Kalka–Shimla Railway

The Kalka - Shimla narrow gauge railway is a railway track width 762 mm in the north- west of India, which runs from Kalka to Shimla, the state capital of Himachal Pradesh. Due to the gauge and the relatively small number of cars it is - as well as other narrow gauge railways in India - also known as the Toy Train ( toy train ) is known.

It it is a regular railway line from Indian Railways, the ride is, however, extremely popular with tourists because of the spectacular route.

History and track construction

The city, located in the foothills of the Himalayas at about 2100-2200 meters, Shimla was the mid-19th century ( officially 1864 ) ' summer capital ' of the government of British India, as the officials of the heat in the larger cities like Delhi and Kolkata wanted to escape. The railway line was built in the late 19th century by order of the British colonial government in order to facilitate transport between Delhi and Shimla and speed. On 9 November 1903, the track was officially opened.

The route

Distance is 96.5 km long and covers on this distance, a vertical drop of 1,420 m ( Kalka: 656 m, railway station Shimla: 2076 m). In addition to the large slope be on the relatively short distance 864 bridges (many viaducts ), 102 tunnels ( the longest of which 1.14 km long), 919 curves and 18 mostly smaller stations happened or passed through. Overall, the trip takes about 5-6 hours from the train thereby offer spectacular views to the valley and the surrounding mountains. Large parts of the route through (coniferous ) forests. The track is a single track, at several stations before continuing your journey until after the arrival of the stabilizing layer. The resulting waiting times make it possible to buy drinks and snacks from merchants outside of the train.

The trains

Daily train up to seven pairs of trains on the track. Passenger trains are usually next to the locomotive ( diesel ZDM -3 built from 1970 to 1982 at CLW, some later recreated locomotives with modified locomotive body with two cabs ) from up to six coaches. Most tourists use either the luxurious " Shivalik Deluxe Express" ( with on-board service) or the "Himalayan Queen" (normal seat car, without on-board service ). Once a day runs a rail car with a glass roof (Rail Motor Car ).

Others

In 2008, the railway line was included in the World Heritage Site by UNESCO. There it will be run jointly with the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway and the Nilgiri Mountain Railway as a World Heritage Site Mountain Railways of India.

Gallery

Passenger train at the railway station Solan, 2007

Train with diesel locomotive No.182 YDM3, 2005

Special steam in Taradevi, 2005

Schienenbus 4 in Shimla, 2005