A Trip on India’s 3 Innovative Toy Trains Can Take Your Breath Away
By: David Geithner
Tags: Vacation, Railway, Travel, India, Trains

A Trip on India’s 3 Innovative Toy Trains Can Take Your Breath Away David Geithner Jun 21·3 min read

The Mountain Railways of India UNESCO World Heritage site comprises three railways built by the British between 1881 and 1908 to access their hill settlements. The trains that run on them are part of the country’s collection of “toy trains,” so-called because of their diminutive size.

All three lines are exemplary examples of hill railways that used innovative engineering solutions to overcome treacherous but spectacular terrain. All are still operational and retain a degree of their original features. They serve as living examples of the engineering boldness of the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

1. The Darjeeling Himalayan Railway (DHR)

Also known as the Joy Ride, the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway (DHR) was constructed by the British between 1879 and 1881. Connecting Darjeeling and New Jalpaiguri, it was the first hill railway in India, and one of the first in the world.

Image by Sheep”R”Us | Flickr

The railway line is about 55 miles long and reaches its highest elevation of 7,407 feet above sea level in Ghum. The train climbs by looping around a spiral, moving backward and forward to overcome the terrain. One of the DHR’s most scenic loops is Batasia Loop, between Ghum and Darjeeling. It provides a panoramic view of Darjeeling atop the hill, with Mount Kanchenjunga in the background.

Modern diesel locomotives handle most of the scheduled services, but tourist ventures are still undertaken in vintage steam locomotives. Passengers enjoy spectacular views of the mighty Kanchenjunga while passing through green hills dotted with tea gardens. Darjeeling, or the Queen of the Hills, is noted for its scenic beauty and looks very much like it did when the railway was first constructed.

UNESCO declared DHR as its second railway World Heritage Site in 1999 due to its brilliant design and cultural and social importance.

2. The Kalka-Shimla Toy Train

The hill city of Shimla in the Indian state of Himachal Pradesh was once the summer residence of the British Raj government. Its cool climate provided relief from the unbearable summer heat of Delhi and Kolkata, and reminded the British of home. But its remote, mountainous location meant it was only accessible by horse and carriage until 1903, when the state-of-art Kalka-Shimla railway line opened.

The 60-mile line has 103 tunnels and almost a thousand bridges. (Bridge number 541, the highest, is one of India’s most impressive railway bridges, closely resembling the Scottish Glenfinnan Viaduct featured in the Harry Potter movies.) The journey takes an unhurried five hours and goes from Kalka at an altitude of 2,159 feet to Shimla at 6,808 feet above sea level. It passes through breathtaking hilly terrain with deep forests and scattered villages, and the occasional viaduct. Upon arriving in Shimla, visitors are exposed to colonial architecture combined with Indian modernity.

UNESCO added the Kalka-Shimla toy train as an extension to the World Heritage Site of Mountain Railways of India in 1999, lauding it as an “exceptional technical achievement in the development of the Himalayan mountains.”

3. The Nilgiri Mountain Railway

The Nilgiri Mountain Railway runs from Mettupalayam to Ooty via Coonoor in Tamil Nadu. Opened in 1899 and completed in 1908, it is the only cog railway in Asia. A middle rail is fitted with a rack that engages a pinion on the locomotive, providing traction for the train to climb steep hills. It was added to the UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2005.

The line runs from 1,069 feet to 7,228 feet above sea level, and is one of India’s most thrilling toy trains. The five-hour journey takes passengers through rocky terrain, gorgeous gorges, lush tea estates, and misty dense forests, waterfalls, bridges, and tunnels. The best views are found between Mettupalayam and Coonoor. If pressed for time, travel this stretch and enjoy the tea plantations at Coonoor.

A trip on one of India’s historic toy trains is enough to cause even today’s kids to put down their electronic devices and stare through the windows in awe. But you don’t have to be a child to enjoy the ride. While away the hours by enjoying the majestic mountain scenery as you sip your masala tea. The hilltop destinations provide a glimpse into times gone by while showcasing modern India.