Mountain Railways of India

Mountain Railways of India

UNESCO World Heritage Site
Location	India
Includes	Darjeeling Himalayan Railway Kalka–Shimla Railway Nilgiri Mountain Railway
Criteria	Cultural: (ii), (iv) [1]
Reference	944
Inscription	1999 (23rd Session)
Extensions	2005, 2008
Endangered	–
[edit on Wikidata]

The Mountain railways of India consist of below railway lines. Three of these railways, Darjeeling Himalayan Railway, Nilgiri Mountain Railway, and Kalka–Shimla Railway have been collectively designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, also named as "Mountain railways of India".^[2] Some railways are under construction like Jammu–Baramulla line. Many railways are proposed to be built in future, such as Bilaspur–Mandi–Leh line and Chota Char Dham Railway.

History

The concept of mountain railways was conceived by the British Raj in order to establish control over the Himalayas and other mountain ranges within India. In 1844 Sir John Lawrence, Viceroy of India,^[3] embraced the idea of making the mountains more accessible, particularly to the British military. In a proposal simply called 'Hill Railway', the British planned for a system of train stations across the Indian subcontinent. The locations proposed were: Shimla, the 'summer capital' of British India; Darjeeling, in the state of West Bengal, known for its tea gardens and scenic views; Ootacamund in the Nilgiri mountains of the Tamil Nadu state; and the Matheran hill station in the Western Ghats near Bombay (now Mumbai).^[4][5][6]

The colossal effort to construct a hill passenger railway system throughout the mountainous regions of India officially commenced in 1878 with the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway project. Franklin Prestage of the Eastern Bengal Railway initiated plans for the building of a hill tramway parallel to the hill cart road between Siliguri and Darjeeling. By 1881 the line was completed up to Darjeeling.^[4][5]

The next project, which had initially been proposed in 1854, was the Nilgiri Mountain Railway in Tamil Nadu. Work started in 1894, but the railroad was not completed until 1908, due to the harsh terrain along the route. The route was only 46 kilometers (29 mi) long, but had altitudes ranging between 326 meters (1,070 ft) and 2,203 meters (7,228 ft).

Construction on the 96-kilometer-long (60 mi) Kalka–Shimla Railway began in 1898. The railway's purpose was to link the remote hill regions to the rest of the country. In November 1903 the railroad was inaugurated by the then Viceroy, Lord Curzon.

Finally, the Matheran–Neral railway was completed in 1907. Matheran is a station 108 kilometers (67 mi) away from Mumbai.^[7][4][8]

UNESCO's designation of three of the mountain railways of India as a 'World Heritage Site' was on the basis of "outstanding examples of bold, ingenious engineering solutions for the problem of establishing an effective rail link through a rugged, mountainous terrain."^[7] The Darjeeling Himalayan Railway got the honor first, in 1999; the Nilgiri Mountain Railway followed in 2005; and the Kalka–Shimla Railway in 2008. The three routes have together been titled the 'Mountain Railways of India' under UNESCO World Heritage Site criteria ii and iv, within the Asia-Pacific region. The Matheran Railway, a fourth mountain line, has also been nominated and is pending approval by the international body.^[7][6]

Darjeeling Himalayan Railway

The steam locomotive of DHR

The Darjeeling Himalayan Railway (DHR), given the nickname "the Toy Train," is a 610 mm (2 ft) narrow-gauge railway that runs the 88 kilometers (55 mi) between Siliguri and Darjeeling. The railroad is operated by Indian Railways and is located in the state of West Bengal. The railway line was built by the British Government in 1881 and continues to be internationally regarded. Darjeeling is a major summer hill station and the centre of a flourishing tea-growing district. The elevation of the route starts at 100 meters (330 ft) in Siliguri and rises to about 2,200 meters (7,200 ft) at Darjeeling. The highest highest elevation, however, is found at Ghoom station (2,300 meters (7,500 ft)).^[9][10]

The town of Siliguri was connected with Calcutta (now Kolkata) via railway in 1878, while the additional journey to Darjeeling needed to be taken using tongas (horse-driven carts) along a dust track. On the recommendations of a Committee appointed by Sir Ashley Eden, work on the railroad began in 1879 and was completed by July 1881.^[9][11] The line underwent several improvements over the years to increase manoeuvrability by making gradients more gradual. By 1909–1910, the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway was carrying roughly 174,000 passengers and 47,000 tonnnes of goods annually.^[10]

Important features incorporated in the line included four loops (spirals) and four 'Z' reverses (zigzags). The introduction of bogie carriages allowed for the replacement of the basic four wheel carriages formerly used. A major earthquake damaged the railway in 1897, and during the rebuilding of the route extensive improvements were made to the track and stations. Further modernization occurred as part of the Northeast Frontier Railway Zone. Most trains on the route are still powered by steam engines, although a modern diesel engine is used for the Darjeeling Mail train.^[9][11][12]

In 1999, the Darjeeling line was the first to be recognized by UNESCO and placed on the World Heritage List. A condition of being placed upon the list was that steam locomotives would continue to be used along the route.^[7]

