Started in 1881, the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway is the mountain toy train service in India
India is a diverse nation, encompassing a wide range of religions,
communities, cuisines, languages, and festivals. India is also an extremely diverse nation in terms of geography, and therefore, its transport system is also diverse.
In this article of the ‘India On Wheels’ series, we take a look at the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway, a toy train service that started in 1881 to connect Siliguri in West Bengal with hill stations like Ghoom, Darjeeling, and Jalpaiguri.
Darjeeling Himalayan Railway
In the 1880s, when India was still under British rule, hill stations in India were considered the go-to spot for British elites, as they were unable to handle the Indian summers. Therefore, Darjeeling became one of the major hill stations, but unfortunately, after Siliguri, the journey was done on horse carts.
Given that the journey was extremely slow, an Eastern Bengal Railway agent named Franklin Prestage proposed laying a steam tramway from Siliguri to the mountains. By 1879, the proposal was accepted, and thus began the story of the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway.
Gillanders, Arbuthnot and Company
A company named the Gillanders, Arbuthnot and Company was hired to construct the railway project from Siliguri to Ghoom. Initially, the train operated from Siliguri to Kurseong, but on 4 July 1881, the entire stretch was opened to the public. Multiple modifications were made over the years to ease the train's climb. Given the steep inclination, four loops were added, along with multiple zigzags. In 1919, the famous tourist attraction, Batasia Loop, was created to facilitate the train’s gradient ascent.
(Credit- Conde Nast)
The train covers a journey of 88.48 kilometres, making it one of the longest mountain toy train routes in India. Not to forget, it also reaches an elevation of 2,073 metres. Considering all these factors and the beauty of the route, the toy train has been designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
125 years
(Credit- Sita Travels)
This year, the steam engines, specifically the British B-Class steam engines, marked 125 years, continuing to haul trains and passengers multiple times daily. It has been a challenge for all the staff in the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway to keep the century-old engines in running condition. From star engineers to the good old ‘jugaad’ of India, the workforce at the Tindharia workshop is the reason behind the engines’ nonstop hustle.
Part of the film industry
The toy train of Darjeeling has been part of the Indian film industry for decades. Several film scenes and songs have been shot on the train. Ranbir Kapoor’s Barfi, Shah Rukh Khan’s Dil Hai Mera Deewana and Raju Ban Gaya Gentleman, Saif Ali Khan’s Parineeta, and the late Rajesh Khanna’s iconic song Meri Sapno Ki Rani give us a glimpse of the toy train.
(Credit- Telegraph India)
No matter where you live in India, at least once in your life, you must fly down to Bagdogra (the nearest airport to Siliguri) or take a train to Siliguri and ride the toy train from the foothill to the top of the mountain. You will not only be captivated by the scenic beauty, but time will also stand still, allowing you to reflect on other aspects of life that we often overlook in the hustle and bustle of city life.
