Re #6401
Yes Danny, only a fool neglected to upend his footwear before using it (!), and thanks for assuaging my guilt on the matter of tipping.
I am quite certain that our train from Calcutta was an ordinary public service. We did have a reserved carriage - or part of one -, but it was most certainly (very) third class.
Judging from contemporary video clips, rooftop travel is still feature of rail travel in that part of the world, especially in commuter zones; potentially lethal one would think in electrified areas such as Bombay, but perhaps some are not aware of any risk.
Indeed strange things happen in this country too. Remember the recent case, where an impatient potential passenger decided to put his ear to the rail as a means of finding out if his train was coming? Unfortunately he chose the third rail.................