Another famed feature of the route is the signage located at key vantage points, marking locations with titles such as 'Agony Point' and 'Sensation Corner.' Spirals located on steep hills are also notable and provide spectacular views of the valleys below.^[4]

Panoramic view of Darjeeling station on DHR

Nilgiri Mountain Railway

NMR travelling between Mettupalayam and Ootacamund

The rack railway system of NMR

The Nilgiri Mountain Railway is a single track, 46 kilometers (29 mi) long metre gauge single-line railroad. Initially Coonoor was the final station on the line, but in September 1908 it was extended to Fernhill, and eventually up to Udagmandalam by October 15, 1908. In present-day it connects the town of Mettupalayam with the hill station of Udagamandalam (Ootacamund). The route is located within the state of Tamil Nadu and travels through the Nilgiri Hills, which are popularly known as the 'Blue Mountains' of Southern India. The Nilgiri is the only rack railway in India, meaning it uses an alternate biting system (ABT), commonly referred to as a 'rack and pinion' rail system. The ABT requires use of special steam locomotives. The system was described by Sir Gulford L. Molesworth in a report from 1886:^[13]

Two distinct functions – first that of traction by adhesion as in an ordinary loco; second that of traction by pinions acting on the track bars. The brakes are four in number – two handbrakes, acting by friction; and two acting by preventing the free escape of air from cylinder and thus using compressed air in retarding the progress of the engine. The former are used for shunting whilst the later for descending steep gradients. One of the handbrakes acts on the tyres of the wheels in the ordinary manner and the second acts on grooved surfaces of the pinion axle, but can be used in those places where the rack is laid.^[13]

The line travels a distance of 46 kilometers (29 mi), and contains 208 curves, 16 tunnels, and 250 bridges. The uphill journey along the route takes about 290 minutes (4.8 hours), while the downhill journey takes only 215 minutes (3.6 hours).^[4][14][15]

The Nilgiri Mountain Railway was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in July 2005. A unique feature of the line, which is still fully operational, is that it is oldest and steepest track using rack and pinion technology. Currently the line has a metre gauge for 7.2 kilometers (4.5 mi), up to the foothill station of Kallar, where the rack rail portion begins. The longest tunnel of this section measures 97 meters (318 ft). The metre gauge section of the route has a gradient of 1:12.5 through Coonoor. Beyond Coonoor, up to the final station, the track has a ruling gradient of 1:23.^[4][5]

Kalka–Shimla Railway

Shivalik Deluxe Express at Taradevi station on KSR

A KSR train on a bridge

The Kalka–Shimla Railway opened on November 9, 1903 and continues to run between Kalka and Shimla. The railroad is a 95.66 kilometers (59.44 mi) long, 2 ft 6 in (762 mm) narrow-gauge line.^[5] Shimla is the modern capital of Himachal Pradesh,^[4][16] and is located at an elevation of 7,234 feet (2,205 m) in the foothills of the Himalayas. It was formerly the summer capital of British India, starting in 1864, and also served as the headquarters of the British Army in India. Kalka is a town in the Panchkula district of Haryana.^[4][16]

Prior to construction of the railroad, the only access to Shimla was via a village cartway. The railway line was constructed by the Delhi–Ambala–Kalka Railway Company, with the project beginning in 1898 in the Siwalik Hills, being completed in 1903.

The Kalka–Shimla Railway has 103 tunnels and 864 bridges. Most of the bridges are multi-arched, reminiscent of Ancient Roman aqueducts, while one bridge which spans 18.29 meters (60.0 ft) is made with plate girders and steel truss. The ruling gradient of the railway is 1:33 or 3%, and it features 919 curves, with the sharpest being 48 degrees (a radius of 37.47 meters (122.9 ft)). The tracks climb from 656 meters (2,152 ft) to a peak elevation of 2,076 meters (6,811 ft) at Shimla. The longest tunnel on the line is the Barog Tunnel (No. 33) which is 1,144 meters (3,753 ft) long, connecting Dagshai and Solan.

The Kalka–Shimla Railway joined the Nilgiri and Darjeeling lines as a World Heritage Site in 2008.^[7] The route from Kalka to Shimla further includes the 3.2 kilometers (2.0 mi) long Koti tunnel, as well as the Dharampur main station. 32 kilometers (20 mi) from Kalka, loops at Taksal, Gumman and Dharampur help to attain flatter gradients. Other important stations on this route include Dagshai (38.4 kilometers (23.9 mi) from Kalka, at an elevation of 1,600 meters (5,200 ft)) and Solan. Special luxury trains called the Shivalik Express and the Shivalik Palace Saloon operate during the summer months to handle the increased number of tourists. The railroad is also used for shipping cargo such as potatoes and serving military objectives.^[4]

Matheran Hill Railway

A train on MHR

Matheran Hill Railway is a heritage railway in Maharashtra finished in 1907. The project was led by Abdul Peerbhoy and financed by his father, Sir Adamjee Peerbhoy of the Adamjee Group.

