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 2' 0" narrow gauge railway. Following the decision of the Imperial General Staffs to standardise, wherever possible, on a 2' 6" gauge, 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
External links
- Indian Hill Stations - The Kalka -Shimla RailwayYoutube.com. One hour BBC Documentary Film
- Kalka-Shimla Railway Wikipedia
- "Hill Lines of India" Mike's Railway History.
- This India List thread advises that duties of one soldier while on the Unattached List included the training in weaponry of the builders of one of the Indian railways (probably the Kalka-Simla), in order to defend themselves from attacks which were an ever present threat.
