Toy train in Nilgiri hills
Arun Kumar Das
Ooty (Tamil Nadu), Mar 16: It’s a short journey by a four-coach toy train but something to be remembered for long.
Opened in 1899, the Nilgiri Mountain Railway (NMR) is an outstanding example of a hill passenger service as the metre gauge train chugs along the 46 km long Mettupalayam – Udagamandalam rail line in Tamil Nadu attracting tourists from all over.
Passing through 16 tunnels, 257 bridges and 209 curves, NMR is a World Heritage Site. It has retained much of its original components – Stations, Semaphore Signal Systems, Locomotives, Rolling Stock – making it a rare system of heritage value that is still operational.
The Nilgiri Mountain Railway was inscribed as a World Heritage Site as a part of Mountain Railways of India during the year 2005 by UNESCO.
According to the Railways, it was a bold and ingenious engineering initiative to establish a rail link across a mountainous terrain of great beauty. The engineering marvel still stands testimony to the skills of Railway Engineering.
The Railways has earned Rs 19 cr in 2024-25 from this heritage route and it is expected to be Rs 20 cr in 2025-26.
We charge very little from passengers so that we can continue the train operation as our purpose is for maintaining the heritage, said Salem Divisional Railway Manager DRM) Panna Lal.
The history of the Nilgiri Mountain Railway can be traced back to 1854 when proposals were first mooted by the British to build a Railway up the hills from Mettupalayam. When the Madras – Coimbatore – Mettupalayam section opened in 1873, the district engineer of The Nilgiris, JLL Morant began to explore the possibility of a railway line to ascend the mountains.
The Nilgiri Mountain Railway Line was constructed and opened in phases.
The Railway Line from Mettupalayam to Coonoor, running to a length of 27.34 km, was opened on June 15, 1899.
The Railway Line from Coonoor to Fernhill, covering a distance of 17.48 km, was opened on September 15, 1908.
The Railway Line from Fernhill to Udagamandalam, 1.79 km long, was opened on October 15, 1908.
DRM said, ” The train passes through a sharp gradient amid the mountains. This is the only ‘rack and pinion’ railway system in India and is also the steepest railway line in Asia.”
The Nilgiri Mountain Railway rain covers a distance of 46 km while scaling an elevation from 326 m to 2203 m.
Specially designed X Class Steam Locomotives haul the trains between Mettupalayam –Coonoor. Originally, these X Class Steam Locomotives were imported from Switzerland, but they are now being manufactured at Golden Rock Workshop, Tiruchchirappalli.
Diesel Locomotives haul the train between Coonoor – Udagamandalam.
The Steam and Diesel Locomotives of the Nilgiri Mountain Railway are being maintained at the Steam Loco Shed at Coonoor.
A fleet of 27 NMR coaches are available for running passenger train services on the Nilgiri Mountain Railway. Besides, 13 wagons are also available for transporting materials necessary for maintaining the track and other engineering assets on the section. These coaches and wagons are being maintained by the Carriage and Wagon Depot at Mettupalayam.
In order to preserve and promote the Heritage Assets, a Nilgiri Mountain Railway Museum was opened at Mettupalayam on October 10, 2015 and a Heritage Museum was opened at Udhagamandalam on June 15, 2018. These Museums showcase the past for the future and attract tourists as well as passengers visiting the Nilgiri Mountain Railway.
Currently a daily train service is operated between Mettupalayam – Udagamandalam – Mettupalayam. Moreover, 3 pairs of trains are operated between Coonoor – Udagamandalam daily.
In addition, special trains are operated on the Nilgiri Mountain Railway during summer and other holidays.
The Mettupalayam, Coonoor and Udagamandalam Railway Stations of the Nilgiri Mountain Railway are being redeveloped under the ‘Amrit Bharat Station Scheme’, retaining the heritage structure and aesthetics.
