In this video we cover the last part of the trip to Shimla climbing ever higher towards our final destination. In places the line clings precariously to a ledge cut in the steep slopes reminding me of the words sung by the Carpenters -
There is wonder in most every thing I see
Not a cloud in the sky, got the sun in my eyes
And I won't be surprised if it's a dream
I'm on the top of the world lookin' down on creation
And the only explanation I can find …..
I'm left wondering if the Carpenters ever rode the railway to Shimla, because I found myself recounting their song as new and wonderful vistas unfolded around every corner.
We owe the train crew a massive thank you for allowing me to mount cameras on their railcar so that we can all enjoy the views normally reserved for the driver and his second man.
The 2 ft 6 in (762mm) 96.6 km long narrow-gauge Kalka to Shimla Railway is located in North India, the route climbs steadily from Kalka where the line shares a station with Indian Railways broad gauge trains, the narrow gauge line to Shimla offers breath taking views of the mountains and the villages clinging precariously to the steep slopes. The line was constructed between 1898 to 1903 under the direction of Herbert Septimus Harington to connect Shimla, the summer capital of India during the British Raj, with the rest of the Indian rail system.
On 8th July 2008, UNESCO recognised the special importance of the Kalka–Shimla Railway by including it in mountain railways of India World Heritage Site along with the the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway and the Nilgiri Mountain Railway.
Construction of the railway using a gauge of 2 ft (610mm) was started by the privately funded Delhi-Ambala-Kalka Railway Company following the signing of a contract between the secretary of state and the company on 29th June 1898. The contract originally specified that the line would be constructed without any financial aid or guarantee from the government, although the government provided the land free of charge. The estimated cost of 8,678,500 rupees doubled by the time the line was opened. Chief Engineer Herbert Septimus Harington project managed the construction undertaken by Chief Contractor Sujan Singh Hadaliwale.
The British military had concerns about the choice of two feet for the KSR's rail gauge and following a meeting that recognised the concerns of the military, a decision was reached recommending that narrow gauge hill railways and strategic light railways should have a common gauge of 2' 6". As a consequence the DUKR's (Delhi Ambala, formerly Umballa, Kalka Railway) contract was revised in 1901 to incorporate the change to 2 ft 6 in (762mm).
One of my travelling companions on this tour was “Richard Wallace” author of the book “Hill Railways of the Indian Subcontinent” published by the Crowood Press. Richard's knowledge of the Hill Railways along with a copy of his book at hand added a welcome extra dimension to our tour with fascinating snippets of information and history about the railways we were experiencing. To learn more about Richard's book, please click on this link - https://www.crowood.com/products/hill-railways-of-the-indian-subcontinent-by-richard-wallace
01:08 - Shoghi - 1,832m (6,010ft)
14:41 - Scout Halt - Tunnel 91
16:19 - Taradevi - 1,936m (6,352ft)
28:03 - Jutogh - 1,958m (6,424ft)
37:54 - Summerhill - 2,042m (6,699ft)
44:47 - Shimla - 2,075 m (6,808 ft)
This video was filmed from Railcar No.3 on 27th November 2024
Map 00:31 - Google Earth
Map 0:42 - OpenRailwayMap.org
This trip was part of a tour “Railways of the Raj” organised by “The Railway Touring Company” - https://www.railwaytouring.net/ in conjunction with Travel Pals (India) Pvt Ltd
To watch Part 1, please click on this link - https://youtu.be/_OAFRgVNgws
To watch Part 2, please click on this link - https://youtu.be/tgroPBN0Tcs
To watch Part 3, please click on this link - https://youtu.be/NerBfXIKtYg