Luxury Trains In India

Darjeeling Toy Train

Toy Train is the very famous train of the Indian Railway that links the Darjeeling with the Siliguri in the West Bengal.  The name of the train derived is by its look alike with toy train.  In the year 1999, because of its looks, this train came into the list of world heritage by the UNESCO.  The route of this train came in existence in the year 1879 to 1881. During its journey into the Himalayan areas, this train complete the distance of 85 km at an 100 m altitude in Siliguri and about 2200 m at the Darjeeling.  As giving the old world memories, this train passes as hooting fetched by the steamy engine. Moving towards its final destination, this toy train covers various points of areas like Batasia, Siliguri junction, New Jalpaiguri, Tindharia, Sukna, Tung, Gayabari, and Sonada.  Through the entire journey, passenger experienced the most beautiful scenery like spectacular views, outstanding loops through which the train passes, and Himalayan views. In a one day, this toy train starts to operate with three pairs. This train had various types of engines that fetched it and also coaches are of different composition like class coaches.  The route of the train also differs.  The first route of the train is starting from New Jalpaiguri to the Darjeeling and then returned back.  The route of the second train is from New Jalpaiguri to the Kurseong and then returned back. The third route of the train initiates from Kurseong to the Darjeeling and then returns back.

On the national holidays and weekends, this Darjeeling toy also runs in the route of Siliguri and Tindharia especially on the demand of public.  In the sanctuary of Mahayana wildlife, also this train covers the jungle safari.  This train consists of three coaches that are of A class and fetched with the steam engine that is of B class.  This train covers the distance from Darjeeling to the Gum and then moved back towards the Darjeeling covering the Gum Museum and loop of Batasia. A passenger can book the ticket through the railways website or by counters on the railway station. This toy train is very popular among the natives of the Darjeeling with tourists also, so it is better option to book tickets for this train in advance. This train is a crown having precious jewel for the Railway of India. This train is one as of its like and very famous among the tourists.  The tourists from out of the India also visit to see this train as because of its popularity.

History

In the year 1878, Siliguri and Calcutta was connected by the railway having broad gauge. At the foothill of the Himalayas, Siliguri is linked by the Darjeeling with the cart road that is presently known as Hill cart road having services of Tonga available.  An agent named Franklin Prestage from the Eastern Bengal Railway Company suggested the government to invest a tramway having steam engine to link the Siliguri and Darjeeling. In the year 1879, this proposal was made in action and Sir Ashley Eden who is a Bengal’s Lieutenant Governor make the positive report and the same 1879 year, the construction of this train was started.

The railway was constructed by the Gillanders Arbuthnot & Co.  On 23 August 1880, an extend was opened from Siliguri to the Kurseong and the official line linked to the Darjeeling was opened on 4 July 1881. Various changes were came across through the engineers to make the ramp of the rails.  DHR similarly improved the latest extensions with lines to improve the ratio of passengers and shipment despite being the various hazardous calamities like earthquake in year 1897 and a big cyclone in year 1899.  Later on, a bus service was also started on the Hill Cart Road that make journey shorter so the DHR had a strong competition from this service. DHR also played an important role around the world war II by giving supplies to the military and various camps all around the Darjeeling and Ghum camps.

Later on DHR becomes the member of the Northeast Railway Frontier zone after the India’s independence in the year 1958. From Siliguri, the line was stretched about 4 miles in year 1962 towards the New Jalpaiguri (NJP) linked to the newly built broad gauge line. During the year 1988 to the 1989 movement of Gorkhaland, for about a period of 18 months, this DHR remained closed. In the year 1999, UNESCO include this railway as a World Heritage Site and this becomes the second railway to get this honor.  The first railway is the Semmering of the Austria in the year 1998.

The Route

As resemblance to the National Highway 55, railway line follows the Road of Hill Cart.  This tract was located on the side of road.  When the landslides happened, both the road and track got affected.  There were various buildings that surrounded the road at longer side, so the line is also similar to the tracks of urban tramway line.

The engines of the tramway are fitted with the loud horn more than the horn of buses and trucks to warn the residents and the driver of the cars.  This horn was blowing without pause.

Loops and Z-Reverses (or "zig-zag"s)

As due to steepness, DHR faced lots of difficulties. One of the main difficulties faced by the DHR was the steepness of the climb. As including the system, there were latest features of Z-reverse and looping at the various routes of this trains that made the rise very easy for extends linking them.  By moving forwards and reversing back of the train and every time climbing, there is a height gain at the hill side.

Stations

New Jalpaiguri Junction ((NJP)

In the year 1964, there is railway station named New Jalpaiguri, which was linked to the south zone having connection of new broad gauge by the Assam.  The point of the connection of both gives rise to New Jalpaiguri.

