Toy Trains (Darjiling- Shiliguri)

Toy Trains (Darjiling- Shiliguri)

• The section between Shiliguri and Darjiling covers a distance of 83 kilometers on 610 mm gauge, dissecting the scenic landscape full of plantations.

• The railway line was completed by july 1881 and Darjilin Railway is now recognized as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.

• It is the second railway in the world to be accorded this status.

• The mini train is marvel of rail engineering and creates a magical effect as it rolls along streams and tea gardens on the way to Sukana.

• The serpentine train girdles the Singalele range from where the ascent of the line begins.

• The method applied in constructing this line was first adopted by an Austrain, Chega, which helped the engineers to obviate the necessity to bore tunnels, by artificial lengthening of the line, bye means of looping it.

• The train begins its first gyration or loop, closely followed by the second at a distance of 20 kms.Post, an amazing engineering feat, practically a double loop, for the rise from Rungtong to Tindharia.

• The third loop is around 22 kms. Away and commands a scenic view of the valley below the Bhutan range.

• The Agony Point is the sensational point of the fourth spiral and is reached outside the Tindaharia station.Ghum Railway Station on this track is located at the highest altitude in the country.

• The original cost of the Darjiling Hill Railway was only Rs. 1.75 million.

• It was purchased by the Government of Indian in 1948, from the East India Company at a cost of Rs. 4.4 million.