| Kalka–Shimla Railway | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 At theTaradevi station | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Terminus | Shimla | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Commercial operations | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Built by | Herbert Septimus Harington (20 April 1855 – 11 November 1913) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Preserved operations | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Operated by | Northern Railway | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Stations | 18 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Length | 96.60 km | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Preserved gauge | 2 ft 6 in (762 mm) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Commercial history | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Opened | 1903; 122 years ago (1903) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Preservation history | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Headquarters | Shimla | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 Interactive map of Kalka–Shimla Railway | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Location | Himachal Pradesh,India | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Part of | Mountain Railways of India | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Criteria | Cultural: (ii)(iv) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Reference | 944ter-003 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Inscription | 1999 (23rdSession) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Extensions | 2005, 2008 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Area | 79.06 ha (0.3053 sq mi) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Buffer zone | 74.88 ha (0.2891 sq mi) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Coordinates | 30°51′8″N76°56′15″E / 30.85222°N 76.93750°E /30.85222; 76.93750 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
  Kalka–Shimla Railway Location of Kalka–Shimla Railway in India | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
TheKalka–Shimla Railway is a2 ft 6 in (762 mm)narrow-gaugerailway inNorth India which traverses a mostly mountainous route fromKalka toShimla. It is known for dramatic views of the hills and surrounding villages. The railway was built under the direction of Herbert Septimus Harington between 1898 and 1903 to connect Shimla, the summer capital of India during theBritish Raj, with the rest of the Indian rail system.
Its early locomotives were manufactured bySharp, Stewart and Company. Larger locomotives were introduced, which were manufactured by theHunslet Engine Company. Diesel and diesel-hydraulic locomotives began operation in 1955 and 1970, respectively.
On 8 July 2008,UNESCO added the Kalka–Shimla Railway to themountain railways of IndiaWorld Heritage Site.[1]
Shimla (then spelt Simla), which was settled by the British shortly after thefirst Anglo-Gurkha war, is located at 7,116 feet (2,169 m) in the foothills of theHimalayas. The idea of connecting Shimla by rail was first raised by a correspondent to the Delhi gazette in November 1847.[2][3]
Shimla became the summer capital of British India in 1864, and was the headquarters of the Indian army. This meant that twice a year it was necessary to transfer the entire government betweenCalcutta andShimla by horse and ox drawn carts.[2][4]
In 1891 the5 ft 6 in (1,676 mm)broad gaugeDelhi–Kalka line opened, which made the construction of a branch line up toShimla feasible.[2][5]
The earliest survey was made in 1884, followed by another survey in 1885. Based on these two surveys, a project report was submitted in 1887 to the government of British India.[3] Fresh surveys were made in 1892 and 1893, which led to four alternative schemes being suggested - two adhesion lines, 67.25 mi (108.23 km) and 69.75 mi (112.25 km) long, and two rack lines.[3] Fresh surveys were again made in 1895 from Kalka to Solan to determine whether a 1 in 12 rack or a 1 in 25 adhesion line should be chosen. After much debate, an adhesion line was chosen in preference to a rack system.[3]
