When you experience anything 1st time, then sometimes you don't like to forget those moments in your life. In the same way, i also don't want to forget my first experience in AC 3-tier train. I would like to share my experience about how i got an opportunity to travel in a AC 3-tier train.
I live in a small town and when i experienced something special in my life, i try to re-memorize those moments, to experience those things again and again. I was so excited and happy when I heard the news that Bandra- Ajmer Express train will have a Stopage in my town(i.e DAHOD). This was good News for me, because now, I can travel from Dahod to Udaipur in train and I don't have to travel in Bus.
On March 8, 2010 I came to from Udaipur. Since my practical Exams finished and I had a 6 Days break, before the commencement of 4th Semester Exam. I cam to Dahod in Morning. I was so tired, that I can't even walk. My feet were paining too much. My Mother told me that, there is good news for you regarding travelling to Udaipur. Immediately there was a good smile on my face and I forced my mother to tell the news. She told that 1 train is there, which goes to Udaipur, will have a stoppage now in Dahod. So, you can got to Udaipur by train. I was so happy that I can't express.
On March 9,2010, I searched about this train in Internet. I saw that Bandra-Ajmer Express is one Super-fast train which arrives from Bandra and goes to Udaipur. I went to Railway Station to have an inquiry to get more information. I never had the reservation in my life, neither i inquired about any train in my life. I never went outside Dahod so far in my life. So, the railway station was like a alien to me. I surfed my eyes to various places, and finally i got one counter where it was written " Need Help?" I went there and asked one man at the couner to give me some information about Bandra-Ajmer train. He asked me to read the paper, which was stick on wall next to that counter, where some useful changes were made about the arrival of new train. My train number was 2995(now 12995), which runs only 3 days a week(i.e Monday, Thursday and Saturday). My mood was changed after reading this. I wanted to go to Udaipur on 15th MArch 2010, so i quickly, took out my mobile phone, in that searched the calender and the day and date. It was Monday on 15th March. I was very happy. Now, I knew that I am going to Udaipur in train.
Still I was not done. Now, I knew that I can go to Udaipur on Monday but i didn't knew that how i will go? Whether i should go with a General ticket or have a reservation. My father tld me that its better to go with a Reservation. I went to Railway Station to have reservation. I was having 700 rupees in my pocket. There was a separate counter where reservation was done. There were 5 to 6 men in queue. I also got in queue to have reservation. This was the first time in my life, where i was having reservation in train. I thought that we just to need to pay some extra money for any seat and seat would be alloted to us. I didn't knew that we need to fill a form of reservation. I saw some men at the counter filling some kind of form. I thought that for Cancelling the Reeservation we need to fill a form, not for getting reservation. So, I ignored them. But later, I saw that every one was having the form in their hand. I was confused. So, I asked a man standing next to me. I asked him that Is it necessary to fill a form for Reservation? He answered me 'Yes'. He was having one extra form in his pocket. So, I asked him to give me that form. I never filled any such form, so I didn't knew how to fill. I was very sky kind of boy at that time, so didn't asked anyone form there, as to how to fill the form. Then, I decided to go to my Grandfather's house. He gave me some instructions and finally I was able to fill the form.
On 10th March 2010, in afternoon, I went to railway Station. I wanted a reservation in Sleeper. When I gave my reservation form to counter. He said that " Its 3 waiting". I don't know how to react? I never had any reservation in my life. I didn't undertood what is 3 waiting. I asked about this 3 waiting and he explained me. My father advised me to have reservation which is confirmed otherwise not. He checked the seats in AC and after sometime said " Is it O.K, If i give you reservation in 3rd AC". He added that " It will cost you 526 Rupees". I said " Yes, give me". So, Finally I got reservation in 3rd A.C. I didn't knew what i got, but i was happy and excited that i am going to Udaipur in train. I got an reservation in train, that will take me to Udaipur.
So, finally I got the reservation. I got the reservation of 15th March. I went home and I told my Mother about my reservation. I was surprised because my mother didn't scoulded for the AC ticket. It cost 526 Rupees. This was more than enough because I travelled in bus at a cost of 150 rupees. After that, my grand father came to my house, checked the ticket, and told me to go to the railway station one day before, to check where your Coach (i.e B1) comes. I was given B1 Coach and seat Number 40, side Upper in 3AC( 3- tier AC). On 13th March, I had gone to Railway Station and checked where my Coach comes.
15th March was the day when I had to go to Udaipur in train. The timing of train was 00:59. On 14th March, I had done the packing. I was not having too much lugguage. Just one suit Case and 1 hand Bag. I was about to take laptop, but my mother told not to carry, as I don't need at present. I reached at the railway station at 12:00 am. My grandfather also came at the railway station. I asked to head ticket Collector about the timing of train. He said that the train is on time. I also asked him that at which plaform, the train will come? He answered me that, it will come on Platform No.3. So, I and my grandfather reached at the plaform No.3 and were waiting the train to come. When we reached at the plaform, I saw that there were only 3 to 4 people on the platform and rest of the platform was empty. It was feeling like a dawn in heaven, when i saw the other side, where there was no one. There were some benched kept to sit, so we sat there. Before my train came, I saw several train, which I haven't seen before that includes Shanti Express, Rajdhani, Garib Rath. I liked specially Garib Rath and surprised that its totally AC.
Finally my train Came. I was little araid and little dishonest, because i was going to Udaipur leaving my hometown. But Somewhere, excitement was there, because i was travelling first time in 3AC. My Coach B1, where i was standing. The Stoppage of train was just of 2 Minutes So, I had to hurry up. I saw one man coming out of train. I was knocking the door on the other side, because it was closed. He called me. He asked me, " Is it 40 seat Number". I replied 'Yes'. My name was there in that list of the paper, which he was holding. He asked me that Is your name RONARK? because he has never heard the name RONARK in his life. He told that I have heard the name RONAK, but not RONARK.
So, this is my experience of travelling 1st time in AC train. Now i have travelled in this train more than 20 times and every time i travel in 2nd AC and every time the excitement remains the same.