The railroad uses a 610mm (2 ft) gauge line, covering a distance of 20 kilometers (12 mi) between Neral and Matheran in the Western Ghats. The route was designed in 1900, with construction beginning in 1904 and being completed in 1907. The original tracks were built using 30 lb/yard rails but were later updated with heavier 42 lb/yard rails. Ruling gradient for the railroad is 1:20 (5%), and tight curves require train speeds to be limited to 20 kilometres per hour (12 mph). Until the 1980s the railway was closed during Monsoon season due to increased risk of landslides, but it is now kept open throughout the year. The line is administered by Central Railways.^[4]

A unique feature of the line is its horseshoe embankments. Notable features of the route include Neral Station, the first on the route; the Herdal Hill section; the steep grade of Bhekra Khud; the "One Kiss Tunnel" (the only tunnel on the route, it earned its nickname because the tunnel is just long enough to exchange a kiss with one's partner); a "Water Pipe" station, which is no longer in operation; Mountain Berry which features two sharp 'Zig Zags'; Panorama Point; and finally the end of the route at Matheran Bazaar. The broad-gauge railroad between Mumbai and Pune runs near the Matheran Hill Railway, and the two tracks cross each other at two locations.^[4]

Kangra Valley Railway

A train on KVR

The Kangra Valley Railway lies in the sub-Himalayan region and covers a distance of 163 kilometers (101 mi) between Pathankot and Joginder Nagar, a valley known for its natural beauty and ancient Hindu shrines. The line, which is part of the Northern Railway and is made with a 2 ft 6 in (762 mm) gauge, was planned in May 1926 and commissioned in 1929 and is popularly known as the “Kangra Toy Train”. The highest point on this line is at Ahju station at an elevation of 1,291 meters (4,236 ft) and the terminus at Joginder Nagar is at 1,189 meters (3,901 ft).^[17] The line has 971 uniquely designed bridges and two tunnels. Two particularly important bridge structures are the steel arch bridge over the Reond nalah and the girder bridge over the Banganga River. Though the gradient of the line is generally gentle, the critical reach with steep slopes is at the 142 kilometers (88 mi) stretch, which is of 210 meters (690 ft) width with 1:19 slope with approach slopes of 1:31 and 1:25. The terminus stretch between Baijnath and Jogindernagar is 1:25. The train journey on this line provides beautiful views of peaks of the Dhauladhar mountain range, particularly in the stretch between Kangra and Mangwal, and also the ruins of the Kangra Fort.^[18][4][8]

Jammu–Baramulla line

A passenger train at Srinagar railway station on Jammu–Baramulla line

The Jammu–Baramulla line is a 5 ft 6 in (1,676 mm) railway line being built in India to connect the state of Jammu and Kashmir with the rest of the country. The railway starts from Jammu and, when completed, will travel for 345 kilometres (214 mi) to the city of Baramulla on the northwestern edge of the Kashmir Valley. The route crosses major earthquake zones, and is subjected to extreme temperatures of cold and heat, as well as inhospitable terrain, making it an extremely challenging engineering project. The project has had a long and chequered history but serious progress was made only after it was declared a National Project in 2002. The railway line has been under construction since 2002. It will link the state's winter capital, Jammu, with the summer capital, Srinagar, and beyond. The railway line has been built from Jammu to Katra and the line from Katra to Banihal may be completed by 2020 but more likely by 2023.^[19][20]

Lumding–Badarpur section

The Lumding–Badarpur section in Assam consists of a 5 ft 6 in (1,676 mm) railway line from Lumding to Badarpur.^[21] It has numerous bridges and tunnels. The total route length is 210 km. The section traverses Barail mountains.^[22]

Proposed railways

Bilaspur–Mandi–Leh line is a proposed railway track that is planned to connect Bilaspur in Himachal Pradesh to Leh in Ladakh region of Jammu and Kashmir state of India. Bilaspur–Mandi–Leh line is expected to become the highest railway track in the world by its completion overtaking the current record of China's Qinghai–Tibet Railway.^[23]

Jammu–Poonch line is a proposed railway line from Jammu Tawi station via the Historic City of Akhnoor to Poonch via Kaleeth-Doori Dager-Chowki Choura-Bhambla-Nowshera-Rajouri. The line was designated a national project on 22 March 2012.^[24] The new railway Line between Jammu and Poonch with 234.12 km length will cost Rs. 7227.85 Crore.^[25]

Srinagar–Kargil–Leh line is a proposed railway line from Srinagar station via the town of Kargil to Leh by Indian Railways. The line was designated a national project on 26 February 2013.^[26]

Chota Char Dham Railway has two different Y-shaped railways, with total of the following four individual rail lines, Doiwala-Dehradun-Uttarkashi-Maneri Gangotri Railway is a 131 km long route, Uttarkashi-Palar Yamunotri Railway is a 22 km long route making a “Y” fork connection at Uttarkashi from the Gangotri railway above. Karanprayag-Saikot-Sonprayag Kedarnath Railway 99 km long route amd Saikot-Joshimath Badrinath Railway, a 75 km long route making a “Y” fork connection at Saikot from the Kedarnath railway above. Rishikesh-Karanprayag Railway is also an under construction new railway link extension from the exiting Rishikesh railway station to Karanprayag.^[27]

See also

• Railways portal

References

External links

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