM-3# 21942 poses with the birthday Queen at Mumbai Cst. (Arzan Kotval)

GTL WDM-3D shunts the rake of Deccan Queen into platform#1 of Pune Jn. (Deep Soni)

The cake to celebrate Queen's 84th birthday. Good to see some consideration given to Punjab Mail, as well which celebrated its 101 years. (Deep Soni)