About the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway - a brief history
1879 Construction is started by the Darjeeling Steam Tramway Company to a narrow gauge of only 2ft (610mm). Its purpose is to reduce the haulage rates of commodities (such as rice) to Darjeeling and to improve the viability of local industries such as tea production. The line closely follows the route of the existing Hill Cart Road - the Government supports the scheme so as to reduce road maintenance costs.
1880 Eight steam locomotives arrive from the works of Messrs Sharp Stewart, Manchester, England. In March Lord Lytton, the Viceroy of India visits the line which opens to the public between Siliguri and Kurseong in August.
1881 On 3 July the line is officially opened to Darjeeling. It is 51 miles (82km) long and climbs from only 400ft (120m) at Siliguri to the summit at Ghum (7407ft/2257m) before descending to Darjeeling (6812ft/2075m).The Company is renamed the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway Co. In its first full year the line carries 8,000 passengers and 380 tons of goods.
1882 Four loops and four reverses (zig-zags) are constructed between Sukna and Gayabari to ease the gradient.
1885 A short extension for goods traffic is opened to the bazaar at Darjeeling.
1891 Darjeeling station is enlarged and rebuilt.
1896 Kurseong gets a new station (previously the Clarendon Hotel had been used for this purpose) and storage sheds.
1897 Many homes in Darjeeling and Kurseong are damaged by an earthquake and tremors. DHR service is maintained.
1899 A devastating cyclone hits Darjeeling on 23 September - 4,000ft of mountainside slips into the valley causing much loss of life and damage to the DHR.
1905 Traffic on the line continues to grow with 29,000 passengers and 31,570 tons of goods. In addition to rice, flour and coal the line is bringing increasing numbers of tourists to the region. The shareholders in the Company are benefiting from dividends of 11-14%.
1909-10 Growth continues with 174,000 passengers and 47,000 tons of goods. The first bogie carriages enter service, replacing very basic 4 wheel carriages.
1914/15 A branch line of the DHR opens from Siliguri (Panchanai) to Kishenganj. At Tindharia the railway works are relocated from behind the loco shed to a new and extensive site created from removing the summit of Selim Hill. The line is now carrying 250,000 passengers and 60,000 tons of freight (flour and rice 17,804 tons, tea 5,354 tons, potatoes 3,824 tons, salt 1,634 tons, sugar 894 tons and metals 915 tons). With the continued growth in staff and business, the headquarters of the railway moves from Darjeeling to more spacious accommodation at Kurseong.
1915 Another branch - the Teesta Valley Line - is opened from Siliguri to Kalimpong Road (Gielle Khola).
1919 The loop at Batasia is constructed, eliminating problems by creating easier gradients on the ascent from Darjeeling. But the first sign of competition for the railway comes with the introduction of a bus service, making the journey in 3½ hrs - 1½ hrs faster than the trains. The railway retaliates with a railcar in 1920 but it can carry only 9 passengers and is soon out of service.
1921/22/24 The DHR and the Teesta Valley line are used to transport men and equipment for attempts to reach the summit of Mount Everest.
1930 Despite increasing competition from private cars and buses, the line continues to prosper with 258,000 passengers and 80,000 tons of goods, although earnings from both sources are declining.
1934 A serious earthquake in Bihar shakes all of Northeast India. Many buildings in Darjeeling are heavily damaged and the railway is also badly affected, although it soon recovers and plays a vital role in transporting repair materials.
1936 The line is running three through trains a day in each direction, taking 5 1/4 hours and two local services running from Tindharia and Kurseong
1939 to 1945 The effect of World War 2 dramatically increases traffic on the DHR which plays a vital role transporting military personnel and supplies to the numerous camps around Ghum and Darjeeling. The line now has 39 working locomotives and Tindharia Works, employing almost 400 workers, constructs extra rolling stock including a five vehicle ambulance train for the wounded. A Walford diesel locomotive arrives in 1942, but the trials are unsuccessful. In the year 1943-44 the line carries 311,000 passengers and 76,000 tons of goods.
1947 The old wooden station at Darjeeling is replaced by a modern concrete building
1948 On 20 October the DHR is purchased by the Indian Government and is absorbed into the Indian Government Railways organisation.
1950 As Partition has severed the main line railway link with Assam, the Kishenganj to Siliguri and Siliguri to Sevoke sections of the two DHR branch lines are replaced by metre gauge track as part of the new Assam Rail Link Project. After heavy damage from flooding the remaining section of the Teesta Valley branch from Sevoke to Gielle Khola is abandoned. The DHR comes under the management of the Assam Railways organisation.
