Desert Sands - Shanx, Bharat Moro.
Images from the trip to Bikaner on the Bikaner Mail and return on the Express to Sarai Rohilla. This MG section will be truncated for Gauge Conversion to BG between Sarai Rohilla & Rewari.
Day breaks as the Delhi Sarai Rohilla - Bikaner Mail speeds through the sands of North Rajasthan. This train will soon be truncated and run between Rewari & Bikaner. Pic by Shashanka Nanda
The sun rises as the Mail takes a breather at Shri Dungargarh Station. Pic by Shashanka Nanda
We encounter a BEML built BG railbus #30007 at the outskirts of Bikaner. Pic by Shashanka Nanda
The Mails arrives at the end of its night long journey from Delhi. At the helm is an terrfic YDM4 from Phulera. Pic by Shashanka Nanda
A WDM2 (#17981) from NER's Gonda shed waits with a BTPN tanker rake at Bikaner. Pic by Shashanka Nanda
A BG railbus provides a contrasting backdrop to an MG YDM4 idling in the sidings at Bikaner. Pic by Shashanka Nanda
The starter and the advanced starter are set at 'proceed' for our return 4790 Express to Delhi Sarai Rohilla. Pic by Bharath Moro
As we wait at a wayside station, the semaphore drops for the crossing train coming down a slight gradient. Pic by Shashanka Nanda
The 4790 has the desert sands for company as it waits at yet another wayside halt for a crossing. Pic by Bharath Moro
A co passenger utilises the halt to buy a watermelon, while a famished cow hunts for a few morsels in the bleak countryside. Pic by Shashanka Nanda
Another halt, another wait for an oncoming train. The blinds on the semaphore are visibilty aids for the driver to spot the signal aspect against the background clutter. Pic by Shashanka Nanda
The bright organge machine leads our train round the massive curve into Ratangarh Jn. Pic by Shashanka Nanda
#6656 reverses to continue its onward journey to Sarai Rohilla Pic by Shashanka Nanda
The neat and well maintained Ratangarh Jn. Do try the mail at Jamna Ram's shop just outside the station if you ever get the chance. Pic by Bharath Moro
A tall semaphore mast holds the 4790 at the outer of Juharpura. The scenery is typical of these parts, with low thorny shrubs providing the only relief in the endless miles of sand. Pic by Shashanka Nanda
The orange beast smokes as it approaches the home signal at Juharpura. Pic by Bharath Moro
Steam Crane #1229 'Maha Shakti' lies in the sidings at Churu Jn. Pic by Shashanka Nanda
Phulera based YDM4 #6651 waits with a passenger towards Ratangarh. The tankers behind the loco provide some much needed water to wayside stations in these barren parts.
As we are running ahead of schedule, we are forced to halt at Rewari outer to let a passenger from the Ringus side in first. Note the zany livery of the distant YDM4 derived from the WDM2s of Abu Road. Pic by Shashanka Nanda
The impromptou halt proves to be a windfall for this hawker. Pic by Shashanka Nanda
Abu Road still retains a couple of WDM2s in its tradtional cream - red livery. This unit is the lead loco of the pair hauling the legendary Ashram Express to Ahmedabad. Note the chap in the foreground, he is about as wide as the loco itself !! Pic by Shas
A Ludhiana WDM2 hides behind a cluster of blazing red flowers at Rewari. Pic by Shashanka Nanda