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