Welcome to the homepage of one of the most spectacular narrow gauge steam railways of the world. Darjeeling is situated in the northern part of the state of West Bengal in India about 600 km north of Calcutta. Darjeeling is famous for its tea which still commands very high prices all over the world. It is also a popular hill station, 7000 feet high in the majestic grandeur of the himalayas with fabulous views of Mount Everest and Kanchenjungha (the highest and the 3rd highest peaks in the world respectively).
Steam traction is fast disappearing throughout the world. India is no exception to this and very few regular steam hauled trains are found in broad gauge (5 feet 6in/1.67m) and metre gauge (3 feet 3 in/1 metre) these days. Most steam engines in these gauges have been replaced by diesel electric or electric traction. Some narrow gauge lines (2 feet 6 in/760 mm or less) still feature the old "iron horses".
Before the railway started operating in July 1881 the journey to Darjeeling took up to 3 days from Calcutta. Tea was transported by horse drawn carts down the winding and tortuous "hillcart" road to Siliguri in the foothills which was the nearest railhead then. The railway was built to improve the commerce and tourism of the area and reduced the time taken to get to Darjeeling by a day.
The Darjeeling line was built to a gauge of 2 feet (600mm) to enable the line to traverse the tightly twisting route through the hills. In its heyday in the 1930s up to 50 steam locomotives worked on the line and the journey took 6 hours from Siliguri. Sadly only about a dozen of these locos remain in working order today. The loco design was by Sharp Stewart of Glasgow : a 0-4-0 saddle tank type which is powerful enough to haul 4 coaches up steep gradients of 1 in 23 (one of the toughest for hill railways without a rack and pinion system). As many as 4 people man these engines, 2 in the cab and maybe two more pouring sand on the tracks! Between Siliguri and Kurseong the line has 3 loops and 5 switch-backs where the engine reverses and goes forward to gain height. Between Ghoom and Darjeeling is the picturesque and famous "Batasia loop". There are 132 unmanned level crossings in the route!
From New Jalpaiguri (the current broad gauge railhead) the train covers a distance of 55 miles (88 km) of which 10 miles (16 km) is in the plains. The journey takes up to 10 hours these days including stops (in contrast to 4 hours by bus and 3 hours by car). Tourists anxious to reach Darjeeling before sundown should get off half way at Kurseong and complete the journey by car/bus. In the summer there are two trains a day from New Jalpaiguri/Siliguri (7am and 9am) and in winter there is one train a day (9am). However the heavy monsoon frequently causes landslides and trains can stop running without notice. New Jalpaiguri can be reached in 12 hours from Calcutta or 24 hours from New Delhi by train. The nearest airport is Bagdogra 10 miles/16km from Siliguri.
I would like you to join me in this unforgettable journey through cyberspace which traverses the most majestic scenery and reaches a height of 7,500 feet above sea level at Ghoom, the highest railway station in India! Calling all steam enthusiasts : Do visit Darjeeling in great numbers because this source of nostalgia is now guaranteed to survive! This line has been recognized for its importance as a worldwide tourist attraction by the people of Darjeeling (+ Indian Railways) and as a result trains will continue to run and be steam hauled into the millenium (initial experiments with diesels didnt work as they got derailed on the tight curves).
I can now give you the most wonderful news (02.12.99) DHR is now a WORLD HERITAGE SITE according to UNESCO!!! (thanks to Harsh Vardhan hvc@vsnl.com for letting me know). This is indeed fantastic news (only the second railway in the world to be selected!!)! The worldwide interest which this railway has now generated would surely ensure its survival. This has happened with the cooperation of many enthusiasts in India, the UK and worldwide together with the Friends of the Darjeeling Railway, Friends of the National Rail Museum Delhi, The Darjeeling Railway Heritage Society, the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway Society and of course Indian Railways (see DHRS & links below). With all this input and grant money from the UNESCO this line will surely be restored to its pristine glory as it so rightly deserves.
Your suggestions/comments are welcome and will be used to improve the contents/info given here. This homepage was compiled from data gathered on my last visit to Darjeeling in December 1996 and is updated regularly.
E-mail: S.Ghosal@Sheffield.ac.uk
Latest news on the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway updated 25.02.00:
Latest news on the dieselisation of the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway updated 25.02.00.: All Readers please do comment on this issue and especially the Diesel railcar in the guestbook as your responses almost certainly will be read by railway officialdom!
NEW! : Timetable of trains past and present (valid upto September 1999) :
NEW! : Special features of the successful B class DHR tank locomotive. :
Locomotive no 802 at Kurseong station :
Hear the glorious sound of the engine going uphill:
Locomotive no 802 heading the train to Darjeeling :
Some more pictures of the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway :
Up Train along Kurseong Bazaar:
Links to other Darjeeling Himalayan Railway sites
Links to Indian Airlines and Indian Railways with searchable timetables
You are visitor number since 6.9.97.
Last updated 25.02.00
Standard Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are my own and not my employer's. I have no connection with anyone in Darjeeling or Indian Railways or any Official/Unofficial organisation connected with them. Accuracy of the information provided is not guaranteed and you are advised to check times before travelling. I will accept no responsibility for any loss sustained as a result of reading this page. Material in this home page is not to be reproduced in any form whatsoever without my permission.
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