Mountain Railways

or
The Toy Trains In India
Presented By:
Chitranshi Srivastava
(Diploma in Tourism Management)
Banaras Hindu University

Guided by
Dr. Pravin S Rana
Lecturer-Tourism
Banaras Hindu University
Toy trains of India:
Contents:
 Introduction
 History of Mountain Railways in India
 Details:
 Darjeeling Himalayan Railway
 Kalka – Shimla Railway
 Nilgiri Mountain Railway
 SWOT Analysis
 Fast Facts
 Endnote
 Introduction:
 The Mountain Railways of India refers to the following five railway lines built in the
mountains of India during the British Raj:

 Northern India (Himalayas) :

a) Darjeeling Himalayan Railway (1881)
b) Kalka – Shimla Railway (1898)
c) Kangra Railway Valley (1924)

 Southern India (Western Ghats) :

a) Nilgiri Mountain Railway
b) Matheran Hill Railway

 All the five railway lines are still operated by the Indian Railways and connect to
important hill resorts from foot hills, winding through the rugged and scenic
mountainous terrain of India.

 The Darjeeling Himalayan Railway, the Nilgiri Mountain Railway and the Kalka-
Shimla Railway have been collectively designated as a UNESCO World Heritage
Site entitled “Mountain Railways of India”.
History of Mountain Railways in India:
 Reason for building - the British Raj wanted to establish control over the
mountainous ranges in India.

 The hill stations chosen for this purpose were:

  Shimla - the then capital of British India
 Darjeeling - known for its tea gardens and scenic view of the Himalayas
 Kangra Valley in Himachal Pradesh
 Ootacamund in the Nilgiri mountains of Tamilnadu 
 Matheran in the Western Ghats near Mumbai
 
 Development of the Hill Passenger Railway:
 tramway between Siliguri and Darjeeling - work started off in 1878 - completed in 1881.
 Nilgiri Mountain Railway in South India - initially proposed in 1854 - work started in
1894 – completed in 1908
 Kalka Shimla Railway link - commenced in 1898 to open up the remote hill regions to
the rest of the country - inaugurated by the British Viceroy Lord Curzon in 1903
 Matheran–Narela toy train - commissioned in 1907
 Kangra line - built in 1929
Details :
 Darjeeling Himalayan Railway
 Kalka – Shimla Railway
 Nilgiri Mountain Railway
Darjeeling Himalayan Railway
Darjeeling Himalayan Overview
Railway:
 The Darjeeling Himalayan Railway, nicknamed the "Toy
• Overview
Train", is a 2 ft  (610 mm) narrow-gauge railway
• Route from New Jalpaiguri (6 km from Siliguri) to Darjeeling in
• Services West Bengal, run by the Indian Railways.
• Information
• Timetable  It was built between 1878 and 1881 and is about
• Tariff 86 kilometers long.
• Reservations
 The elevation level is from about 100 m (328 ft) at Siliguri
to about 2,200 meters (7,218 ft) at Darjeeling.

  It is still powered by steam locomotives. Modern diesel

engines are used for Darjeeling’s mail train.

