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Recognized by the UNESCO, the Kalka-Shimla railway is a heritage railway which offers regular service between Kalka and Shimla. The trains are popularly known as the “toy trains” and a cruise in these trains will take you to the winding but exotic landscape of the magnificent Himalayan ranges. The surrounding landscape will unveil itself gradually as the train passes through tunnels, bridges, lush green valleys adorned with pine and oak trees. The train journey is a versatile way of exploring the countryside. A trip as this will invariably be rooted in your mind for years to come.
Launched in November 1903, by the British Viceroy, Lord Curzon, the Kalka Shimla railway covers a distance of 96 km from Kalka up to the Shimla hills. The toy train passes through a series of 102 tunnels, 969 bridges, 919 curves and 20 railway stations. It is the greatest narrow gauge engineering achievement in India and has therefore been included in The Guinness Book on 'Rail Facts and Feats'.
The toy train possesses 7 coaches and it has room for about 200 passengers. The deftness with which the train has been crafted makes it feasible to run briskly even in adverse weather condition. The 700 horsepower B-B type diesel engines allows it to run smoothly in temperatures that ranges from 0 to 45’C, heavy snowfall or annual rainfall. The train runs at an average speed of 25-30 km and this allows the passenger to savor the picturesque landscape in all its glories. An interesting feature however, is the complete absence of Girdir Bridges.
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