History of our Legendary Vaishali Super Fast Express:-
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This is the reason which compelled me to become a ferroequinologist. Seems I have some short of Nostalgic connection with this fella. The old guard is once again under the Spotlight of Rail fans because of the change in it's locomotive link, so I find this time suitable to share the history of this Legendary and Iconic Train which I have re-collected from the Archives of my ancestral wisdom and Railway Contacts.
**Vaishali...
more... Express which was then Known as ''Jyanti Janta Express'' was introduced to commemorate the 25th Anniversary of India attaining Independence.
**It had it's first run on 31 Oct. 1973 from Samastipur in Bihar to New Delhi via BJU-PNBE-MGS-ALD-CNB-TDL. This was 2nd train of 'Jyanti Janta'' Category of trains started by the then Minister of Railways, Late Lalit Narayan Mishra.
**Late L.N Mishra joined his office as the Rail Minister in 1973 and within Few months he inked the approval to run this train and on 31st. Oct it made it's maiden run.
** In the year 1975, after the GC of SPJ-MFP route it was extended upto Muzaffarpur.
**Some Myths and controversies are also there regarding it's name ''Jyanti Janta'' because ''Jyanti" was the name of L.N Mishra's Wife and some people say that he started this series of train on her name which is against the Railways Policy of not running a train in the Name of a Living Person.
**Initially it used to be a bi-weekly train.
**No Air Conditioned coaches were there in those days and it had only Second Class Sleeper(earlier Sleeper coaches were known as Second Class Sleeper), General Coaches and a Pantry Car.
**It used to run with train Number as 153 UP and 154 DOWN Jyati Janta Express.
**What's more interesting is that, their was a train naming ''Vaishali" Express in that time also which was later discontinued.
**Specially Made coaches decorated with Mithila art Works were assigned to this prestigious train.
** After the Guage conversion of MFP-GKP-Barabanki route it was Diverted on it's current route.
** It's also one of the Earliest Mail/Exp Train to receive an ISO certification.
** Vaishali is running on it's current route (HJP-CPR-GKP-LKO) from 1983.
So, Whenever you see this Train in future don't consider this as mere an ordinary train, it's a whole piece of History of Indian Railways.
-:Corrections and Information would be appreciated.