 Since 1999 the train has been a World Heritage List as

listed by UNESCO.
Darjeeling Himalayan Railway
Route Map
Darjeeling Himalayan Route
Railway:  New Jalpaiguri - the railway was extended to the south in 1964
to meet the new Broad gauge to Assam. Where the two met,
• Overview
New Jalpaiguri was created.
• Route  Siliguri Town - original southern terminus of the line.
• Services  Sukna - this station marks the change in the landscape from the
• Information flat plains to the wooded lower slopes of the mountains. The
gradient of the railway changes dramatically. Loop no. 1 and 2
• Timetable were removed after flood threats.
• Tariff  Rang tong
• Reservations  Loop no. 3 is at Chunbatti. This is now the lowest loop.
 Reverses no. 2 & 3 are between Chunbatti and Tindharia.
 Tindharia - this is a major station on the line as below the station
is the workshops. There is also an office for the engineers and a
large locomotive shed, all on a separate site. Immediately above
the station are three sidings; these were used to inspect the
carriage while the locomotive was changed, before the train
continued towards Darjeeling.
 Agony Point is the name given to loop No.4. It comes from the
shape of the loop which comes to an apex which is the tightest
curve on the line.
 Gayabari. Reverse No.6 is the last reverse on the climb.
 Mahanadi
 contd…
Darjeeling Himalayan
 Kurseong - there is a shed here and a few sidings adjacent to
Railway: the main line, but the station proper is a dead end. Up trains
must reverse out of the station (across a busy road junction)
• Overview before they can continue on their climb. It is said that the station
• Route was built this way so that the train could enter a secure yard and
• Services stay there while the passengers left the train for refreshments.
 Above Kurseong station, the railway runs through the bazaar.
• Information
Trains skirt the front of shops and market stalls on this busy
• Timetable stretch of road.
• Tariff  Tung
• Reservations  Dilaram
 Sonada
 Rangbul
 Jor Bungalow
 Ghum - Summit of the line and highest station in India. Now
includes a museum on the first floor of the station building with
larger exhibits in the old goods yard.
 Batasia Loop
 Darjeeling
 The furthest reach of the line was to Darjeeling Bazaar, a goods-
only line and now lost under the road surface and small
buildings.
Agony Point And Batasia Loop:
Darjeeling Himalayan
Services
Railway:
• Overview The Darjeeling Himalayan Railway operates a number of
tourist train services:
• Route
• Services
 Daily Train Services - historic diesel and 'B' Class
• Information steam locomotives with various combinations of first and
• Timetable second class carriages.
• Tariff
• Reservations  Joy Rides - 'B' Class steam locomotives which take
passengers on short trips from Darjeeling to Ghum
return, and Siliguri Junction to Sukna return.

 Jungle Safari Holiday Trains - locomotives which run

from Siliguri to Tindharia return, with the highlights being
views of the picturesque Mahananda Wildlife Sanctuary
and "Z" reverses (where the train zigzags forwards and
backwards up the slope).
Darjeeling Himalayan Railway
Interiors of the Toy Train
Darjeeling Himalayan
Information
Railway:
• Overview  The joyride from Darjeeling to Ghum and back includes a
• Route 10 minute stop at Batasia loop and 30 minutes stoppage
at Ghum Museum. The entrance fee to the museum is
• Services
included in the fare.
• Information
• Timetable  The joyride from Siliguri Junction passes through tea
• Tariff estates and includes a 30 minutes stop at the Darjeeling
• Reservations Himalayan Railway Photo Gallery in Sukna.

 The Jungle Safari trains stop for lunch at Tindharia,

where stunning valley views can be enjoyed, before
returning to Siliguri.
Darjeeling Himalayan
Timetable
Railway:
• Overview  The main daily toy train service to Darjeeling departs
• Route from New Jalpaiguri at 9 a.m. and arrives at 4.15 p.m.
There's also a service from Kurseong to Darjeeling at 3
• Services
p.m. arriving at 8 p.m. In addition, during the tourist
• Information season there's a train from New Jalpaiguri to Kurseong
• Timetable at 8.30 a.m.
• Tariff
• Reservations  Joyrides depart from Darjeeling daily at 10.40 a.m. and
1.20 p.m., and Siliguri Junction daily at 10.30 a.m. Each
journey lasts for around two hours.