Construction of the Kalka–Shimla Railway on2 ft (610 mm) narrow-gauge tracks was begun by the privately funded Delhi-Ambala-Kalka Railway Company following the signing of a contract between the secretary of state and the company on 29 June 1898.[3][4] The contract specified that the line would be built without any financial aid or guarantee from the government. The government however provided the land free of charge to the company. The estimated cost of 8,678,500 rupees doubled by the time the line was opened.[3] The Chief Engineer of the project was Herbert Septimus Harington and the Chief Contractor wasSujan Singh Hadaliwale.[6][failed verification][7][failed verification][8][failed verification]
The 95.68 km (59.45 mi) line opened for traffic on 9 November 1903[4] and was dedicated byViceroy Lord Curzon.[9]This line was further extended from Shimla to Shimla Goods (which had once housed the bullock cart office) on 27 June 1909 making it 96.60 km (60.02 mi).[10]
TheIndian Army were sceptical about the two feet gauge chosen for the line and requested that a wider standard gauge be used for mountain and light strategic railways. Eventually the government agreed that the gauge was too narrow for was essentially a capital city and for military purposes.[2] As a result, the contract with the railway company was revised on 15 November 1901 and the line gauge changed to2 ft 6 in (762 mm) with the track built to date beingregauged.[3][11] Some sources however state the regauging wasn't undertaken until 1905.[12]
In 1905 the company took delivery of a 10-tonCowans Sheldon travelling crane to assist with lifting rolling stock back onto the tracks after accidents and for general track maintenance. Due to the high capital and maintenance costs and difficult working conditions, the railway was allowed to charge higher fares than on other lines. Nevertheless, the company had spent 16,525,000 rupees by 1904 with no sign of the line becoming profitable, which lead to it being purchased by the government on 1 January 1906 for 17,107,748 rupees.[3] Once it came under the control of the government the line was originally managed as an independent unit from the North West Railway office in Lahore until 1926, when it was transferred to Delhi Division. Since July 1987, the line has been managed by theAmbala Division from Ambala Cantt.[10]
In 2007, theHimachal Pradesh government declared the railway a heritage property.[13] For about a week, beginning on 11 September 2007, aUNESCO team visited the railway to inspect it for possible selection as aWorld Heritage Site. On 8 July 2008, it became part of themountain railways of India World Heritage Site[14] with theDarjeeling Himalayan andNilgiri Mountain Railways.[15]
During the2023 North India floods, several sections of the line were washed out by landslides.[16]
The track has 20 picturesque stations, 103 tunnels (102 currently active), 912 curves, 969 bridges and 3% slope (1:33gradient). The 1,143.61 m tunnel atBarog immediately before theBarog station is longest, a 60 ft (18.29 m) bridge is the longest and the sharpest curve has a 123 ft (38 m)radius of curvature. The railway line originally used 42 lb/yd (20.8 kg/m)rail, which was later replaced with 60 lb/yd (29.8 kg/m) rail.[4] The train has an average speed of 25–30 km/h but the railcar is almost 50–60 km/h. Both the train and railcar are equipped withvistadomes.
The temperature range and annual rainfall are 0–45 °C and 200–250 cm, respectively.
The KSR and its assets, including the stations, line and vehicles, belong to thegovernment of India under theMinistry of Railways. TheNorthern Railway handles day-to-day maintenance and management, and several programs, divisions and departments ofIndian Railways are responsible for repairs.
The route winds from a height of 656 metres (2,152 ft) at Kalka in the HimalayanShivalik Hills foothills, past Dharampur,Solan,Kandaghat, Taradevi,Barog, Salogra, Totu (Jutogh) and Summerhill, to Shimla at an altitude of 2,075 metres (6,808 ft).[11]The difference in height between the two ends of line is 1,419 metres (4,656 ft).
The alignment of the railway route from south to north, along theNH-5 on highway's western side till north of Jabli (Koti) and then on eastern side, is as follows.