1952 Assam Railways including the DHR become part of the North Eastern Railway zone.
1958 The DHR and other Assam lines are transferred to the new North East Frontier Railway Zone.
1962 At Siliguri the line is re-aligned and extended by approx 4 miles (6 km) to New Jalpaiguri (NJP) to meet the new broad gauge line there. It opens for freight that year and for passengers in 1964. The loco shed and carriage depot at Siliguri Junction are relocated to NJP.
1984 The once important railway mail services on the line end – beaten by road competition.
1988/9 The line is closed for 18 months due to civil unrest.
1993 Competition from road haulage and the interruption to services in previous years finally ends the freight services.
1999 The DHR is awarded “World Heritage” status by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO), only the second railway in the world to get such status. UNESCO describes the DHR as “An outstanding example of the influence of an innovative transportation system on the social and economic development of a multi-cultural region which was to serve as a model for similar developments in many parts of the world.”
2000 Two NDM6 diesel locomotives are introduced into service. The initial pattern is to use them on the service trains below Kurseong, with steam being retained on the Kurseong-Darjeeling section and for tourist specials.
2002 Steam locomotive No 787 is converted to oil-firing, but despite subsequent trials and modifications, it is not a success.
2003/4 More re-alignment of the line takes place at Siliguri and New Jalpaiguri because of the broad gauge conversion of the Assam line. The DHR gains a new island platform at NJP. The locomotive shed and carriage servicing are relocated to Siliguri Junction.
2005 Two new oil-fired steam locomotives Nos 1001-2 arrive but design problems prevent them from entering service. Tourist traffic shows a welcome increase - 82 steam-hauled charter trains compared with only 20 or less in previous years.
2006 The historic Elysia Building, Kurseong (the former residence of the General Manager DHR prior to 1948) is rededicated after extensive restoration. Two more NDM6 diesel locomotives arrive from the Matheran line. Indian Railways celebrates the 125th anniversary with a series of ˜Steam on Three Gauges” charter trains at Siliguri Junction.
2007 The DHR gets its first full time Director. The heaviest monsoon in decades disrupts services and Darjeeling loco shed is badly damaged. A new daily train, The Himalayan Princess (3D/4D) and more Darjeeling-Ghum tourist services are introduced
2008 Oil-firing trials end. Coal will continue to power the steam fleet. Tindharia Works gets a thorough renovation. Widespread political unrest and bandhs (strikes) continue to disrupt services. A wash out in June closes the Kurseong-NJP section for 10 weeks.
2009 Storm damage closes the line for almost 3 months. Major repairs start at Darjeeling Station and loco shed. Ten new corridor-connection carriages enter service.
Courtesy of Paul Whittle, Public Relations Officer and the late Terry Martin, Archivist of the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway Society.
1880 Eight steam locomotives arrive from the works of Messrs Sharp Stewart, Manchester, England. In March Lord Lytton, the Viceroy of India visits the line which opens to the public between Siliguri and Kurseong in August.
1881 On 3 July the line is officially opened to Darjeeling. It is 51 miles (82km) long and climbs from only 400ft (120m) at Siliguri to the summit at Ghum (7407ft/2257m) before descending to Darjeeling (6812ft/2075m).The Company is renamed the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway Co. In its first full year the line carries 8,000 passengers and 380 tons of goods.
1882 Four loops and four reverses (zig-zags) are constructed between Sukna and Gayabari to ease the gradient.
1885 A short extension for goods traffic is opened to the bazaar at Darjeeling.
1891 Darjeeling station is enlarged and rebuilt.
1896 Kurseong gets a new station (previously the Clarendon Hotel had been used for this purpose) and storage sheds.
1897 Many homes in Darjeeling and Kurseong are damaged by an earthquake and tremors. DHR service is maintained.
1899 A devastating cyclone hits Darjeeling on 23 September - 4,000ft of mountainside slips into the valley causing much loss of life and damage to the DHR.
1905 Traffic on the line continues to grow with 29,000 passengers and 31,570 tons of goods. In addition to rice, flour and coal the line is bringing increasing numbers of tourists to the region. The shareholders in the Company are benefiting from dividends of 11-14%.
1909-10 Growth continues with 174,000 passengers and 47,000 tons of goods. The first bogie carriages enter service, replacing very basic 4 wheel carriages.
1914/15 A branch line of the DHR opens from Siliguri (Panchanai) to Kishenganj. At Tindharia the railway works are relocated from behind the loco shed to a new and extensive site created from removing the summit of Selim Hill. The line is now carrying 250,000 passengers and 60,000 tons of freight (flour and rice 17,804 tons, tea 5,354 tons, potatoes 3,824 tons, salt 1,634 tons, sugar 894 tons and metals 915 tons). With the continued growth in staff and business, the headquarters of the railway moves from Darjeeling to more spacious accommodation at Kurseong.