 Jungle Safari trains run on the weekends and public

holidays. The trains depart from Siliguri at 11.15 a.m.,
with the return trip taking approximately five and a half
hours.
Darjeeling Himalayan Railways
Darjeeling Himalayan
Tariff
Railway:
• Overview  The daily toy train service to Darjeeling costs 247 rupees
in first class, and 47 rupees in second class, one way.
• Route
First class joyrides cost 240 rupees return.
• Services
• Information
• Timetable Reservations
• Tariff
• Reservations  Reservations for travel on the toy train (both daily
services and joyrides) can be made at Indian Railways
computerized reservation counters, or on the Indian
Railways website. It's advisable to book in advance, as
the trains fill up quickly.
 The station code for New Jalpaiguri is NJP, and
Darjeeling DJ. For joyrides from Darjeeling you'll have to
book with DJ as the "From" station and DJR as the "To"
station.
 Tickets for the Jungle Safari holiday trains are available
at Siliguri Junction Station. Phone: (91) 353-2517246.
Kalka – Shimla Toy Train
Kalka – Shimla
Railway: Overview
• Overview
• Route  The Kalka-Shimla Railway is a 2 ft 6 in (762 mm) narrow
• Services gauge railway in North-West India travelling along a
mostly mountainous route from Kalka to Shimla.
• Information

• Timetable
 It is known for breathtaking views of the hills and
• Tariff
surrounding villages.
• Reservations

 In this route a city name Solan comes which is also

known as mini Shimla.

 The Guinness Book on 'Rail Facts and Feats' included

Kalka-Shimla Railway as the greatest narrow gauge
engineering achievement in India. 

 On July 7, 2008, the Kalka-Shimla Railway was included

in the UNESCO World Heritage List as part of the World
Heritage Site Mountain Railways of India.
Kalka – Shimla
Railway: Route
• Overview
 Stations:
• Route
Kalka and Shimla are located just north of Chandigarh, in India's
• Services mountainous northern state of Himachal Pradesh. The captivating train
route connects both places. The route offers a panoramic feast of the
• Information
picturesque Himalayas from the Shivalik foot hills at Kalka to several
• Timetable important points such as:
 Dharampur
• Tariff
 Solan
• Reservations  Kandaghat
 Taradevi
 Barog
 Salogra
 Summerhill
 Shimla at an altitude of 2,076 meters (6,811 ft).

 It runs for 96 kilometers though 20 railway stations, 102 tunnels, 800

bridges, and an incredible 900 curves. The train's speed is greatly
restricted by the steep gradient that it has to climb, but this allows for
plenty of fascinating sightseeing along the way.
Kalka – Shimla contd…
Railway:
• Overview  Tunnels:
• Route

• Services  The Kalka Shimla Railway runs through 103 tunnels (one is not in
• Information use; so only 102 in service). The longest tunnel is at Barog, and is
named after the engineer in charge of construction. The tunnel is
• Timetable 1143.61-metre-long.
• Tariff  Besides the Barog tunnel, other 3 big tunnels on this route are Koti -
2,276 feet, Taradevi - 1,615 feet and Tunnel no. 103 - 1,135 feet. 
• Reservations

 The rail track rises from Kalka at 640m to the freezing

zones of Shimla at 2,060 m.

 Other important stations on this route, distance wise from

Kalka include Dagshai–38.4 kilometres (23.9 mi), at an
elevation of 1,600 metres (5,200 ft) and Solan.
Kalka Shimla Toy Train:
Entering The Tunnel
Kalka Shimla Toy Train:
Crossing over a bridge:
Kalka – Shimla
Railway:
Services
• Overview
• Route
There are three main tourist train services that run on the
Kalka Shimla railway. These are:
• Services

• Information
 Shivalik Deluxe Express - a premium express train with
• Timetable
carpet, wide glass windows that open, cushioned seats,
• Tariff and relaxing music. It fits 120 passengers. Food is
• Reservations provided.

 Himalayan Queen - a standard toy train service, with

bench seats. Food isn't provided but can be purchased at
the 10 or so stations that it stops at along the way.

