01 June 1930 - The Deccan Queen started its first journey from Bombay VT to Poona. It was the first deluxe train introduced in Indian Railways. Today in 2009, it is entering its 80th year of service. Today commuters will cut a cake in honour of the Deccan Queen. People have travelled in this train daily from Poona to Bombay and back over the years. For many of them this is a 'home away from home' - like, for sixty-two year-old Ashok Patwardhan who has travelled in this train for 42 years! This is not just a train; but it is a culture, an icon, a habit. Talk to Poona-chaps and they will have numerous anecdotes to recall. I have travelled in this train many times (the last time four years ago). This is what I wrote on 25 May 2007 to Sundaresan : Mere mentioning the name of Deccan Queen has brought memories of my many pleasant experiences. Those days, the DQ was a real Queen, pampered and patronised by the British and the elite of Indians. There were other similar prestigious trai...