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The Joyous Toy Trains of India
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| Shimla |
| 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 - Dharmpore, Taksal, Gamma and Solang, all add up to an exhilarating experience. |
| Access to Shimla |
| Shimla is connected by a broad gauge line up to Kalka from Kalka to Shimla, 'the toy train' cover 96 km of track in six hours. |
| Ooty (Udhagamandalam) |
| 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 ot Ooty. At a maximum speed of 33 km per hour , this 'toy train' treks across plains , plantations and forest clad hills . The 16 tunnel and tall girder bridges on the way, along with the breathtaking view, make this toy train journey to Ooty , something not to be missed. |
| Access to Ooty |
| Ooty is connected by a narrow gauge line from Mettupalayam, which serves as the railhead for mainline trains. Major trains to Mettupalayam |
| Major Trains to Mettupalayam |
| The Nilgiri Express connects Mettupalayam with Chennai daily. Coimbatore, the nearest city is 90 km away and linked to all the major cities by rail . Mettupalayam is easily accessible from Coimbatore by frequent bus or train services. |
| Darjeeling |
| The most famous of the little trains , is the one linking the town of New Jalpaiguri 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 connoisseur's delight. The 86 km Darjeeling line has no tunnels , thus allowing the traveler 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. |
| Access to Darjeeling |
| New Jalpaiguri , the starting point of the hill train to Darjeeling, has direct connections to Calcutta, Delhi, Guwahati and other places in India. |
| Matheran |
| The 77 year old line, connecting Neral (on maon line of Central Railway) to Matheran , is the main way to reach the tiny hill resort, close to Mumbai. As the little train wheezes up into the clear mountain air , one can view the scenic vista of hills and plains below. The lack of vehicular traffic at Matheran |