 Rail Motor Car - uniquely resembles a bus from the time

of the Second World War. It's got a transparent roof, and
fits only 14 passengers. It's also an express service, with
food provided.
Kalka – Shimla Toy Train
Shivalik Express & Shivalik Palace...
Kalka – Shimla Toy Train
Himalayan queen is one of the nice trains on the narrow
gauge track...
Kalka – Shimla Toy Train
Deluxe Rail-Car
Kalka – Shimla
Railway:
Information
• Overview
 Kalka Shimla Train Special Carriages:
• Route
In addition to the normal train services, there are two special
• Services
luxury tourist carriages that can be booked. These are:
• Information  Shivalik Palace - is designed to be like a hotel room for parties of
up to six people. The carriage has its own attendant, folding
• Timetable
cushioned bed, refrigerator, on-board kitchen, and dining table. It
• Tariff can be attached to any train on the Shimla-Kalka route. Meals are
provided.
• Reservations
 Shivalik Queen - especially for honeymooners. Compartments offer
privacy in a luxurious environment, with wall to wall carpets and
huge curtained windows. Meals are provided.

 Kalka Shimla Train Holiday Services:

 In addition to the normal train services, a number of extra trains run
during the busy holiday seasons in India. This is usually from May to
July, September and October, and December and January.
 The Rail Motor Car is also a temporary service that only operates for
part of the year, to serve the holiday rush.
Kalka- Shimla Shivalik Deluxe Express:
Kalka – Shimla
Railway:
Timetable
• Overview
• Route
Trains from Kalka to Shimla run daily as follows:
• Services
 Shivalik Deluxe Express - is timed to connect with the
• Information
Howrah-Kalka Mail train, which comes from Kolkata via
• Timetable
Delhi. It departs Kalka at 5.30 a.m and arrives in Shimla at
• Tariff 10.15 a.m.
• Reservations
 Himalayan Queen - connects with the Himalayan Queen
train from Nizammudin station in Delhi. It departs Kalka at
12.10 p.m. and arrives in Shimla at 5.20 p.m. However, in
reality the journey can often take up to seven hours.

 Rail Motor Car - is for early risers! It departs Kalka at

5.10 a.m. and arrives at 9.35 a.m.

 To Kalka, trains depart from Shimla in the evenings.

Kalka- Shimla Himalayan Queen:
Kalka – Shimla
Railway:
Tariff
• Overview
• Route
The train fares are as follows:
• Services

• Information
 Shivalik Deluxe Express - 280 rupees one way.
• Timetable

• Tariff
 Shivalik Queen - 790 rupees one way.
• Reservations
 Shivalik Palace - 4,790 rupees from Kalka to Shimla and
3,495 rupees from Shimla to Kalka. The fare is for the
whole carriage, and includes accommodation in two
retiring rooms at Shimla for the day and meals during the
journey.

 Himalayan Queen - 167 rupees one way.

 Rail Motor Car - 247 rupees one way.

Kalka – Shimla
Railway:
Reservations
• Overview
• Route
 You can make a reservation for travel on the Shivalik
Deluxe Express, Himalayan Queen, and Rail Motor Car
• Services
services on the Indian Railways website or at Indian
• Information Railways booking offices. It's recommended that you
• Timetable book your tickets as early as possible (up to 90 days in
• Tariff advance), especially during the summer months from
• Reservations
April to June.

 The Indian Railways codes for the stations are Kalka

"KLK" and Simla (no "h") "SML".

 The Shivalik Queen and Palace can only be booked

though the Divisional Railway Manager's Office, Rail
Vihar, Ambala. Ph: (91-171) 264-5500.
Nilgiri Mountain Railway
Nilgiri Mountain
Railway:
Overview
• Overview
 The Nilgiri Mountain Railway (NMR) connects the town
• Route
of Mettupalayam with the hill station of Udagamandalam
• Services (Ootacamund or Ooty), in the Nilgiri Hills of southern India.
• Information

• Timetable  It is the only rack railway in India and uses the Abt (alternate

biting) rack and pinion system.  In this system, between the two
• Tariff
conventional rails, there are two rack bars, out of step with each
• Reservations other, on which the pinions of the locos and coaches 'climb' in a
similar manner as a person climbing a ladder using his feet
alternately. 

