(NO) Special Train
Special price, Special discounts, Special treatment etc.From special new york apples at retail store to special seats at a multiplexes. We indians just love this word and go ga-ga about anything that has a mention "Special".
And i am no exception to that herd (probably millions) of people who are just mesmerized with the oral sound of the letters S P E C I A L . It happened when i was going to Jammu recently. Some last minute changes and commitments (business commitments ok) made sure that i had to leave withing a day or two.
I was all scrolling down though the Indianrailways web when i read those magical six letter word SPECIAL. Gawd !! there was it, a special train from Varanasi/Benares/Kashi(please wiki if you dont know Benares kis chidiya ka naam hai) to Jammu. I didnt waste a second and booked tickets online.
The meargre thought of travelling in a Special Train made me restless and filled me with enormous joy, I decided to leave early on the day of travel. I hurried down through the station and checke for the train running status and was a little amused not to find mention of any train to jammu (forget a special train to jammu). After a little medlling through the crowded enquiry counter i headed for the designated platform.
By this time i was all eager to catch the glimpse of the much hyped Special Train.Within a short duration the train snaked in. The view of peeling off exterior paint, rusted door handles, pan masala stains on windows, rickety compartments was enough to diffuse all the excitement and hype in me. If the view of the exterior was forgivable, the envelop of a foul smell inside the AC compartment was enough to break my heart.
I was gradually discovering the unspecial part of the special train as i managed to fix the lose hinges of my berth and unwanted co-passengers like roaches. But for reasons unknow i still clinged to the word Special and was willing to let go ill experiences about the train as one off incidences. The journey started, and i immediately switched on my the gps on my E90 and after some 4 hours was disappointed at the screen reading the average speed 36Kms and highest speed 65 kms.I looked for charging point as my E90 was losing out on charge and was annoyed that there wasnt any charging point in the AC compartment, a walk down in other compartments yielded same results. Gawd!! in a country of 260 million cellphone users, a Special Train does not have a single charging point ? Soon i was detested with the Special Train as i was yet to discover / find anything which makes it special compared to other trains and decided to sleep. But was unable to do so as the was unusual level of noise at the AC Vents near me .
I decided to ask for an help at the coming station as the noise was unbearable . As the train halted, i went to the station master and asked for helpl to this he surrenderd helplessly saying that he doesnt have any arrangements to check the problem at this time in night, and this was partly because he was informed 15 minutes ago that a Special Train was running in this route.All the beloved images of Special Trains had by this time vanished as i made way to my berth.
In the morning i was delighted at the sight of train approaching the Jammu Station. I happily got out and searched for my friends waiting there. As we were leaving the platform, one of my friend was curious to know how the Special Train was to which i nodded in agreement. But inside in knew there was nothing special about this Special Train.
And i am no exception to that herd (probably millions) of people who are just mesmerized with the oral sound of the letters S P E C I A L . It happened when i was going to Jammu recently. Some last minute changes and commitments (business commitments ok) made sure that i had to leave withing a day or two.
I was all scrolling down though the Indianrailways web when i read those magical six letter word SPECIAL. Gawd !! there was it, a special train from Varanasi/Benares/Kashi(please wiki if you dont know Benares kis chidiya ka naam hai) to Jammu. I didnt waste a second and booked tickets online.
The meargre thought of travelling in a Special Train made me restless and filled me with enormous joy, I decided to leave early on the day of travel. I hurried down through the station and checke for the train running status and was a little amused not to find mention of any train to jammu (forget a special train to jammu). After a little medlling through the crowded enquiry counter i headed for the designated platform.
By this time i was all eager to catch the glimpse of the much hyped Special Train.Within a short duration the train snaked in. The view of peeling off exterior paint, rusted door handles, pan masala stains on windows, rickety compartments was enough to diffuse all the excitement and hype in me. If the view of the exterior was forgivable, the envelop of a foul smell inside the AC compartment was enough to break my heart.
I was gradually discovering the unspecial part of the special train as i managed to fix the lose hinges of my berth and unwanted co-passengers like roaches. But for reasons unknow i still clinged to the word Special and was willing to let go ill experiences about the train as one off incidences. The journey started, and i immediately switched on my the gps on my E90 and after some 4 hours was disappointed at the screen reading the average speed 36Kms and highest speed 65 kms.I looked for charging point as my E90 was losing out on charge and was annoyed that there wasnt any charging point in the AC compartment, a walk down in other compartments yielded same results. Gawd!! in a country of 260 million cellphone users, a Special Train does not have a single charging point ? Soon i was detested with the Special Train as i was yet to discover / find anything which makes it special compared to other trains and decided to sleep. But was unable to do so as the was unusual level of noise at the AC Vents near me .
I decided to ask for an help at the coming station as the noise was unbearable . As the train halted, i went to the station master and asked for helpl to this he surrenderd helplessly saying that he doesnt have any arrangements to check the problem at this time in night, and this was partly because he was informed 15 minutes ago that a Special Train was running in this route.All the beloved images of Special Trains had by this time vanished as i made way to my berth.
In the morning i was delighted at the sight of train approaching the Jammu Station. I happily got out and searched for my friends waiting there. As we were leaving the platform, one of my friend was curious to know how the Special Train was to which i nodded in agreement. But inside in knew there was nothing special about this Special Train.
Hi
Well begun is half done.
On your blog ... nice format / style ... need to have comment box icon below for someone to leave comments...
As for subject ..very interesting .... i agree there is nothing special about such trains ..if you would have asked i could have told you all about it but then the blog would not have come about ..ha ha
I hope you continue with this habit .....
Very nice and fluid style of writing ...
Enjoyed reading it and looking forward to many more.
You forgot one specialty of the train and that is the only reason why such trains get the status of SPECIAL...That is that the train was not a regular one at regular specified time :P
That is the only specialty you should have considered at the first place. All the best to you to maintain your positive attitude though..Keep blogging