Siliguri Town Station

Line that links the south terminal is the Siliguri town station.

Siliguri Junction

In the 1950s, after a new metre-guage line was made, then only Siliguri junction turned into a major station.

Sukna Station

Towards the wooded slopes of mountain from the flat plains, this Sukna station gives a major changes in the landscape, so after this the railway ramp changed.

Loop 1 (Now removed)

In the woods just over the Sukna, the loop No. 1 is situated. In the year 1991, after the damage by the flood, this loop was removed. This site of loop is now lost in forest area.

Rangtong Station

From the Rangtong with a smallest distance, there is a tank of water.  It is a great place for this water tank for the supply of water through other tanks.

Loop 2 (Now removed)

Due to damage by the flood in year 1942, the loop 2 also removed.  After this, a long revers run was created named reverse no. 1.

Reverse 1

Loop 3

Chunbatti is the no. 3 loop.  This loop is the most lowest one.

Reverse 2 & 3

Between the Tindharia and Chunbatti, the no. 2 and 3 reverse were present.

Tindharia Station

Just below this station, there is a workshop and this is the major station.  On the separate site of this, there is situated a engineer’s office and a biggest locomotive shelter.

There were 3 sidings just over the station.  An inspection of the carriages were held there and also there was a change of locomotives just before the continuation of train for the Darjeeling.

Loop 4

Name of the no. 4 loop is the Agony Point.  This loop derived from the shape of loop at the apex that involved tight curve over the line.

Gayabari

Reverse 6

The last reverse over the climb is the no. 6 reverse.

Kurseong Station

Just close to the main line, there is shed accompanied with the few sidings, whereas the station is towards the end. Just before the climb, the trains should reverse from the station. This station is built in a manner so that the passengers should take refreshment and the train could stay in a yard that is much secure.

Just over the Kurseong station, there is a bazaar through which the railway runs.  As still the busy road, the train encircles the shops front and stalls of the market.

Sonada Station

This station is very small at the foot hils of the Darjeeling Himalayan.  This station is just at the base of Siliguri - Darjeeling NH 55.

Jorebungalow Station

This station is a small station at the Darjeeling Himalayan railways. There is a store of tea from Calcutta. This station connected the Darjeeling to the other cities of the country.

Ghum Station

Ghum station is the one of highest station of India having summit line. There is a yard of old goods and a museum on the station’s first floor. This is one of the station on higher altitude with a narrow gauge rail line.

Batasia Loop

Just below the Ghum, this loop is at about 5 km from the Darjeeling. In the year 1947 after independence, the Gorkha soldiers of army sacrificed their lives, so there is a memorial of these soldiers.  The tourists can viewed the amazing view of whole Darjeeling with the range of Kanchenjunga along with the snowy hilly ranges from this loop.

Darjeeling Station

This station is the one of the farthest line. This line is now just mingled with the surface of road and under the smallest buildings over there.

Locomotives

Current

Just after the oil firing conversion, No.787.

Train hauling on the railway, No.778.

Steam

There is a B class steam locomotives on this line that were designed by the North British Locomotive Company, Sharp, Stewart & Co. in the year 1889 to 1925. The railway is using only 12 that remained, but about total of 34 were built.

Locomotive of no. 787 was built in year 2002 with the firing of oil.  This worked on the same principle as that of no. 37395 of Nilgiri railway. To operate the oil burner of engine and feed pump that is electrically driven, a generator was used that is diesel powered.  Also for the braking system, a compressor was fitted that is powered by diesel.  To fit the other locomotives, the feedwater heater is used.  So as a result, there were outstanding changes in the locomotives look.  There was a disappointment also in the locomotives trials, so the service is not regular.  Later on in year 2011, there is an existence of coal firing in the Tindharia works.

Towards the Matheran Hill railways, locomotive no. 794 was moved towards to permit the “Joy Train” in March 2001. But till the May 2002, it is not able to give its services.

Diesel

There were about 4 diesel locomotives that were now in use named No. 604, 601, 602, and 605 of class NDM6 that were from Matheran Hill Railways.

Past

Darjeeling Railway had class D Garratt.

The third locomotive Garrat was manufactured as D 0-4-0+0-4-0 class by the railways in year 1910.

As No. 778 is the only steam locomotive of DHR that was sent out of India.  This was kept in a museum for lots of years and then an enthusiast from United Kingdom purchased it and used for work order. This is basically based on railway of Oxfordshire, but now presently runs as Festiniog railway, Leighton Buzzard Light Railway, and the Launceston Steam Railway.

Tariff

• Darjeeling to Ghum -
  Rate per pax: Rs 360/-
• D. H. R. Heritage Toy Train Safari -
  Number of seats offered - 30
  Rate per pax: Rs.496/-

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