We as a family take the Superfast Navajeevan Express from Chennai Central to Surat almost once every year. So much so you can say that we are seasoned travellers by this train. This train covers a distance of nearly 1893 kms. traversing states like Tamilnadu, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra and finally Gujarat. Travelling by the first AC class ( the highest class that the Indian Railways can offer), you have a compartment with four berths and wide windows and curtains for privacy. Travelling in style, it is of course comparable to the first class in elite trains like Duronto and Rajdhani. This train has 36 stops and has got plenty of running time. Anyway, once the train starts its journey and you are comfortably settled, you have say, Tukaram,hailing from Amalner, selling fresh tomato soup seasoned with a liberal dose of pepper, flavored with coriander with an addition of bread crumbs, if you so wish. The pantry arranges for your orders of lunch and dinner and you may have Sumit Yadav popping up to take up your orders. With a bite there and a sip here, you may just hurtle along the countryside passing through stations like Tondalagopavaram, Dondaicha and the like. Also there are some interesting facets as you make this journey. For instance, at Navapur, one half of the platform is Maharashtra and the other half, Gujarat. In fact, there is a board indicating this division. And if you are wanting to have a tipple, you may have to take some care not to be on the Gujarat side of the station. The state of Gujarat is "dry" and consumption of liquor is prohibited. At Bitragunta you have the remnants of the Roundhouse with the broken nameboard, "Home of the Steel Horses". As you roll into Bhusawal, if you are observant enough, you can see a well-preserved WG Class steam locomotive at the Railway Training Institute. Absorbing the sights and smells of the sub-continent is pretty substantial,as you take this train, and is made more hospitable by attenders like Kannan, who has got the gift of the gab and who will put his persuasive powers into full throttle if he finds out that you share the same roots as him. He too happens to be from Palakkad. So there is a frenzied exchange of notes and addresses. It may just be time to say your goodbyes and hope to be back with the Superfast next time on for another unique experience.
