Darjeeling Himalayan Railway to run toy train called Red Panda

2:16 PM

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Tourism

Darjeeling Himalayan Railway (DHR) will run a steam engine-driven train, toy train, between Kurseong and Darjeeling from the end of the month and the special train has been named after the red panda.

DHR to run toy train called Red Panda

The endangered animal was recently chosen by the Election Commission as a mascot for creating awareness about free and fair election in the Darjeeling Lok Sabha seat.

Sugato Lahiri, the chief public relations officer of Northeast Frontier Railway under which the DHR operates, today said the toy train would run on Saturday and Sundays.

“We had been thinking about starting a special train between Kurseong and Darjeeling since last year. The name Red Panda was also finalised at that time but some formalities had to be completed. Recently, we got the sanction to start the train between Kurseong and Darjeeling and the service would start by the end of the month. The train would run on Saturday and Sunday every week,” Lahiri told The Telegraph from NFR headquarters in Maligaon.

Kurseong is 38km from Darjeeling.

The special train would be driven by steam engines and have two first-class non-AC coaches.

Earlier, toy trains with steam engines ran between Kurseong and Darjeeling but for the past three-four years, the steam engines have been replaced by diesel ones.

Now, steam engines operate only on the Ghoom-Darjeeling route. Ghoom is 68km from here.

Two daily trains run on the Kurseong-Darjeeling stretch. The trains are diesel-driven and have one first class and one second class coach, both non-AC.

The DHR authorities are hopeful that the Red Panda train will generate favourable response among tourists for whom the Unesco World Heritage Railway is a major attraction.

The International Union for Conservation of Nature has listed the red panda as an endangered species.

“Darjeeling is known for its rich flora and fauna and scenic beauty. Darjeeling hills are famous for being the sanctuary of the Red Panda, which is an endangered species. Tourists come from across the country and abroad to see the animal. Darjeeling is also popular for the DHR. We thought combining the two popular items of the hills would be an attractive package for tourists. To ride in the luxury of first-class coaches drawn by a steam engine would be a rewarding experience for steam engine enthusiasts,” Lahiri said.

Source: Telegraph

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Darjeeling Himalayan Railway resumed Kurseong to Mahanadi toy train service

10:16 AM

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Siliguri

Darjeeling -Siliguri, March 25: The Darjeeling Himalayan Railway (DHR) today resumed the toy train service between Kurseong and Mahanadi, a stretch of 13km, following the repair of tracks at the landslide-hit Tindharia.

Darjeeling Himalayan Railway resumed Kurseong to Mahanadi  toy train service

“We have extended the daily toy train service up to Mahanadi. From now on, the Himalaya-On-Wheels that reaches Kurseong from Darjeeling around 1.20pm, will travel 13km further till Mahanadi and return. This is a big achievement for the DHR because the track between Mahanadi and Kurseong had been lying unused for nearly four years now. Now only 6km of damaged tracks at Paglajhora remain to be repaired,” said D.S. Kunwar, the additional divisional railway manager of Katihar division, under which DHR functions.

The main aim of extending the service up to Mahanadi is to make operational a major portion of the 78km hill railway track that had been damaged by landslides along NH55 at Paglajhora and Tindharia, around 35km and 30km from here respectively.

Source:Telegraph

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Darjeeling toy train service from NJP to Ghayabari resumed

11:15 AM

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Live News

Darjeeling : After a gap of around four years, the Darjeeling toy train service from NJP to Ghayabari was finally restarted yesterday, but the direct journey of the toy train from NJP to Darjeeling is yet to be restored.

Steam engine toy train en-route to Ghayabari on Sunday.

Notably, since June, 2010, there has been no direct toy train services between NJP to Darjeeling, as its routes and tracks are damaged at different places in Kurseong region, mainly at 14th Mile Ghayabari and below the Tindharia Locomotive workshop due to frequent landslides. On June 14, 2010 a major portion of NH-55 along with adjacent railway tracks were destroyed at 14 Mile due to landslides. Later, on September 28, 2011, a major portion of railway tracks were destroyed by a landslide below the Tindharia Railway Workshop.

