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Himachal Pradesh : Toy Trains |
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Kalka to Shimla ( Trains and their timings including
ordinary and luxury trains. |
| Himachal Pradesh has two narrow gauge Rail tracks
> Kalka - Shimla and Pathankot-Jogindernagar.
On both these lines run the mini trains, popularly called 'Toy Trains'
by the tourists. Travelling on these trains is a thrilling experience
as the lines, trains and the landscape of charming hills, tunnels
and bridges and valleys, which one encounters on the way leaves a
lasting impression of ecstasy and joy. Do not miss this experience. |
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| The Guinness Book of 'Rail Facts
and Feats' records Kalka-Shimla Railways as 'The greatest narrow gauge
engineering feat in India. |
| The 96 km. journey by train from Kalka to Shimla offers an unforgettable
experience. The Kalka-Shimla railway is often termed as a scientific
fiction. Covering the distance through 103 tunnels and 969 bridges,
it has 919 curves ( 68 km. ), 20 railway stations and 5 level crossings
on the route. This is one of the most unique railway tracks of the
world. It is said that a correspondent of the Delhi Gazette had first
sketched this railway line sometime in November, 1847, almost half
a century before it was actually constructed. The project report prepared
during 1887 also failed to commence the construction of the route.
Finally, a survey of the train in 1895 paved way for signing the construction
contract on June 29, 1898. |
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Though the work on the Kalka-Shimla route was
completed on November 2, 1903 yet it was opened for the general
public only on January 1, 1906. It is a living tribute to the Engineers
who dared to bore 107 tunnels, of which 103 are still in use. The
longest tunnel at Barog traversed in 3 minutes by the toy trains,
also has an interesting story behind it. This station is named after
Engineer Barog who sacrificed his life here. Just 1 km. off the
station, lies a forlorn tunnel and the grave of this Engineer, who
tried to construct this tunnel but failed to align both sides. The
wastage of a huge amount of public money forced him to embrace death.
Had the tunnel been aligned properly, it would have been the longest
railway tunnel in the world and would have not been running through
Solan and Salogra. Besides the Barog Tunnel, other three big tunnels
on this route are Koti ( 2,276 feet ), Taradevi ( 1,615 feet ) and
Tunnel no. 103 ( 1,135 feet ). |
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Kalka to Shimla Trains and their Timings :- |
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---
Luxury Trains --- |
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--- Ordinary Trains --- |
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| Shivalik Express |
Timing |
|
Himalayan Queen
|
Timing |
| Departure from Shimla |
05:30 PM |
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Departure from Shimla |
10:55 AM |
| Arrival at Kalka |
10:15 PM |
Arrival at Kalka |
04:05 PM |
| Departure from Kalka |
05:30 AM |
Departure from Kalka |
12:00 (Noon) |
| Arrival at Shimla |
10:15 AM |
Arrival at Shimla |
5:20 PM |
Fare :
( includes newspaper/tea, breakfast & dinner veg./non veg. ) |
Rs. 340/- |
Fare :
--- Chair Car
--- Ordinary |
Rs. 139/-
Rs. 33/- |
|
Facilities : Non stop train
with on board catering. Wall to wall carpeting, improved lighting
system. |
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Shimla Kalka - Passenger
Train - |
Timing |
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| Shivalik Palace |
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Departure from Shimla |
2:30 PM |
| Fare : ( Kalka - Shimla
) |
Rs. 4,850/- |
Arrival at Kalka |
8:15 PM |
| Fare : ( Shimla - Kalka
) |
Rs. 3,375/- |
Departure from Kalka |
4:10 PM |
|
Facilities : In-house kitchen,
dining table, wall-to-wall carpeting, improved decor, lighting system.
Can accommodate 6 pax. Attachable with any train on demand. |
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Arrival at Shimla |
9:20 PM |
| Fare : |
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| Ist Class |
Rs. 173/- |
| Ordinary |
Rs. 33/- |
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Shimla - Kalka
Mail |
Timing |
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Departure from Shimla |
5:45 PM |
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Arrival at Kalka |
10:55 PM |
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Departure from Kalka |
11:25 PM |
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Ordinary Trains |
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Arrival at Shimla |
6:20 AM |
| Rail Car |
Timing |
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Mixed Train (
Attached Honeymoon Coach ) |
Timing |
| Departure from Shimla |
11:35 AM |
Departure from Shimla |
5:45 PM |
| Arrival at Kalka |
4:25 PM |
Arrival at Kalka |
10:55 PM |
| Departure from Kalka |
11:45 AM |
Departure from Kalka |
6:20 AM |
| Arrival at Shimla |
4:10 PM |
Arrival at Shimla |
11:25 AM |
Fare :
Ordinary |
Rs. 216/- |
Fare :
(includes catering/ upgraded facilities) |
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| Deluxe |
Rs. 340/- |
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| Facilities :
Improved decor and lighting system can be charted also. |
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