Riding the rails to Rajasthan.....

           A second leg of the rail journey accomplished--the stage from Ahmadabad northwards to Jodhpur  (pop. 846,000) in Rajasthan. Departed Ahmadabad at 11.20am, arrived Jodhpur at 8.15pm., exactly on time. I did note that India railways operate a single track system in this part of its network--that is, with passing points of twin track at specific points, to permit trains moving in opposite directions, to pass. Should the oncoming train be late, of course delays are incurred by both trains, so as to facilitate a safe passing procedure.

All ready for a siesta....

          This second train travel leg was more relaxed for me and I was able to take more time observing my surroundings. Train travel, like Indian society is highly stratified, with different social groups travelling in different classes of carriage on the train. At a cost to me of about $6 per day unlimited travel, I was able to travel 'top class'. with typically white collar professional types in predominance. My compartment companions hastened to inform me that Dad was a judge and 28 year old son a newly minted lawyer. My AC 2  class has seating for 6 persons---that is three seats lower level and three above, all extended out into full length beds. Bed coverings all supplied at no charge--freshly laundered pillow case sheets and blankets. Yes, blankets, as the compartment in AC2 can get cold---ridiculous when its 36C outside.
                     Friendly to the extreme, I am sure by the end of the journey that I will have a lifetimes supply of  'new best friends'. My fellow passengers are very curious and quickly launch into a barrage of personal questions like--how old is your wife, how much do you earn, what is you e-mail address?? Fun at first, the questioning can tend to become a little intrusive. Since I have arrived in India, 10 days ago, I have only seen perhaps a half dozen westerners--travellers with European features have real curiosity value and invite stares and requests for a 'selfie'. This surprised me as I was expecting places --hotels, train stations, to be much more cosmopolitan.

View from the vestibule....

                  Exploring beyond my compartment, I spent considerable time between stations, standing in the small entry vestibules of the door entry points, located at either ends of  the carriages (referred to as rakes) in India). Indians do not have the same preoccupation with safety as in other places, and so the doors are left wide open and passengers are free to hang out as the train charges along,  frequently traversing high bridges and ravines. Makes for great opportunities for photo opportunities along the exterior of the train as it rounds the curves. Nowadays, with overhead electrification, riding on the roof, in the cheap seats, is no longer a (exhilarating) rail travel option. Anyway,  the vestibule is a  place to meet the locals and helps to while away the long hours in motion.              
                   

A weary wallah....

Food service to passengers on the train is fast and furious with non-stop streams of 'wallahs' offering every sort of food item one could want. Especially enjoy the chai (tea Indian style)  hot --as in temperature, and sweet, made with condensed milk at 20 cents per cup.
                   Over all Indian rail travel, despite aged & deteriorated equipment, is a pleasant surprise, comfortable, relaxing and very sociable.