But recently, the affected site near the Tindharia Railway Workshop was reconstructed with new railway tracks.  Following which the route was opened on Sunday, where a group of foreign tourists enjoyed the ride of a steam engine toy train from NJP to Ghayabari.

The reconstruction works of the routes between Ghayabari station to Mahanadi station and further upwards from Mahanadi station to Kurseong station are yet to be completed.

When asked, a senior Darjeeling Himalayan Railway (DHR) official said the efforts are on by the railway department for the early resumption of the direct train services, but until and unless the landslides affected NH 55 areas is not constructed completely, it is difficult to resume the services till Darjeeling currently.

Source:EOI

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England-based Darjeeling Himalayan Railway Society pledged Rs10 lakh for its preservation

9:20 PM

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DHR

The state of the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway has remained in tatters for quite a while now, but help from an unlikely quarter has raised hopes of rejuvenating the world renowned heritage of the Darjeeling hills going forward.

DHRS vice president Paul Whittle.

England-based Darjeeling Himalayan Railway Society (DHRS) has reportedly pledged the toy train Rs10 lakh for its preservation. The money will be awarded to the organisation that comes with a holistic project.

"We have collected Rs10 lakh from our members and will hand it over to the organisation that will provide us with a sound preservation project. We love the DHR and want it preserved and functional not only for foreign tourists but also local stakeholders," explained DHRS vice president Paul Whittle, who arrived in Darjeeling on Thursday.

Incidentally, Whittle also runs a tour and travel agency in England and visits Darjeeling regularly with visiting groups.

"Our commitment builds on strong relationships with our friends and partners in the Darjeeling region. We will consider a suitable project that directly helps to preserve the unique character of the DHR," he said.

The DHRS will also communicate with DHR officials for future projects that may need external support.

"We are already in talks with DHR authorities as to the type of projects they would like us to support. We are ready to extend all possible help," said the DHRS vice chairman. Whittle added he would meet the DHR divisional manager on Sunday to enquire The DHRS was founded in 1997 and boasts of more than 700 members in 24 countries working towards providing support and awareness about the DHR.

"This is the first time that we are handing out money for preservation work of the DHR. Our initial objective was to be involved only in creating awareness in various countries besides holding charity events to raise money," said Whittle.

The DHRS vice president pointed out the importance of restoring the DHR track that runs the entire length to Darjeeling from New Jalpaiguri station.

"It is important the lines get restored all the way from Darjeeling to NJP. Some stretches have been damaged by landslides," he noted.

Stretches of the DHR track was washed away in 2010 by landslides near Paglajhora, while the Tindharay stretch also got heavily damaged two years later.

"I have seen work in progress to restore the tracks and lines at Paglajhora and in Tindharay. Much needs to be done urgently even though the ongoing restoration work is impressive," remarked Whittle.

He was of the opinion that fast-tracking the restoration work would attract tourists whose love affair with the DHR has got rudely interrupted.

"I have written to senior officials requesting railway lines be opened till Tindharay from Darjeeling by the middle of this month as 60 visitors from the UK are coming only to ride on the toy train. But there has been no response so far," said the DHRS vice president.

Meanwhile, DHR officials could not be contacted for comment on the DHRS initiative even after several attempts.

Source:EOI

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National Rail Museum gets Darjeeling toy trains vintage engine

12:13 AM

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Darjeeling toy train

Celebrating its 37 years of existence, the National Rail Museum launched the service of a vintage locomotive for the toy train at the museum complex at Chanakyapuri here over the weekend. The engine, manufactured in England, was first used by the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway for toy trains in 1881. It was rebuilt at a workshop in Darjeeling in 1917 and finally withdrawn from service in 1957.

Rail Museum toy train gets vintage engine

The coach attached with the train was also built at Darjeeling at a cost of Rs. 1,907 in 1902. It has a seating capacity of 16. The 4.360-metre-long coach was withdrawn in 1968, after being in service for about 66 years.

