Toy Train from Kalka to Shimla

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We took the Toy Train from Kalka to Shimla on 3-Dec-2018. We had landed in Chandigarh on 2-Dec-2018 and stayed at Taj Chandigarh for the night. We woke up at 4 AM on 3-Dec-2018 to get ready. We boarded the Innova at around 4:30 AM. We had requested Taj to provide us a car to take us to the Kalka Station. We had ordered 3 boxes of breakfast from Taj Chandigarh.

As we were expecting to reach Kalka Station, I realised that the driver did not know the way. He had taken the road to Shimla and driven ahead quite a bit. Our train was scheduled to leave Kalka at 5:45 AM. Anyway, he realised his mistake and did a u-turn and after asking a few truck drivers, was on the right track once again. We reached Kalka station at around 5:35 AM. We took a Coolie (porter) and he helped us find our seats in the train – Shivalik Express. We paid him Rs. 100.

Onboard Shivalik Express at Kalka Station
Onboard Shivalik Express at Kalka Station

Shivalik Express has 6 First Class coaches. Each coach has 18 seats. And each coach has a Toilet. Food is served by Indian Railways in Shivalik Express – Breakfast during the morning run and Dinner during the Evening run. Each coach has a dedicated attendant.

There are 102 tunnels between Kalka and Shimla. Out of these, the tunnel at Barog is the longest.

Shivalik Express has only one stop between Kalka and Shimla. The stop is at Barog.

Soon after the train started, the attendant provided each of us with a bottle of water (1 litre).

Ranoo inside Shivalik Express on the way to Simla from Kalka
Ranoo inside Shivalik Express on the way to Shimla from Kalka
Deepshree inside Shivalik Express on the way to Simla from Kalka
Deepshree inside Shivalik Express on the way to Shimla from Kalka
Scene from Shivalik Express a few stations after starting from Kalka
Scene from Shivalik Express a few stations after starting from Kalka
Shivalik Express entering a tunnel
Shivalik Express entering a tunnel

After about 1 hour since we started from Kalka, Ranoo said that she was hungry. So, I gave her one breakfast pack that we had got from Taj. It had a lots of things. So, all three of us shared that (one) pack.

At about 8 AM, Shivalik Express reached the Barog Station. Here the train stopped and the attendant loaded the breakfast packets into the coach.

Shivalik Express at Barog Station
Shivalik Express at Barog Station
Ranoo at Barog Station
Ranoo at Barog Station
Myself at Barog Station
Myself at Barog Station.
All trains on the Kalka-Shimla route are pulled by Diesel Engines

The attendant served the breakfast soon after the Train started from the Barog Station.

The breakfast served by Indian Railways has both Vegetarian and Non-Vegetarian options. We had to specify the option while booking the tickets. The Vegetarian option consisted of Bread, Butter, Jam, 2 Vegetarian Cutlets. The Non-Vegetarian option consisted of Bread, Butter, Jam, Omlette. Each of us were served one flask of Tea and 2 biscuits. Each flask of tea contained about 2 cups of Tea.

For most part of the route, one can see lots of Pine Trees
For most part of the journey, one can see lots of Pine Trees
Scene along the route
Scene along the route
Scene along the route
Scene along the route
Ranoo in Shivalik Express as we approached Simla
Ranoo in Shivalik Express as we approached Shimla

We reached Shimla Station at about 11 AM. The train was about 30 minutes late.

Outside the Shimla Station

We hired a taxi from the Shimla Station to take us to Hotel Radisson Jazz. The Taxi Driver agreed for a charge of Rs. 300.

Posted in India

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6 Comment on “Toy Train from Kalka to Shimla”

  1. Little Miss Traveller 20/01/2019 at 12:04 AM

    I’d love to take a ride in this train one day

    Reply
    1. Partha Majumdar 20/01/2019 at 12:17 AM

      You will love it. You will also like to Toy Train ride at Ooty in South India.

      There are 2 other very popular Toy Trains in India – one is at Darjeeling (You can see this in many Bollywood movies) and one is at Matheran. I plan to take these rides as well in the near future.

      The Toy Trains at Ooty and Darjeeling are pulled by Steam Engines. This makes them more romantic.

      Reply
      1. Little Miss Traveller 20/01/2019 at 12:23 AM

        Those steam trains sound wonderful. I’m yet to visit India but hope to have an opportunity of visiting sometime soon

      2. Partha Majumdar 20/01/2019 at 12:26 AM

        I pray you opportunity comes soon.

        Visiting India and going around India is a lot comfortable now. There are good facilities at almost all of the places all over India.

        We will be very glad to welcome you to our wonderful country.

      3. Little Miss Traveller 20/01/2019 at 1:16 AM

        Thank you so much, I’m certain I’ll be able to travel to India before too long.

  2. Pingback: Radisson Jazz | Partha's Travelogue

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