Hundreds visit Srinagar railway station for joyride

Srinagar, Oct 12 (UNI) A 65-year-old man was among hundreds of people, including women and children, waiting since early this morning along with his grandson and granddaughter at Nowgam railway station for a joyride on the first day of the maiden run of the train which was flagged off by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh yesterday.

''We have left our Natipora house at 0620 hrs to catch the first train on its maiden run,'' Nazir told UNI at the railway station.

Recalling his childhood days, he said he and his elder sister were also taken to Hazori Bagh (now called Iqbal and Children Park) near the Bakshi stadium by his grandfather to have joyride on train in 70s and 80s.

''I still remember the train colour which was yellow with blue line in the middle,'' he said, adding it was without any roof.

The train, for children only, had taken round of some portion of the Hazori bagh and had two stations. However, some elders were also riding it, he said.

The track of the train had removed and now there was a big park for elders and another for children, he said.

''This is for the first time my grandchildren-- Arsalan (8) and Shazoo(6)-- will see a train.

''I want to spend my entire day with my grandchildren,'' he said, adding, ''we will travel to Anantnag and return back in the next train from there for Rajwansher in Badgam district of central Kashmir.'' Another passenger Fayaz Ahmad said he had enjoyed joyride in childrens' train at the Exhibition ground for about ten minutes in 80s.

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