Railway Board Chairman Arunendra Kumar dedicated the vintage engine hitched with eight coaches to the museum.

Mr. Kumar later took a joy ride with children and their parents. Talking to mediapersons he said the museum has now been put on the Delhi Tourist map. This will allow tourists to see and understand the history of the Indian Railways.

The museum has an annual footfall of 3.5 lakh.

The addition of Ho-Ho bus service is likely to increase its popularity.y.

Source:thehindu.

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Darjeeling toy train derailed in Kurseong

9:48 AM

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kurseong

A diesel engine toy train headed to Darjeeling derailed in Kurseong today, but no causalities were reported.

Railway officials trying to get the derailed toy train
back on track in Kurseong on Thursday.

According to reports, the toy train derailed as soon as it left Kurseong Railway Station around 3:00pm in the evening. The two-compartment train was carrying a few passengers when the mishap occurred.

Eyewitnesses said the coach attached to the engine got derailed after one of the wheels on the right hand side slipped off the tracks. But despite the accident occurring at a busy section of town, neither was any traffic movement affected nor did anyone get injured.

Railways officials managed to get the train back on its tracks in a jiffy and have started repair works to the wooden sleepers.

DHR director M Bhutia said there was a minor derailment and such incidents on hilly tracks are common.

Source: EOI

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Oldest Darjeeling himalayan railway video

12:13 AM

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Video

This is one of the earliest or the oldest video of the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway (DHR) or popularly known as Darjeeling Toy Train in the internet one can find. In the video we can see the world famous Darjeeling Toy train whistling past its way through scenic beauty of the hill.

The idea of a railway link between Siliguri and Darjeeling was first mooted in the year 1870 by Franklin Prestage, who at that time was the Sole agent of the Eastern Bengal Railway Co. He proposed to build the rail line along the old Hill Cart Road being used by the Tonga Service and which was later destroyed by landslides. He placed a detailed scheme for laying the Railway Line in the year 1878 before then Lt. Governor Sir. Ashley Eden. The Lt. Governor appointed a high power committee to study the proposal who reported the feasibility and advantages of the proposed railway.


In the year 1879, the proposed scheme by Franklin Prestage was accepted and construction work started on a war footing. By March 1880, a line was opened up to Tindharay and by the end of the year up to Kurseong. In July 1881, the DHR first rolled into Darjeeling town. On September 15, 1881, the original name given to the railway - Darjeeling Steam Tramway Co - was changed to a more dignified appellation - The Darjeeling Himalayan Railway. In the same year, M/s Gillanders Aubuthnot & Co was appointed as the first booking and handling agents of the DHR.

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Early history of Darjeeling Himalayan Railways

11:57 PM

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History

Early history and the development of the Darjeeling Himalayan Railways

When JW Grant, Commercial Resident in Malda, set his foot in Darjeeling on a cold February afternoon in 1829, he became the first European ever to do so in this Land of the Thunderbolts, Darjeeling had always found favour with the ruling British. Not only was it lavished with funds for its development and welfare, the town was also maintained as a showpiece in an effort to further massage the egos of the East India Co.  One out of the many reasons for the largesse shown towards Darjeeling was the British wanted to project the place as a model under their colonial rule. Darjeeling and its smaller neighbours Kurseong and Kalimpong hence also benefited from the generosity of the British rulers.

 

Darjeeling Himalayan Railway, in 1921

The British Government of that day, in an effort to provide a sanctuary to its officers from the scorching heat of the Indian plains, steadily promoted and developed the area as a hill station. Gradual progress in tourism related infrastructure of the area soon saw Darjeeling becoming the Queen amongst all the Hill Stations in India.

Like all Queens, Darjeeling too needed a jewel on her crown befitting a monarch and the Darjeeling Himalayan Railways was the jewel that was so far lacking.

