The Toy Train to Darjeeling
Most of India
and modern high speed passenger trains between the countries
mega cities.
The narrow gauge two feet wide tracked toy train Darjeeling
zigzagging from the rice bowl of Bihar
to the misty tea growing highlands
is the antithesis of the modern lines. This route was completed in the year 1881.
The idea of a toy train to Darjeeling
Worthy of a museum, the tiny locomotive labors from low line
Siligury
into the hills affording a leisurely way to witness the
natural scenery
of Bengal . Puffing uphill, at not much more than a
jogging pace,
the toy train covers the distance of 51 miles in eight hours.
The train hits its zenith at Ghom railway station before
covering the last
four miles down to Darjeeling
One can only marvel at the determination of the engineers
and workers
who carved out the line by blasting the hills in the
jungles. Along the
way the scenery changes from green gold of paddy fields to
mist shrouded
slopes while the train passes the tea plantations and the
villages en route,
where the womenfolk and children dressed in vivid colors and
silver jewelry
Of the Bhutia and Lencha hills wave as you pass by.
Reaching Darjeeling , the
clouds disappear to reveal the faraway Himalaya .
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