Categories: Top 5

Toy Trains In India | 5 Most Scenic Mountain Railway Lines

The artistic bridges, the spell-binding encircling beauties, the unique sounding horn of the trains, the curvy railway lines, the shadow images of the toy trains touching the upper layer of the miraculous natural formations etc..

India is one fine nation, which houses every mode of communication and transportation.

Not only trekking through the mountains is one of the passions but travelling via quirkily designed trains is also a preferred choice.

These trains serve the best view ever; miles and miles (twisted and twirling routes). It gives you the feeling like you are travelling on the green carpets under the shed of crystal clear skies.

Have you ever gone through an experience of wandering in the clouds?? If not, until now then right in moment start doing some research (type toy trains in India) and any time soon plan a trip that includes this fun-packed ride.

Sit comfortably in the mountain trains and witness varied dreamlike landscapes; get into deep thoughts thinking that this ride should never come to an end.

Country India being the homeland of diversity; not only embraces and comforts the presence of people belonging to the various paths of life and faith but it also serves the various modes of accessibility and direction deciders.

The mountain trains of India passes through some of the silence infused tunnels; the mountain bridges; the passing by views lined with uneven mountain trees; the enclosed underpasses and the surroundings shed by the tree shadows etc.

One should definitely get hold of such an experience at least once in a lifetime – the hill station trains India assures to leave in surprise in just a matter of a ride.

Toy Trains In India

Have you lived by an opportunity to enjoy a ride on the mountain trains of India? Here is the list of toy trains in India followed by an explanatory description.

1. Kalka Shimla Toy Trains In India

[It’s recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site]

A classic mode of connectivity and transportation; 2 feet and 6-inch narrow-gauge railway providing its services in Northern India. It travels over a mostly-mountainous route from Kalka to Shimla, the Queen of hills.

The Kalka-Shimla train passes through the noticeable and goodly hills and some significant village areas as well. It was built in the year 1898 so as to connect easily to the summer retreat known as Shimla (served as the summer capital of India during the British Raj).

The interesting fact that compliments its formation is mentioned in the below-line –

107 tunnels and 864 bridges were constructed along the route – impressive! Isn’t it?

The stop-by spots or say the stations of Kalka Shimla Toy Train are –

The thrill-driven journey begins from the Himalayan Shivalik Hills foothills at Kalka to Shimla. In total, it takes approximately 6.00 hours to cover the distance.

Kalka [past Dharampur]> Barog> Solan> Kandaghat> Shoghi> Jutogh> Summer Hill> Shimla.

Good to know information [Timings, Trains and Fares]

1. Kalka-Shimla Passenger –

  • Departure time: 4.00 am
  • Average travelling time: nearly 5 hours 20 minutes
  • Cost: INR 270 for first class and INR 25 for General tickets.

2. Kalka-Shimla Rail Motor Car –

  • Departure time: 5.10 am
  • Average travelling time: nearly 4 hours 40 minutes
  • Cost: INR 320 for first class

3. Himalayan Queen –

  • Departure time: 12.10 pm
  • Average travelling time: nearly 5 hours 10 minutes
  • Cost: INR 260 for AC chair and INR 25 for General.

4. Shivalik Deluxe Express –

  • Departure time: 5.30 am
  • Average travelling time: nearly 4 hours 45 minutes
  • Cost: INR 420 for AC Chair Car.

5. Kalka-Shimla Express –

  • Departure time: 6.00 am
  • Average travelling time: nearly 5 hours 10 minutes
  • Cost: INR 295 for first class; INR 65 for second class and INR 25 for General tickets.

Suggested Tour with Kalka Shimla Toy Train:

2. Darjeeling Himalayan Toy Trains In India

[It’s recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site]

In short spelt as DHR or Toy Train; it’s a 2 feet narrow-gauge railway settled on zigzag and loop-line technology. The Darjeeling Himalayan Railway traverses between the New Jalpaiguri and Darjeeling in the state of West Bengal.

This exemplary toy train route was built between the years of 1879 and 1881 [includes six zigzags and five loops]; the railway line is approximately 88 kms long.