The idea of a railway link between Siliguri and Darjeeling was first mooted in the year 1870 by Franklin Prestage, who at that time was the Sole agent of the Eastern Bengal Railway Co. He proposed to build the rail line along the old Hill Cart Road being used by the Tonga Service and which was later destroyed by landslides. He placed a detailed scheme for laying the Railway Line in the year 1878 before then Lt. Governor Sir. Ashley Eden. The Lt. Governor appointed a high power committee to study the proposal who reported the feasibility and advantages of the proposed railway.

The Committee reported that Rs1.5 lakh would be required annually for the upkeep of the existent Hill Cart Road connecting Darjeeling to Siliguri and building the train route would help defray this cost. In later years after DHR came into service, this assessment held true and it was found that the Government was indeed saving a lot of money on this front, thus lessening the burden on taxpayers.

In the year 1879, the proposed scheme by Franklin Prestage was accepted and construction work started on a war footing. By March 1880, a line was opened up to Tindharay and by the end of the year up to Kurseong. In July 1881, the DHR first rolled into Darjeeling town. On September 15, 1881, the original name given to the railway - Darjeeling Steam Tramway Co - was changed to a more dignified appellation - The Darjeeling Himalayan Railway. In the same year, M/s Gillanders Aubuthnot & Co was appointed as the first booking and handling agents of the DHR.

The first engines that were used were those capable of drawing a load of up to 7 tonnes. They were later upgraded to more powerful ones that could pull a load of up to 35 tonnes. The engine first used could pull carriages at an average speed of 11km per hour while the engine that was later introduced could travel at an average speed of 18km per hour. The DHR ran on a 24 inch gauge, with each wheel measuring just 19.5 inches in diameter.

The fortunes of the DHR increased quickly and its fame spread far and wide not just because of the simply breathtaking terrain that it passed through with the mighty Kanchenjunga remaining a dramatic backdrop, but more so because of the scientific marvel that it still is. The building of the toy train line up to Darjeeling and then up to Teesta was an engineering feat that has remained unmatched in the Hills even till date.

Initially though, the passenger carriages that were used were of real basic nature with small four-wheeled trolleys that had canvas coverings. Two wooden benches served as seats. Later years saw them being replaced by standard railway carriages measuring 26 feet 6 inches long and offering modern facilities.

In 1914, the first workshop in the Hills was opened at Tindharay where all the rolling stock was built with the exception of the wheels which were imported from a manufacturing unit in Manchester, the UK. The first engine used was the standard of that time with four coupled wheels weighing 14 tonnes and with cylinders measuring 11 inches bore and 14 inches trake. A Garnatte, or eight wheeled articulated engine weighing 28 tonnes was used later. The steel rails were of an exceptionally high quality weighing 41.25 lbs per yard. The popularity of the DHR increased with each passing year and as per figures available for the year ending March 31, 1920, the railway carried 2,63,083 passengers and 61,704 tonnes of goods that particular year.

On May 15, 1915, the Teesta Valley Line of the DHR was started with the idea of connecting Sikkim and Kalimpong to the rest of the country. The line started in Siliguri and ran up to Geilkhola (about 4km from Teesta) with further plans to take the line up to either Gangtok or some other place near it.

The old PWD road that ran along the roaring Teesta River was used to construct the rail line. This old road, which had been washed away in various places by the great landslip of 1899, was repaired and the rail line laid on it. The Teesta Valley Line was mainly used to transport wool imported from Tibet and oranges from Sikkim. As per data available, up to 20 tonnes of oranges were transported from Sikkim during the peak orange growing season.

The Indian Railways formally took over the management of the DHR on October 20, 1948 post Independence. The landslides that occurred in the year 1950 washed away the rail line and the cost of repairing it was deemed too heavy for the newly formed Indian Railway to meet.

Thus ended the dream of the DHR to connect Gangtok and Kalimpong with the rest of the country by rail line and this dream was effectively terminated forever. (The author is the Editor of Himalayan Times, Kalimpong)

Author: 

Sandip C. Jain

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