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Hey , Rail enthusiasts !
If you have some time to spare ,
than take a slow
toy train up to the hill resort of
Shimla ,
Ooty ( Udhamandalam )
Darjeeling or
Matheran .
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There is nothing to match the experience of
chugging up the hill, past little hamlets and terraced field , making your way
through tunnels and over breathing bridges . Its leisurely place offer you a panoramic view of
changing vistas. The invigorating air and the delights of scenic hill resort
provide a welcome respite from the hustle and bustle of the city .
So Folks ! Are you ready , to start on
an out of the ordinary jorney up to the hill ?
The
Kalka-Shimla Line
The Kalka-Simla line weaves in and out
of tunnels and over multi-level arched bridges that look like Roman aqueducts. The
mountains were conquered head on with heavy engineering and one goes through 103 tunnels
on the 94 km journey.
The Delhi Gazette, in 1847, predicted
that if a railway line was built between shimla and Kalka one mighrt see a shift in the
seat of the government to a more salubrious spot. This prophecy did indeed come true and
shimla became the summer capital of the Raj
and the most important hill station in
India
. The Kalka –Shimla line was opened in 1903. In 1956 the steam engines
were replaced by diesel rail-car, first-class only and known as the ‘Shimla
Queen’ is run in addition to the little train to connect with the Howrah-Kalka Mail
coming in from
Delhi
and Calcutta
.
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