 Established in the early 19th century by the British as the

summer headquarters of the Chennai government, Ooty is now a
soothing place for visitors to escape the summer heat.

 The historic railway line was completed in 1899, 45 years after

the first plans were drawn up.

 The Nilgiri Mountain Railway was inscribed as World Heritage

Site by UNESCO in July 2005.
Nilgiri Mountain Railway
Rack and Pinion System
Nilgiri Mountain
Railway:
Route
• Overview
 The 'Nilgiri Passenger' train covers a distance of 26 mi (41.8 km),
• Route
travels through 208 curves, 16 tunnels , and 250 bridges. The
• Services uphill journey takes around 290 minutes (4.8 hours), and the
• Information downhill journey takes 215 minutes (3.6 hours) It has the
steepest track in Asia with a maximum gradient of 8.33%.
• Timetable

• Tariff
 Mettupalayam - 0 km, 1,069 ft (325.8 m) above sea level -
• Reservations Junction with the 5 ft 6 in (1,676 mm) (Indian Gauge) line
from Coimbatore. Passengers cross the platform to board the
Nilgiri Passenger train (NMR). There is a small locomotive shed
here and also the carriage workshops for the line.

 Leaving Mettupalayam, the line is adhesion worked and actually

drops for a short distance before crossing the Bhavani River,
after which it starts to climb gently.

 Kallar - 8 km, 1,260 ft (384 m) - Closed as a passenger station,

this is where the rack rail begins. As the train leaves the station,
the gradient is 1 in 12 (8.33%).
 contd…
Nilgiri Mountain
Railway:  Adderly - Closed as a passenger station but is still a water stop.
• Overview
• Route  Hillgrove - Block post and water stop, also has refreshments for
passengers.
• Services

• Information  Runneymede - Closed as a passenger station but is still a water stop.

• Timetable

• Tariff
 Kateri Road - Closed as a passenger station, trains do not stop here.

• Reservations  Coonoor - main intermediate station on the line at site of the locomotive
workshops as well as the top end of the rack rail. Trains must reverse a
short distance before continuing their climb to Ooty.

 Wellington

 Aruvankadu

 Ketti

 Lovedale

 From a short distance before Lovedale, the line descends into Ooty.
Ooty - 46 km (28.6 mi), 7,228 ft (2,203.1 m).).
Nilgiri Mountain Railway At
Lovedale and Ketti Station
Nilgiri Mountain
Railway:
Services
• Overview
• Route
 One toy train operates along the Nilgiri Mountain Railway
from Mettupalayam to Ooty. The engine is an 'X' Class
• Services
steam locomotive, made in Switzerland. It pulls quaint
• Information blue and cream wooden carriages with large windows.
• Timetable

• Tariff  The engine is commonly changed for a diesel powered

• Reservations one at Coonoor, to provide greater traction for the steep
climb up to Ooty.

 Both first class and second class seating are offered on

the toy train, and it's worth buying a first class ticket to
have a more peaceful journey away from the crowds.
Nilgiri Mountain
Railway:
Information
• Overview
• Route
 Presently all traffic on the rack section is ably handled by
the eight X class locomotives built by SLM of
• Services
Switzerland.
• Information

• Timetable
 These locomotives have four cylinders instead of the
• Tariff conventional two. The main cylinders of the locomotive
• Reservations use high-pressure steam and drive the wheels of the loco
while the smaller cylinders using low-pressure steam
drive the rack system of the Nilgiri Railway system.

