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"HAPPY BIRTHDAY DEAR ANDHRA PRADESH EXPRESS"
36yrs back, on the same day, this train was flagged off by Madhu Dandavate in 1976...

Originally covering the distance in a shade under 23 hrs in 1978, the passage of time has seen the running time being increased. When this train was introduced many of the important sections were single-line territory, almost 300 km in a...
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total of 1670 km. The signalling in 1978 was semaphore. When introduced, the 14-coach train was pulled by a 2600 HP ALCO derived diesel locomotive - WDM2 nomenclature for Indian Railways. In 1981 the capacity was increased to 21 coaches with a double head of 2 ALCO (WDM2) derived locomotives with 5200 HP. This double-headed power pulled the train up and down the hilly sections (with 1:63 gradient) between ITARSI and NAGPUR - a distance of 300 km. The train originally had a fully equipped pantry car.

Today the train with 24 coaches (including 7 AC coaches) is pulled by electric locomotives (WAP 1 / WAP4 or even WAP-7) throughout the double line electrified section with modern concrete sleepers. The signalling is electronic and the drivers use radios to maintain communication with controllers, but the running time continues to increase. As of 26 April 2010, the train is pulled by WAP7 from LALLAGUDA SHED throughout the journey. The other trains going through the Northern Plains have been allocated WAP5 and WAP7 locomotives - traversing through not so hilly regions, but this train going mostly through 1:100 gradients. Since its commissioning in 1978 to early 1990s there were just five stops in its journey - Jhansi, Bhopal, Nagpur, Balharshah and Kazipet, but several intermediate stops have since been added; the present run time is more than 27 hours.