The line opened between Siliguri and Kurseong in August 1880
There are quite a few landmark years in the history of the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway (DHR). The first of these is 1878, when Franklin Prestage proposed a narrow gauge (610 mm) hill tramway to Darjeeling from the recently built Northern Bengal Railway terminus in Siliguri. The idea was to reduce the haulage rates of commodities (such as rice) to Darjeeling and improve the viability of local industries (such as tea). The government supported the scheme to reduce road maintenance costs.
By August 1880, the line had opened to the public between Siliguri and Kurseong. Larger Class 2 (later Class A) locomotives were ordered from Sharp Stewart, UK and delivered in 1882-3. In July 1881, the extended line from Kurseong to Darjeeling was opened by Sir Ashley Eden, Lieutenant-Governor of Bengal, and in 1882, the first full year of operations, DHR had carried 8,000 passengers and 380 tonnes of freight.
From then on, the numbers simply continued to grow. By 1930, despite increasing competition from private cars and buses, DHR was still carrying 258,000 passengers and 80,000 tonnes of freight annually. Post-Independence in 1948, the Government of India purchased DHR on October 20 and the line was absorbed into the Indian Railways.
The first major crisis that DHR faced was in 1992, when competition from road haulage and interruption to services in previous years finally ended freight traffic, and Indian Railways decided to close DHR. Local citizens led by Sherab Tenduf-la, owner of the famed Windamere Hotel, set up the DHR Heritage Foundation and organised a series of stakeholder workshops. Thanks to their continued efforts, closure plans were abandoned in 1994, and in 1999, UNESCO declared DHR a World Heritage Site.
Running between New Jalpaiguri and Darjeeling today, the DHR climbs from about 100 m (330 ft) to about 2,200 m (7,200 ft), using six zigzags and five loops to gain altitude, including the famous Batasia Loop, where a small market has sprung up to cater to tourists on the train. Six diesel locomotives handle most of the scheduled service, with daily tourist trains from Darjeeling to Ghum India’s highest railway station – and there is also a special steam-hauled Red Panda service from Darjeeling to Kurseong. These specials are hauled by vintage British B-Class steam locomotives.
We don’t want to spoil the DHR experience by giving all of it away. You must come and experience the ride for yourself. While here, stay at the West Bengal Tourism Development Corporation’s beautiful Meghbalika Tourism Property (formerly Darjeeling Tourist Lodge) which offers excellent accommodation at extremely reasonable rates. For for reservations and other information, do get in touch with WBTDCL.
Bengal Beckons 