Joy-Ride Up The Hills
Hey, rail enthusiasts! If you have some time to spare, then take a slow toy
train up to the hill resorts of Shimla, Ooty (Udhangamandalam), Darjeeling
or Matheran.
There is nothing to match the experience of chugging up the hills, past
little hamlets and terraced fields, making your way through tunnels and over
breathtaking bridges. Its leisurely pace offers you a panoramic view of
changing vistas. The invigorating air and the delights of scenic hill
resorts provide a welcome respite from the hustle and bustle of the city.
So folks ! Are you ready, to start on an out-of-the-ordinary journey up to
the hills?
The
Shimla Toy Train
The toy train journey from Kalka to Shimla is entrancing with 107 tunnels
and lofty arched bridges. The dazzling view and the stops at the picturesque
stations along the way - Dharampore, Taksal, Gamma and Solan, all add up to
an exhilarating experience. Shimla is well-connected by a broad gauge line
up to Kalka. From Kalka to Shimla, 'the toy train' covers 96-km of track in
six hours.
The Shivalik Deluxe Express, chugging its way up the beautiful hill side,
connects the Howarh - Kalka mail for passenger going to Shimla. A luxury
train, the Shivalik Express has only one stop-Barog, in its 4 hrs 45 minutes
journey. The train also has an attached tourist coach called the Shivalik
Palace. And, for the honeymoon couples, the Shivalik Queen Coach offers
exclusively designed coupes.
The
Darjeeling Toy Train
The most famous of the little trains, is the one linking the town of New
Jalpaiguri in the plains to the lovely hill station of Darjeeling. With a 2
ft gauge, the Darjeeling Hill Railway is indeed a 'toy train', being the
narrowest of the regular narrow gauges. The tiny century-old engine is a
connoisseur's delight. The 86-km long Darjeeling line has no tunnels, thus
allowing the traveller an uninterrupted view of the breathtaking scenery of
the Himalayas. The seven-and-a-half hour ride up, is a journey especially
for rail buffs.
The
Nilgiri Toy Train
The Nilgiri Mountain railway starts from the town of Mettupalayam and thus
begins a journey full of twists and turns, as this narrow gauge train
ascends 46-km., on its way to the hill resort of Ooty. At a maximum speed of
33-km per hour, this 'toy train' treks across plains, plantations and forest
clad hills. The 16 tunnels and tall girder bridges on the way, along with
the breathtaking view, make this toy train journey to Ooty, something not to
be missed.
The
Matheran Toy Train
The 77-year-old line, connecting Neral to mMatheran, is the main way to
reach the tiny hill resort, close to Mumbai. As a little train wheezes up
into the clear mountain air, on can view the scenic vista of hills and
plains below. The lack of vehicular traffic at Matheran makes it an unusual
and peaceful retreat. The journey up to Matheran from Neral takes about
one-and-a-half hours. The toy train runs between sunrise and sunset.
INDIAN
RAILWAYS
