Every dog has his day. ()

Some of the IRFCA members who had gathered on the occassion, including Naveen and Vivek, who had come all the way from Chennai, changing train enroute. Appreciate their spirit! ()

The ALP waves flag as the DQ leaves for CSTM ()

WCAM3 #21957 is here to haul the Birthday Queen on her special day. (Ashwin Rao )

Amongst heavy fanfare, media passengers and onlookers the Birthday Cake of the Deccan Queen is devoured to be distributed amongst one and all (Trayambak Ojha)

The man in charge. Loco pilot of the DQ is very happy on his felicitation as he would guide the Queen to her destination (Trayambak Ojha)

And so departs the queen bang on time, with the ALP waving flag of green (Trayambak Ojha)

The real pride of Deccan Queen. Dining Car is shining after a recent POH. Deccan Queen is the only train in IR to have a Dining Car and serves fantastic snacks. A restaurant on the run (Trayambak Ojha)

The gaurd of thee Queen who'll "Guard" her till her destination on her Birthday. Adios Deccan Queen Long Live your legend (Trayambak Ojha)

Just after the Deccan Queen departed, Pragati Express arrived on PF#1 shunted by WDM2A#16752 from GTL but the hoopla of the Deccan Queen has not died yet (Trayambak Ojha)

The Chief guest of the occasion RPF head of Pune breaks the auspicious coconut to kick start the celebrations (Trayambak Ojha)

Ladies and other members of the Pune Pravasi Sangh do the Arati ritual as the departure of the Queen on her birthday nears (Trayambak Ojha)

Rail Fans, passengers, RPF and even the sniffer dogs are upbeat on the Deccan Queen's Birthday (Trayambak Ojha)

We also had guests from distant parts of India to celebrate DQ's birthday. Seen here is Naveen Reddy from MAS IRFCA gang getting candid with Apurva Bahadur and Ashish Kuvelkar (Trayambak Ojha)

And soon comes the Guardian! the loco in charge for the Birthday Queen WCAM3#21957 makes a headway towards Platform#1 (Trayambak Ojha)