| Station | Milepost | Height above sea level | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kalka | 0 km (0 mi) | 656 m (2,152 ft) | It derived its name from Kali Mata temple located at the Shimla end of the town. It is home to a diesel shed as well as a workshop to service the narrow gauge engines and carriages of the Kalka-Shimla line.[17] |
| Taksal | 5.69 km (3.54 mi) | 806 m (2,644 ft) | First station after entering Himachal got the name because it was the place where coins were made in ancient time.[17] |
| Gumman | 10.41 km (6.47 mi) | 940 m (3,080 ft) | An isolated station in Kasauli hills,[17] though Sonwara is the closest train station to Kasauli. |
| Koti (Jabli) | 16.23 km (10.08 mi) | 1,098 m (3,602 ft) | This station is also known as the jabli railway station. The station is often visited by wild animals. The second longest tunnel (No. 10) with a length of 693.72 metres (2,276 ft 0 in) is situated near this station.[17] In August, 2007 a heavy downpour washed away part of the station building and track. |
| Sonwara | 26 km (16 mi) | 1,334 m (4,377 ft) | The historic residentialThe Lawrence School at Sanawar is 6 km away. The longest bridge (No.226) on the line with an overall length of 97.40 metres (319 ft 7 in) and height of 19.31 metres (63 ft 4 in) is situated near this station.[17] This services theKasauli Brewery and Kasauli hill station which are 9.3 kilometres (5.8 mi) and 11 kilometres (6.8 mi) away respectively. |
| Dharampur | 32.14 km (19.97 mi) | 1,469 m (4,820 ft) | This services the Kasauli hill station which is 13 kilometres (8.1 mi) away. The Engineer's Bungalow (MP 33 km (21 mi)) which was the official residence of the engineer in charge of this section of the line until the late 1960s was converted into the Northern Railway Safety Institute.[17] |
| Kumarhati (Dagshai) | 39 km (24 mi) | 1,579 m (5,180 ft) | This isolated station serviced the Dagshai military cantonment.[17] |
| Barog | 42.14 km (26.18 mi) | 1,531 m (5,023 ft) | The longest tunnel (No.33) with a length of 1,143.61 metres (3,752 ft 0 in) is situated close to the Kalka side of the station.[17] |
| Solan | 46.10 km (28.65 mi) | 1,429 m (4,688 ft) | The National Institute of Research on Mushroom Farming and Solan Agriculture University is situated nearby.[17] |
| Salogra | 52.70 km (32.75 mi) | 1,509 m (4,951 ft) | The famous Solan Brewery is just a few kilometres away from Salogra station.[17] |
| Kandaghat | 58.24 km (36.19 mi) | 1,433 m (4,701 ft) | Arch bridge No. 493 with a length of 32 metres (105 ft) is situated here.[17] |
| Kanoh | 69.42 km (43.14 mi) | 1,647 m (5,404 ft) | The highest arch gallery bridge (No.541) with a height of 23 metres (75 ft 6 in) and length of 54.8 metres (179 ft 9 in) is situated here.[17] |
| Kathleeghat | 72.23 km (44.88 mi) | 1,701 m (5,581 ft) | It is the last station of Shimla district.[17] |
| Shoghi | 77.81 km (48.35 mi) | 1,832 m (6,010 ft) | Shoghi is the first station of Shimla district.[17] |
| Taradevi | 84.64 km (52.59 mi) | 1,936 m (6,352 ft) | The name derives from Mata Tara Devi. The Sankat Mochan and Tara Devi temples are situated near this station. The third longest tunnel (No.91) at 992 metres (3,255 ft) is situated on the Shimla end of this station.[17] |
| Jutogh | 89.41 km (55.56 mi) | 1,958 m (6,424 ft) | This suburb station of Shimla, once served as the transit point for Jutogh Military Cantonment.[17] |
| Summer Hill | 92.93 km (57.74 mi) | 2,042 m (6,699 ft) | This suburb station of Shimla originally serviced theViceregal Lodge. The Himachal Pradesh University is situated near the station.[17] |
| Shimla | 95.60 km (59.40 mi) | 2,075 m (6,808 ft) | This beautiful station is just below the old bus stand in Shimla.[11][17] |
.jpg)
.jpg)
The railway has 988 bridges and viaducts[11] and aruling gradient of 1 in 33, or three percent. It has 917 curves,[11] and thesharpest is 48degrees (a radius of 122.93 feet or 37.47 m).
The most architecturally complex bridge is No. 226 which spans a deep valley which required that it had to be constructed in five stages with each level having its own stone arched tier.