The Rail route [leading to your dream destination]

  • Darjeeling> Ghum [India’s Highest railway station]> Sonada> ; Kurseong> Mahanadi> Tindharia> Sukna> Siliguri Junction> Siliguri Town> New Jalpaiguri.
  • The Red-Panda travels from Darjeeling to Kurseong.

Darjeeling Himalayan Toy Train Cost – INR 620 [one way]

Various Hindi films have showcased the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway like Aradhana| Barfi| Parineeta| Raju Ban Gaya Gentleman etc.

Suggested Tour For Darjeeling Himalayan Railway

3. The Kangra Valley Toy Trains In India

The Kangra Valley Railway functions in the Sub-Himalayan region of the Kangra Valley. It covers a remarkable distance of 164 Kilometers from Pathankot, Punjab to Joginder Nagar in the state of Himachal Pradesh. The Highest point of stoppage on this line is the Ahju station, situated at an elevation of 1290 meters.

The notable Kangra Valley railway falls under the Firozpur division of the Northern Railway.

This is how it traverses from 0 to 164 Kilometers (reference Wikipedia)

0 Kilometer – Pathankot Junction
83 Kilometers – Jwalamukhi Road
94 Kilometers – Kangra Railway Station
109 Kilometers – Nagrota
127 Kilometers – Palampur
141 Kilometers – Baijnath Paprola
164 Kilometers – Joginder Nagar

Cost of the General train – INR 35

Cost of the Kangra Queen

  • INR 330 for first Class
  • INR 310 for Chair Car
  • INR 190 for second Class

The expedition begins [train route]

Pathankot Junction> Jwalamukhi Road – Kangra> Nagrota> Palampur> Baijnath> Jogindernagar.

Suggested Tour for Kangra Valley Toy Train

4. Nilgiri Mountain Toy Trains In India

[It’s recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site]

Do you remember a well-known song from the movie Dil se [Chaiyya Chaiyya]; this magical song was shot on the rooftop of Nilgiri Mountain Railway.

The Nilgiri Mountain Railway was built by the British in the year 1908. It is 1000 mm meter gauge railway situated in the state of Tamil Nadu and effectively operator by the Southern Railway.

The Nilgiri Mountain Railway is the only Rack railway in India. The Nilgiri Mountain Railway has the steepest track in Asia with a maximum gradient of 8.33 percent.

The expedition begins [train route]

0 Kilometer – Mettupalayam
8 Kilometers – Kallar
13 Kilometers – Adderly
21 Kilometers – Runneymede
25 Kilometers – Kateri Road
28 Kilometers – Coonoor
29 Kilometers – Wellington
32 Kilometers – Aravankadu
38 Kilometers – Ketti
42 Kilometers – Lovedale
44 Kilometers – Fernhill
46 Kilometers – Udhagamandalam

Train Cost

  • INR 500 for First class
  • INR 250 for Second class tickets.

Suggested Tour For Nilgiri Mountain Railway

5. The Matheran Hill Toy Trains In India

The Matheran Hill Railway [in short – MHR]. It’s a 2 feet narrow-gauge Heritage Railway traversing in the allocated railway line in the state of Maharashtra.

The Matheran Hill Railway is regulated by the Central Railway. It travels a distance of 21 kms, running through the forest and connecting Neral to Matheran in the Western Ghats.

One-way trip cost [Neral to Matheran]

  • First class tickets: INR 300 for adults and INR 180 for children
  • Second class Tickets: INR 75 for adults and INR 45 for Children.

The stoppage points [Stations]

1- Neral
2- Jummapatti
3- Water Pipe
4- Aman Lodge
5- Matheran

Suggested Tour For Matheran Hill Railway

Meet up with your close friends or plan a get together, invite your family members and simply outline a plan.

Explore the natural beauty while sitting in comfort in the Toy Trains in India, cover the distances and make the most of the fun-packed trips.

Create memories and spend your life remembering it time and again.

Preeti Gupta

If life has another plan for you- question why and then in reply if you are able to give justification and make it clear that this is not what you thought for your life, no force can make you fall apart- sets you free to fly. Writing is my choice for my life.

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Preeti Gupta

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