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I would check with your ministry of foreign affairs. For many countries, there will be an information page on each country which might tell you what you need to enter each country.
For example, China and Vietnam must be obtained in advance but don't require a LOI (Letter of invitation).
Cambodia, and Thailand can be obtained at the border, but longer visas can be obtained if you get them before arrival.
Visas for Laos are available at most border crossings.
Mongolia must be obtained in advance. There is only one border crossing from China to Mongolia so if you intend to go overland, get your visa in Beijing. OTOH Visas may be available on arrival at the international airport if you are flying into Ulan Bator, the capitol.
Kazakhstan visa will require a LOI in many places even though the website for the embassy in the US or Canada might say otherwise. Kazakh visa is available in Beijing or in Urumqi (western China) and other places.
Kazakh embassies and consualtesTake a look at my website and the
New Russia Sticky regarding obtaining the LOI, the accommodations voucher and the process for a Russian visa. Also do NOT plan to get your Russian visa in Beijing or in Ulan Bator as for various reasons neither is recommended. Russian visas are date specific and generally cannot be obtained more than about 90 days in advance of entry and tourist visas are only good for 30 days and cannot be extended.
I don't know about Nepal or India and suggest that you ask on the appropriate branch.
The man in seat 61 site contains lots of useful information about trains but he is a Brit and I don't think the site specializes in visas. When asking visa questions here on the TT, it is most helpful if you indicate both your passport and where you are considering obtaining the visa as the rules, cost and length of visa available differ with different places and passports.
I don't think the Thomas Cook timetable is a necessity as much of this information can be found online or asked here on the appropriate branch of the TT. More important is probably to mail yourself some of the guidebooks that you will need. Send or have family send them to you at poste restante, or general delivery to large city main post offices. Then give away the ones that you are finished with or if you want, just mail them home to use later to label your photos.
Planning your route carefully will also help. For example, it is possible to get double entry visas often for less than the cost of two single entry visas.
Note that there are some countries that are difficult to enter overland. For example, you cannot cross overland between china and India as they have no international border crossings. Despite, the long Chinese Mongolian border, there is only one international crossing between the two countries.
If the countries you list are the only countries that you plan to visit and you are trying to avoid flying, then you best bet is the following:
Fly to Bangkok
Visit Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, getting visas at the border or in the previous country.
Go to Hong Kong for your Chinese visa, get the longest multiple entry visa that you can obtain.
Get your Russian visa in Shanghai, get your Mongolian visa in Beijing.
Visit Mongolia and then Russia.
In Moscow get your Kazakh visa
Travel Russia to Kazakhstan
Kazakhstan to china
china to Tibet
Tibet to Nepal
Nepal to india
I think almost any other route will require some back tracking or flights. OTOH how much time do you have for this trip?
Ruth
First check: Everbrite's travel pages, the New RU sticky,and New RU train sticky
Since I have taken the time to answer your question, it would be nice if you took the time to respond as to whether the information was helpful.
