A packed Chair Car coach on the 2009 Ahmedabad Shatabdi. The interiors wear typical LHB Shatabdi colours and quality. (Vivek Manvi)

The exteriors on the other hand show the pathetic workmanship of RCF Kapurthala. Look at the sheer number of dents and warped metal. And this is a rake which has seen only three months of service! (Vivek Manvi)

It is a half past one, and the afternoon passenger to Mehsana is being readied for departure. Ahmedabad Jn. (Vivek Manvi)

The starter turns green, and the zany coloured YDM-4 sounds a horn that could easily put half the WDM-2s on IR to shame. Ahmedabad Jn. (Vivek Manvi)

Arriving early morning at Jodhpur by the Suryanagari Express from Ahmedabad. The "Beast" from BGKT did a splendid job overnight. Jodhpur. (Vivek Manvi)

An overview of Jodhpur station showing the landmark clock tower. This is the view towards Luni Jn. Jodhpur. (Vivek Manvi)

A view of the other side. Jodhpur. (Vivek Manvi)

An ABR WDG-3A brings in the 4888 Barmer-Kalka/Haridwar "Chandigarh" Express. The train on the adjacent line is the Bandra T - Bikaner Ranakpur Express. Jodhpur. (Vivek Manvi)

We depart from Jodhpur. WDP-4s are now a common sight here. The leading half of our train is headed to Kalka, whereas the trailing half goes to Haridwar. Jodhpur. (Vivek Manvi)

LQ semaphore territory begins as we head towards the next station, Rai Ka Bag Palace Jn. (Vivek Manvi)

A camera is still a novelty at some places. Gotan. (Vivek Manvi)

Unmindful of the generation gap, semaphores co-exist with LED indicators at Merta Road Junction. (Vivek Manvi)

After a wait of nearly half an hour, the Bandra Terminus bound Ranakpur Express arrives, clearing the track ahead for us. Merta Road Junction. (Vivek Manvi)

Our WDG-3A starts to notch up as it approaches the end of a PSR. The surrounding landscape is typical of western Rajasthan. (Vivek Manvi)

Taking a breather at Deshnoke, a quaint little station south of Bikaner Jn. (Vivek Manvi)