.jpg)
One hundred seven tunnels were originally built, but as a result of landslides only 102 remain in use.[11]
This route has the followingfossil sites of Himachal Pradesh:[18]
Other fossil sites in the area easily accessible form this route are:
The first locomotives were two class-B0-4-0STs from the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway. These were built as2 ft (610 mm)-gauge engines, but were converted to2 ft 6 in (762 mm)-gauge in 1901. They were not large enough (they were sold in 1908), and were followed in 1902 by 10 slightly larger engines with a0-4-2T wheel arrangement. The locomotives weighed 21.5long tons (21.8 t; 24.1short tons) each, and had 30 in (762 mm)driving wheels and 12 in × 16 in (304.8 mm × 406.4 mm) cylinders. Later classified as B-class by theNorth Western State Railway, they were manufactured by the BritishSharp, Stewart and Company.[19]
Thirty larger2-6-2T locomotives, with slight variations, were introduced between 1904 and 1910. Built by theHunslet Engine andNorth British Locomotive Companies, they weighed about 35long tons (36 t; 39short tons) and had 30 in (762 mm) drivers and 14 in × 16 in (355.6 mm × 406.4 mm) cylinders. Later classed K and K2 by the North Western State Railway, they handled most of the rail traffic during the steam era. A pair ofKitson-Meyer 2-6-2+2-6-2 articulated locomotives, classed TD, were supplied in 1928. However, they quickly fell into disfavour because it often took all day for enough freight to be assembled to justify operating agoods train hauled by one of these locomotives. In 1935 NWR received locos of Class ZF, some of which were delivered fromHenschel & Son/Germany.
Shippers looking for faster service began turning to road transport. These 68-long-ton (69.09 t; 76.16-short-ton) locomotives were soon transferred to theKangra Valley Railway, and were converted to1,000 mm (3 ft 3+3⁄8 in)metre gauge inPakistan.[19] Regular steam-locomotive operation ended in 1971.
The railway's first diesel locomotives, class ZDM-1 manufactured byArnold Jung Lokomotivfabrik (articulated with two prime movers), began operating in 1955; they were regauged, reclassified asNDM-1 and used on theMatheran Hill Railway during the 1970s. In the 1960s, class ZDM-2 locomotives fromMaschinenbau Kiel (MaK) was introduced; they were later transferred to other lines.
The KSR currently operates with class ZDM-3diesel-hydraulic locomotives (522 kW or 700 hp, 50 km/h or 31 mph), built between 1970 and 1982 byChittaranjan Locomotive Works with a single-cab road-switcher body.[20] Six locomotives of that class were built in 2008 and 2009 by the Central Railway Loco Workshop inParel, with updated components and a dual-cab body providing better track vision.[21]
The railway opened with conventional four-wheel andbogiecoaches. Theirtare weight meant that only four bogie coaches could be hauled by the2-6-2T locomotives. In a 1908 effort to increase capacity, the coach stock was rebuilt as 33-by-7-foot (10.1 by 2.1 m) bogie coaches withsteel frames and bodies. To further save weight, the roofs were made ofaluminium. The weight savings meant that the locomotives could now haul six of the larger coaches. This was an early example of the use of aluminium in coach construction to reduce tare weight.[4]
Goods rolling stock was constructed on a common 30-by-7-foot (9.1 by 2.1 m) pressed-steel underframe.Open andcovered wagons were provided, with theopen wagons having a capacity of 19 long tons (19.30 t; 21.28 short tons) and the covered wagons 17.5 long tons (17.8 t; 19.6 short tons).[4]
During the winter months snow cutters are attached to the engine to clear the snow from the track.[10]
BBC Four televisedIndian Hill Railways, a series of three programmes[22] which featured the KSR in its third episode, in February 2010; the first two episodes covered theDarjeeling Himalayan Railway andNilgiri Mountain Railway. The episodes, directed byTarun Bhartiya, Hugo Smith and Nick Mattingly respectively, were produced by Gerry Troyna.Indian Hill Railways won aRoyal Television Society award in June 2010.[23] The KSR also featured in thePunjab episode ofCNN'sAnthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown.
In 2018, the KSR was featured in an episode of theBBC Two programmeGreat Indian Railway Journeys.[24]
