| Kundala Valley Railway | |
|---|---|
| Overview | |
| Area served | Madras Presidency |
| Locale | Kerala &Tamil Nadu |
| Transit type | Monorail (1902–1908) 2 ft (610 mm)narrow-gauge railway (1908–1924) |
| Number of lines | 1 |
| Headquarters | Idukki,Munnar,Kerala,India |
| Operation | |
| Began operation | 1902; 123 years ago (1902) |
| Ended operation | 1924; 101 years ago (1924) |
| Technical | |
| Track gauge | 610 mm |
| Old gauge | Monorail (Nil Gauge) |
| Electrification | No |
Kundala Valley Railway was the firstmonorail system inIndia, later converted to a2 ft (610 mm)narrow-gauge railway, that operated between Kundala Valley inMunnar,Idukki district ofKerala andTop Station inTheni district ofTamil Nadu,India.[1] The railway line had 35 km length.[2]
_1.jpg)
Kundala Valley Railway was built in 1902 and operated between Munnar andTop Station in theKannan Devan Hills of Kerala . This railway was built to transporttea and other goods. Initially a cart road was cut in 1902,[3] then later replaced by a monorail goods carriage system along the road leading from Munnar to Top Station for the purpose of transporting tea and other products from Munnar and Madupatty to Top Station. This monorail was based on theEwing System and had a small wheel placed on the track while a larger wheel rested on the road to balance the monorail. This was similar to thePatiala State Monorail Trainways. The monorail was pulled bybullocks. Top Station was a transshipment point for delivery of tea from Munnar toBodinayakkanur. Tea chests arriving at Top Station were then transported by anaerial ropeway from Top Station 5 km (3 mi) down hill to the south to Kottagudi,Tamil Nadu, which popularly became known as "Bottom Station". The tea was shipped 15 km (9 mi) by cart to Bodinayakkanur, then by rail to other places in India and by ship to England.[3]
In 1908, the monorail was replaced by a2 ft (610 mm) narrow-gauge light railway.[3] Light steam locomotives were used to pull trains to stations at Madupatty and Palaar.
TheGreat flood of 99 completely destroyed the Kundala Valley Railway in 1924, and the line was never rebuilt.[3]
In 2019, theKerala Tourism Department decided to revive the Kundala Valley Rail in lines ofDarjeeling Himalayan Railway following a preliminary study that was conducted by DTPC Idukki andKannan Devan Hills Plantation.[4] In following October there was a high-level meeting of stake holders and officials that suggestedPPP Model for implementation.[5] In Kerala State Budget 2021T. M. Thomas Isaac announced thatTata has agreed to provide land for the revival of rail project as a heritage rail.[6][7]
The Munnar railway station building now houses the regional office ofTata Tea. The railway tracks have been replaced by a road in front of this building. Aluminium Bridge near Munnar which was once a railway bridge on the line, has since been converted to road traffic.[8]