 Another interesting thing associated with the Nilgiri

Railway is that the youngest X class loco is over 50 years
old and the oldest is 80 years old!
Nilgiri Mountain Railway
Steam Locomotive
Nilgiri Mountain
Railway: Timetable
• Overview
• Route  There's only one toy train departure daily. It leaves
• Services Mettupalayam at 7.10 a.m. and arrives in Ooty at noon.
Coming back, the train leaves Ooty at 3 p.m. and reaches
• Information
Mettupalayam at 6.35 p.m. The train is scheduled to
• Timetable
connect to the Nilgiri Express, which travels from Chennai
• Tariff to Mettupalayam.
• Reservations

 An additional toy train service does run during the peak

summer tourist season in April and May. It usually starts
from Mettupalayam at 9.30 a.m. More frequent train
services also run from Coonoor to Ooty.

 The area receives rain from both the south-west and

north-east monsoons, and this sometimes disrupts train
services.
Nilgiri Mountain Railway
Coonoor Station
Nilgiri Mountain
Railway:
Tariff
• Overview
• Route
 The train fare is 24 rupees in second class and 142
rupees in first class, one way.
• Services

• Information

• Timetable Reservation
• Tariff

• Reservations  Reservations for travel on the toy train to Ooty can be

made at Indian Railways computerized reservation
counters, or on the Indian Railways website. It's advisable
to book as early as possible, particularly during peak
season, as the train fills up weeks in advance.

 The station code for Mettupalayam is MTP, and

Udagamandalam (Ooty) UAM.
SWOT ANALYSIS
Strength: Weaknesses:
 They ride on narrow gauge railway  Less passengers are accommodated
line. at a time.
 The wondrous miniature of rail  Internet facility is not available.
engineering.  Food is provided only in 1st class.
 Costs or fares are low.  Health facility is not available.
 Offers exotic scenic beauties.  Steam engines are used in these toy
 These toy trains have been trains, which is not eco-friendly.
collectively designated as World
Heritage site by UNESCO.

Opportunities: Threats:
 Railways can use them to develop in the  Rapid industrialization and its effect.
vast, yet unexplored picturesque locales of  Rapid urbanization is populating
india.
these distant hilly areas.
 They are cost effective way of commute.
 Most toy trains has been shifted from
 Darjeeling Himalayan Railway has
steam to electric engine which is more been suffering from annual avg loss
envt friendly of Rs. 4 crore for the past two years
 Many movies and videos can be shot and there have been thought in
taking these as background Railway Ministry for shutting it down.
Photo Gallery
Darjeeling Himalayan Railway
Lower Batasia Loop
Darjeeling Himalayan Railway
Upper Batasia Loop
Kalka – Shimla Toy Train
Passenger Train: (Ordinary Fair : Rs 33, First Class Fair: Rs
173)
Kalka – Shimla Toy Train
Ordinary Rail-Car  (Fair: 216 Rs)
Kalka – Shimla Toy Train
Steam Special at Taradevi
 Fast Facts:
 The World Heritage UNESCO recognition to three of the five Mountain
Railways of India has been stated as for being "outstanding examples of
bold, ingenious engineering solutions for the problem of establishing an
effective rail link through a rugged, mountainous terrain”. The Darjeeling
Himalayan Railway was recognized first in 1999, the Nilgiri Mountain
Railway followed suite as an extension to the site in 2005, and in 2008 the
Kalka–Shimla Railway was further added as an extension; and the three
together have been titled as Mountain Railways of India under Criteria : ii, iv
under the region in the Asia-Pacific. The claims of the Matheran Railway, the
fourth hill line, is pending acceptance by the international body.

 The Guinness Book on 'Rail Facts and Feats' included Kalka-Shimla

Railway as the greatest narrow gauge engineering achievement in India. 
Endnote:
We just had a joyride on the mountainous
terrain of India by the way of this
presentation. These toy trains take us on a
ride of the scenic places and the classic
Indian feeling of the beauty of nature. If the
presentation which only had facts and figures
was so interesting, the trips will definitely be
more gripping. So, that definitely calls for a
tour on these toy trains…