The toy train on the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway
(DHR) section, a source of delight for the people of all ages, is also an
excellent example of the engineering skills of the highest order. This 87 km
long section connecting Darjeeling with Siliguri has been given the status of
the World Heritage considering its great importance.
This railway line, considered as an
engineering feat, passes through a very picturesque country. This line is laid almost
on the same alignment as the Hill Cart road, which intersects the line at many
points. Get Tour package to Darjeeling and Holidays to Darjeeling in unbeatable price.The line between Sukna and Darjeeling is almost located on the
road-bench whether skirting or on the far edge of the road. Only at a few locations they follow a
different alignment where the road and rail line are on different levels. 64
kms of the total length are on the same road bench. From Sukna, the actual
climb starts and the line encounters steep gradients and curves all the way
long. During the journey, some peculiar features are worth noticing. The climb
is overcome through reverse and loops. There are 5 reverses and 3 loops in the
route. The most famous of loops is the Batasia Loop at Ghoom in Darjeeling. Besides
this section has 5 major and 498 minor bridges that make the journey exciting.
There are 177 unmanned railway crossings. This stretch of the line has 14
stations including New Jalpaiguri and Darjeeling which are at 6 to 7 km
distance on an average. Siliguri and Sukna stations being the exception where
the distance is over 10 km. Ghoom station, the highest in the region, is also the
world’s second highest railway station to be reached by steam locomotive.
The construction of the Darjeeling-Himalayan
railway extending from New Jalpaiguri to Darjeeling was started by Franklin
Prestage in 1879. It was completed up to Tindharia in March 1880 and up to
Kurseong by the year end. The line reached Darjeeling in July 1881. With
45 locos, 139 passenger coaches and 606 goods wagons, the DHR attained peak
operational capacity in 1947. The line was managed by the Darjeeling Railway
Company till 1948 before when it was made a part of the Indian Railway under
the Assam Railway. It was absorbed as a constituent of the newly grouped North
Eastern Railway on 14 April 1950. Further regrouping transferred the DHR to the
Northeast Frontier Railway in 1958. 