Ever-present, indelible: Snapshots of trains across India's landscapes

One of the most serene moments of a rail journey happens when the train passes over a water bridge, when the sky meets water and there is nothing but an expanse of blue for as far as the eye can see.

Entering into a tunnel, those few seconds of being shrouded in darkness, the sounds from the train tracks echoing all around and that feeling of anticipation; will perhaps never cease to be exciting.

A diesel hauled passenger train is emerging round the corner, amidst a dry grassland. This huge machine gracefully twisting and turning through the many landscapes is surely a sight to behold!

An impressive shot of a freight train curving through a mined valley. The railways are a great way to explore newly created territories.

The Assistant Driver needs to pick up the line clear token before the train enter into the next section. The Porter is holding the token in the hoop. Notice the glove.

Railway bridges are some of the most amazing modern day engineering marvels.

Railway bridges, in all their myriad designs and locations, hold an important place in not just the world of engineering but also in the heart of rail enthusiasts.

Another bridge, another train, different designs but both construction marvels.

Indian Railways connects cities and towns, through different landscapes. Here is a look at a beautiful wide angle shot of a diesel hauled passenger train passing through a vast empty landscape.

The Kolhapur-Mumbai Sahyadari Express on its way. The Train is hauled by a DC Electric Locomotive. This type of DC locomotive is no longer in service.

On a bridge, over a lush forest, with the clouds thundering above, makes for one great train ride! Here, we are looking at a Diesel hauled passenger train making one such journey.

A railway worker gives a signal to the passing train. The keyman of the railway have to always be on track, taking care of it, no matter how dry or cold it gets. For the passengers though, the arid land will disappear when the train will stop at next station.

A view of a metal snake passing through the terrain. Perhaps the most irreplaceable part of rail journeys will be the discovery of new landscapes, places that we would probably never see any other way.

A look at another interesting railway route; the WDP4 Diesel hauled passenger train coming out of the tunnel into a ravine.

For some rail enthusiasts, the locomotive number of the train is as important a detail as any other. And many spend hours trying to get that perfect shot that emcompasses everything - the numbers, the form, the colour, the movement.

An electric locomotive is negotiating curves. This is a WAG class Goods Locomotive, manufactured by Chittaranjan Locomotive Works in 1996.

Electric locomotives are slowly becoming the preferred locomotive choice of railways for their increased energy efficiency and reduced carbon footprint.

For the people living next to a railway track, the sound of a passing train becomes an integral part of the lives.

Night trains are a great option of travel and saving time for shorter distances. But their best part is probably getting to spend time on a quiet, silent station otherwise hard to find in a city.

Railway journeys make for some of the greatest subjects for photography. The rushing movement of man and machine against the stillness of the varied, contrasting landscapes can give any artist many moments of inspiration.