Kalka-Simla Railway

Kalka-Simla Railway
Line of route
Kalka to Simla
Gauge / mileage
2' 6" NG	59 miles (1905)
Timeline
1903	Opened to traffic
1905	Converted to 2' 6" gauge
1906	Taken over by GoI
Key locations
Presidency	Bengal
Stations	Kalka, Simla
System agency
1903	Own agency
after 1906	North Western Railway
How to interpret this infobox

The Kalka-Simla Railway (KSR) was a narrow gauge branchline, the final leg in the journey from Delhi via Umballa to the hill town of Simla, the summer retreat of the Viceroy and senior Government of India staff.

History

Originally built and worked by a private company, the line was opened in 1903 as a 2ft/610mm narrow gauge(NG) railway. Following the decision of the Imperial General Staffs to standardise, wherever possible, on a 2ft 6in/762mm narrow gauge(NG), the track was so converted in 1905.

The KSR was taken over by the Government in 1906 and later worked by the North Western Railway.

The KSR remains one of the longest narrow gauge railway lines still operated by Indian Railways.

Stations

Some of the stations on the line, in order from Kalka to Simla.

• 
  Dharampur
• 
  Kumarhatti
• 
  Barogh Station
• 
  Solan
• 
  Kathlighat

Building the Railway

Attacks were an ever present threat to the builders of the Railway, who were trained in weaponry by an Instructor of Volunteers.

External links

• Indian Hill Stations - The Kalka -Shimla Railway Youtube.com. One hour BBC Documentary Film
• Kalka-Shimla Railway Wikipedia
• "Train of joy" by Rajnish Wattas. A trip back in time on the Kalka-Shimla heritage rail track. February 5, 2011 The Tribune
• Kalka Shimla Railway (UNESCO World Heritage Site) from “Heritage of India”. Scroll down for some vintage postcards
• Kalka-Shimla Railway naturebeautyofindianhillstation.blogspot
• "Hill Lines of India" Mike's Railway History.
• "Man behind Barog tunnel lies forgotten" by Jagmeet Singh June 15, 2002 The Tribune
• Photograph: Barog tunnel in Kalka-Simla line by ramu101. flickr.com