Happy birthday queen D!

Oh, we’re on a Pune-pride roll today. The city has been known as the Queen of the Deccan for long, and so, it is no surprise that the British decided to name the train running between Pune and Mumbai as the Deccan Queen. If we could have it our way, we would have called her the Deccan Empress. But, well, we guess that will always remain in the realm of wishful thinking. The train’s birthday on June 1 is a grand affair every year, and this year, as the grand old lady of the railways gets set to celebrate her 83rd birthday, the event is going to be even grander.

The Railway Pravasi Group has organised a cake cutting ceremony at the Pune Junction railway station between 6 am and 7 am on June 1 (Saturday), with the cake weighing a whopping 83 kg, in keeping with the train’s age. It will measure 5’ X 10’ and will carry a picture of the Deccan Queen on it, along with that of the Punjab Mail, since it shares its birthday with it. The latter will be turning 102 years old on June 1.

Two hundred students from Waltz Music Academy will perform a song written and composed by them in honour of the Deccan Queen at the do, which is open for all. What really touched us about the event, is that two of the railways squad dogs will also be honoured at a felicitation ceremony that day, along with railway officials. We wish our furry friends’ contributions are rewarded in this way more often.