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Venture to revive Darjeeling's toy train
Siliguri (WB): The Indian Railways and London-based Darjeeling Himalayan Railway Society (DHRS) are planning to revive the 125-year old Darjeeling Himalayan Railway's heritage toy train. Representatives of the two organisations held a meeting here recently. Applauding the efforts of the Indian Railways in sustaining the charm of the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway, better known as the Darjeeling Toy Train, Peter Jordan, Tour Manager of DHRS, noted that the train has unexploited potential to interest tourists. "There are good hotels in Siliguri and Darjeeling. The people are privileged with a wonderful organisation of the Indian Railways. It was a real pleasure to bring the people to this area to enjoy the scenery and to experience the Darjeeling in real life," said Jordan.
Officials
of the Indian Railways have also extended support for the suggested revamping
of the toy train that was declared a World Heritage Train on December
1, 1999, by the UNESCO. Reportedly, the track of the train from New Jalpaiguri
Railway Station till Darjeeling is being renovated. "Fifty kilometres
of track has already been reconstructed. New ATM (Automated Teller Machine)
points and food plazas are in the pipeline at Ghoom Station (7407 ft/2260
m) the highest point of the journey at Darjeeling. "Besides, a museum
displaying the journey of this little wonder in mountains since its inception
in 1881 till the date is also coming up at Kurseong, a flourishing little
hill station," said Mehtab Sing, the Divisional Railway Manager, North
Frontier Railway, Katihar Division. The Darjeeling Himalayan Railway Society
was formed in London to promote worldwide support to this train. It raises
funds for the Himalayan Railway Heritage Foundation by publishing global
picture postcards. However, the old heritage look of the magical train
and its sojourn points will be maintained in all the 17 locos and the
allied rakes. The Darjeeling Toy Train is one of the most famous narrow
(two feet) gauge trains ride, providing spectacular views of the Himalayan
region. Though prone to frequent disruption in services due to landslides
during monsoon season, the Darjeeling Himalayan Railways provides a great
joy of a train ride in its 88 kilometres long winding journey. The toy
train goes along 919 curves and crosses nearly 550 culverts and bridges,
eight of them being major ones. The zig zag track runs along the motor
road and at 150 places crosses the hill cart road. There are 177 manned
level crossings. At Ghoom, the highest railway station in the world till
the Chinese built the railway track in the Tibet region to Lhasa, the
toy train literally takes a 360-degrees loop to ascend 20 feet higher.
-Feb 20, 2007
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