1915 Another branch - the Teesta Valley Line - is opened from Siliguri to Kalimpong Road (Gielle Khola).
1919 The loop at Batasia is constructed, eliminating problems by creating easier gradients on the ascent from Darjeeling. But the first sign of competition for the railway comes with the introduction of a bus service, making the journey in 3½ hrs - 1½ hrs faster than the trains. The railway retaliates with a railcar in 1920 but it can carry only 9 passengers and is soon out of service.
1921/22/24 The DHR and the Teesta Valley line are used to transport men and equipment for attempts to reach the summit of Mount Everest.
1930 Despite increasing competition from private cars and buses, the line continues to prosper with 258,000 passengers and 80,000 tons of goods, although earnings from both sources are declining.
1934 A serious earthquake in Bihar shakes all of Northeast India. Many buildings in Darjeeling are heavily damaged and the railway is also badly affected, although it soon recovers and plays a vital role in transporting repair materials.
1936 The line is running three through trains a day in each direction, taking 5 1/4 hours and two local services running from Tindharia and Kurseong
1939 to 1945 The effect of World War 2 dramatically increases traffic on the DHR which plays a vital role transporting military personnel and supplies to the numerous camps around Ghum and Darjeeling. The line now has 39 working locomotives and Tindharia Works, employing almost 400 workers, constructs extra rolling stock including a five vehicle ambulance train for the wounded. A Walford diesel locomotive arrives in 1942, but the trials are unsuccessful. In the year 1943-44 the line carries 311,000 passengers and 76,000 tons of goods.
1947 The old wooden station at Darjeeling is replaced by a modern concrete building
1948 On 20 October the DHR is purchased by the Indian Government and is absorbed into the Indian Government Railways organisation.
1950 As Partition has severed the main line railway link with Assam, the Kishenganj to Siliguri and Siliguri to Sevoke sections of the two DHR branch lines are replaced by metre gauge track as part of the new Assam Rail Link Project. After heavy damage from flooding the remaining section of the Teesta Valley branch from Sevoke to Gielle Khola is abandoned. The DHR comes under the management of the Assam Railways organisation.
1952 Assam Railways including the DHR become part of the North Eastern Railway zone.
1958 The DHR and other Assam lines are transferred to the new North East Frontier Railway Zone.
1962 At Siliguri the line is re-aligned and extended by approx 4 miles (6 km) to New Jalpaiguri (NJP) to meet the new broad gauge line there. It opens for freight that year and for passengers in 1964. The loco shed and carriage depot at Siliguri Junction are relocated to NJP.
1984 The once important railway mail services on the line end – beaten by road competition.
1988/9 The line is closed for 18 months due to civil unrest.
1993 Competition from road haulage and the interruption to services in previous years finally ends the freight services.
1999 The DHR is awarded “World Heritage” status by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO), only the second railway in the world to get such status. UNESCO describes the DHR as “An outstanding example of the influence of an innovative transportation system on the social and economic development of a multi-cultural region which was to serve as a model for similar developments in many parts of the world.”
2000 Two NDM6 diesel locomotives are introduced into service. The initial pattern is to use them on the service trains below Kurseong, with steam being retained on the Kurseong-Darjeeling section and for tourist specials.
2002 Steam locomotive No 787 is converted to oil-firing, but despite subsequent trials and modifications, it is not a success.
2003/4 More re-alignment of the line takes place at Siliguri and New Jalpaiguri because of the broad gauge conversion of the Assam line. The DHR gains a new island platform at NJP. The locomotive shed and carriage servicing are relocated to Siliguri Junction.
2005 Two new oil-fired steam locomotives Nos 1001-2 arrive but design problems prevent them from entering service. Tourist traffic shows a welcome increase - 82 steam-hauled charter trains compared with only 20 or less in previous years.
2006 The historic Elysia Building, Kurseong (the former residence of the General Manager DHR prior to 1948) is rededicated after extensive restoration. Two more NDM6 diesel locomotives arrive from the Matheran line. Indian Railways celebrates the 125th anniversary with a series of ˜Steam on Three Gauges” charter trains at Siliguri Junction.
2007 The DHR gets its first full time Director. The heaviest monsoon in decades disrupts services and Darjeeling loco shed is badly damaged. A new daily train, The Himalayan Princess (3D/4D) and more Darjeeling-Ghum tourist services are introduced
2008 Oil-firing trials end. Coal will continue to power the steam fleet. Tindharia Works gets a thorough renovation. Widespread political unrest and bandhs (strikes) continue to disrupt services. A wash out in June closes the Kurseong-NJP section for 10 weeks.
2009 Storm damage closes the line for almost 3 months. Major repairs start at Darjeeling Station and loco shed. Ten new corridor-connection carriages enter service.
Courtesy of Paul Whittle, Public Relations Officer and the late Terry Martin, Archivist of the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway Society.