The Nilgiri Mountain Railway connects Mettupalayam in the foothills to Ooty-as Udhagamandalam was called.There was a time when the Nilgiri hills were inaccessible to the common travelller.One had to ride up on horseback following a bridle path or be carried on "dollies" through the forests to reach either Coonoor or Ooty.
A railway to connect the beautiful hill stationsof Coonoor and ooty,to the plains became necessary.The idea was mooted in 1854,but work on this dream project could begin only in 1891 and was completed in 1908.
A Swiss inventor named Riggenback offered to contruct the Nilgiri railway on his patented Rigi pattern.But his conditions could not be met and his proposal fell through.However,in 1882 he came to the Nilgiris on the invitation of the Government and submitted a detailed estimate for laying the line.A local company called " The Nilgiri Rigi Railway Co. Ltd."was formed.But it was 1886 before work finally commenced on the Rigi-system in metre gauge.
Coonor was the destination until 1899 and then the tracks were extended to Fernhill in 1908 and finally to Ooty a month later.The Madras Railway Company managed the railway line for the government.
The ideal way to begin your holiday in the hills would be tot take this little toy train.It sets the pace for a leisurely,stress free break from tests,exam,school,teachers and yes ,parents too. And as the train goes up hill and down vally,through tea estate and tunnels you get to see nature at its best.You will be pleasantly surprised by the brilliant gren of the tea bushes,the thundering sound of the waterfalls and the startled cry of the hoopoe as it flies out of a tree.
As a train slowly chugs its way over the viaduct,you may gasp as far below,you glimpse the trickle of the mountain stream on tis way to the plains.
Clinging to the mountainsides,the train manoeuvres the sharp curves,huffing and puffing along.
The stations with their quaint names Runnymede,Hill Grove,Adderly,Lovedale are picturesque.The stations are rlices of the Raj.
Mettupalayam is at an elevation of 330 metres and Udhagamandalam at an elevation of 2200 metres .So you can imagine the steep incline the train has to climb.
From Mettupalayam to kallar,the ride is prastically on a level ,but as soon as you leave kallar the climb begins.The line is a metre guage and the train uses the rack and pinion system ti climb the incline.This train is still fuelled by a steam engine.
it really wounderfull to know abt this beautiull place and i think tat if its possible i will not miss the chance to enjoy the ride of this toy train.....
ReplyDeletethanks dear for this information
Nice post. The Nilgiri Mountain Railway that chugs at about 10.4 km per hour is made for those who are not in a hurry. Perhaps, the slowest train in the whole of India, it connects Ooty to Mettupalayam, which lies at the foothills of the Nilgiris. It's one of the rare trains which still runs on locomotive engines built by Swiss Locomotive Works. Check out all mountain railways in India also.
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