The Fading MG Lines of Rajasthan

Artistically built station at Sikar Junction. The main building is a mixture of Shekawat and Mughal architecture. Adding to the charm, are these cute looking Phat Phatis. (Harish Kumar)

Commuters waiting impatiently for the late running Loharu - Jaipur Passenger at Sikar Junction. (Harish Kumar)

Another late run. The Loharu bound Express from Jaipur pulls in behind the blue-white livery YDM-4 #6694. The LP is ready to exchange the token. (Harish Kumar)

Mad rush! Loharu-Jaipur passenger sees heavy patronage each day. (Harish Kumar)

Sikar, is one the very few MG Junctions in the country to see such tight actions each day. Here to my left is the Jaipur bound passenger on PF#3, Jaipur - Loharu Express on PF#2 and Sikar - Churu Passenger on PF#1. (Harish Kumar)

Most often, during a halt, men, women, children or elders disembark on either sides of the train. (Raghu Jayaraman)

Loharu is probably the last railway junction in Haryana to see active MG actions today. (Raghu Jayaraman)

Sleepy side of Loharu Junction: As Ben mentioned earlier, things got worse at Loharu as Express train from Jaipur, was received directly on to the stable line, in total darkness, while the rake in pic was put on the platform line. (Harish Kumar)

While on the BG side, its action time. The Rewari - Hisar Passenger arrives at Loharu Junction. We would take this train to our next MG connect at Sadulpur Junction. (Harish Kumar)

Destinations reachable from Sadulpur (BenHur)

Phulera based YDM-4 #6728 would take us to Hanumangarh Town with the morning passenger. At Sadulpur we see the MGs given their due respect with 2 active platforms and direct entry from the town side. (Harish Kumar)

Sweeper on demand: He's not an ordinary sweeper, we find cleaning the station premises or the platform. Rather he sweeps out the inch-high sand that gets accumulated on the rolling stock.

Just as the train began to accelarate out of Tehsil Bhadra, sharp braking and blaring horns, prompted us to step out and see these bovines casually walking across the railway line. (Harish Kumar)

Often, these men not only have to brave the heat, but also the dust! (Raghu Jayaraman)

Lesser traffic at the back of gauge conversion means loop lines in many way stations have already started yielding to elements of nature (BenHur)

Waiting for their connect! Location: Gogameri (Raghu Jayaraman)

At Gogameri, a beautiful MG station, blessed with blossoms, we crossed the Sadulpur bound Passenger, powered by Phulera Shed's YDM-4 #6651.

The Sadulpur bound passenger takes a loop (BenHur)

The ship and the train of desert waiting at Kinaniyari. The village of Kinaniyari is right on the state border of Rajasthan and Haryana. Surera Halt and Elenabad are the two stations enroute that falls in Haryana and Tulwara Jhil, another Border town. (Ha

YDM-4 #6611 takes the loop, as it pulls into Kinaniyari with the Sadulpur bound passenger (BenHur)

Sadulpur bound passenger, after clearing the loop at Kinaniyari, chugs off and dissappears into the distant horizon! (Harish Kumar)

Indira Gandhi Canal, the major water source for the north-western region of Rajasthan. The canal is feeded by Sutlej and Beas rivers and passes through Punjab and Haryana before entering Rajasthen near Tibbi. (Harish Kumar)

Rice Belt of Rajasthan: Rajasthan is not just about Dust and Dunes. There are plenty of green belts around, courtesy the Rajasthan Feeder Canals. (Harish Kumar)

Nations pride! Help keeping it clean. (Raghu Jayaraman)

Road level crossing right in middle of the platform, at Sherekan. (Raghu Jayaraman)

YDM-4 #6728 accompanied by semaphore gantries at Hanumangarh Junction, waits to get its belly filled.

At Ratangarh Junction, begins another journey back in time. Here we spotted fresh out of POH MG coaches. Encouraging sign, this is. MG will continue to serve this line to Sardar Shahr for few more years to come. (Naveen)