The Recipe Of A Wonderful Rail Journey

The Mountain Railways of India have unique railway lines built in mountainous regions. These trains are commonly known as 'toy trains.' Three of these railway lines are designated as UNESCO World Heritage Site and popular tourist attractions. Here is a brief history of India's toy trains and their origin. Let us explore.

Toy train - Source : Travel Triangle

"They will take you back to a time when life was not so full of care, and there was time to stand and stare. But not for too long, or the train would leave without you!"

― Ruskin Bond, (The Great Train Journey)

Journeys are an addiction for many of us, whether the distance is long or short. We meet new people, explore unique lifestyles and try to get along with them. Every journey makes a person a new version of himself.

The purpose of travel is different for everyone. Some choose travel as entertainment, while others choose this as a way of refreshment and self-realization. For many, traveling is an escape from the monotonous madding crowd to the calmness of serene nature.

It is lovely to know that we still have remains of ancient railway settlements! What about a journey through hilly areas and rolling valleys, admiring the scenic beauty of nature? Here we will reveal the possibilities of a beautiful vintage train journey with twists and turns, the howling sound of power puff steam engines, and nature's soothing sights.

Toy trains - Origin and history

Toy trains emerged during the 1800s and early 1900s in India. The slim tracks for these narrow gauge trains are built with fine craftsmanship to cover high altitudes that have lots of loops and curls. These trains are called ‘toy trains’ as these have a minimized structure.

The first three of the five main narrow gauge rail lines are the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway in West Bengal, the Nilgiri Mountain Railway in Tamilnadu, and the Kalka- Shimla railway in Himachal Pradesh. These three railways are specified as the UNESCO World Heritage Site and known as 'Mountain Railways Of India.' Initially,these trains were steam engines that used coal as fuel, but now most of them run using diesel, though few steam engines are there to remind us about the heritage.

In 1878, when the first ever idea of a 'toy train' was proposed by Mr.Franklin Prestage, it was quite a challenging task. But today, it has become the epitome of engineering marvel and accomplishment.

Darjeeling Himalayan Railway

The Darjeeling Himalayan Railway, aka DHR, the first one in the toy train series, started its first journey in 1881. Initially, it was the most accessible means of transportation of goods as mountain hiking and horse riding were the only dependable options at that period. Then in 1964, the train started its passenger service. The vintage train offers a memorable journey with a panoramic view of breathtaking Himalayan valleys followed by dense forests, lush green plantations, and flower fields.

Nilgiri Mountain Railway

Though Nilgiri Mountain Railway was the first to be implemented, due to certain technical issues, the work was processed only in1900. The Nilgiri Mountain Railway started to operate in 1908. This was started for British administrators to escape from Chennai's harsh hot climatic conditions.

This unique toy train of South India travels from Mettupalayam to Ooty, offering a remarkable experience by crossing misty hills and forests, steep valleys, and dark and deep tunnels throughout.

Kalka- Shimla Railway

Kalka- Shimla Railway started its function in 1903. The train with red and cream-painted little bogies offers scenic delights en route with the sights of picturesque Himalayan hills and greenery. The path to the valleys of Shimla was made with a lot of hard work by building 864 bridges and cutting 103 tunnels to reach the destination.

The other two trains in the toy train series are the Matheran Hill Railway of Maharashtra and Kangra Valley Railway of Himachal Pradesh. However, mountain railways have played an important role in boosting the popularity of these places.

Starting from the little hamlets to offbeat destinations, these little 'toy trains' leave us wonderstruck with mesmerizing sights and timeless experiences to cherish with.