Darjeeling Toy Train is the name given to the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway, which is a narrow gauge route between Siliguri and Darjeeling in West Bengal, India, run by the Indian Railways. The unique feature of the trains is that they are still hauled by steam locomotives, although a diesel engine has been included in recent times for mail delivery. The entire Darjeeling Himalayan Railway ( DHR ) has been declared as a World Heritage Site by the UNESCO in 1999. The trains are crucial for Darjeeling tourism and are also one of the highlights of tourism in India.

History:
The first initiative was taken by Franklin Prestage, an agent of the East Bengal Railway Company. His proposal of laying a steam tramway from Siliguri to Darjeeling was eventually accepted by the authorities in 1879. Construction began in the same year, and the route up to Darjeeling was officially inaugurated in 1881. During the 2nd world war, the DHR served the British war effort by transporting personnel and supplies to the various camps of the area.



DHR came under the authority of Indian Railways after independence in 1947 and was brought under Northeast Frontier Railway in 1958.

Locomotives:
The B class locomotives that are still being used by the DHR were built between 1889 and 1925. Presently, there are 17 working locomotives 13 steam locomotives and 4 diesel hydraulic locomotives. One locomotive called the ‘Baby Sivok’ is displayed in the museum at Ghum Station.

Services and Tours:
The Darjeeling Toy Train operated by the DHR has recently been offered to the general public as part of their chartered services. Tourists can now book these trains for large groups and choose their own composition of carriages. The chartered services usually involve steam locomotives.

Special tours are also offered by the DHR in the beautiful Darjeeling Toy Trains. These are –

Joy Ride Train:
composed of 3 first class coaches and a B class locomotive, the train runs from Darjeeling to Ghum and back, with stops at Batasia Loop and Ghum museum.



Sukna Steam Special:
this train runs between Siliguri Junction to Sukna and back, with a 30 minutes halt at Sukna for visiting the photo gallery there.

Holiday Special or Jungle Safari Special:
these trains are offered depending on public demand, on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays, from Siliguri Junction to Tindharia and back. The attraction of the trips is the Mahananda wildlife sanctuary and the Z reverses between Sukna and Tindharia.

As part of their regular services, the DHR runs three pairs of Darjeeling Toy Trains. The composition of the trains differs in the number of first class coaches and the type of locomotives. The routes of operation are –

Kurseong to Darjeeling and back.

Touristplacesinindia.com offers all inclusive information about Darjeeling Toy Train, and the other Luxury Trains of India.