Embedded Files
A trip from Bombay to Neral and a ride on the Matheran Hill Railway made for a very pleasant day out.
The MHR is less famous than other hill railways in India - Darjeeling, Kalka-Simla and Nilagiri - but is well worth a visit. It is two foot gauge and was engineered by E R Calthrop, who was also engineer for the Barsi Light Railway and is probably best known in England for his work on the Leek & Manifold Railway.
Calthrop designed an 0-6-0T loco for the MHR which had Klien-Lindner flexible axles to enable negotiation of sharp curves. There were four, built in Gemany by Orenstein & Koppel in 1905 and 1907. All were still there when I visited in 1977, but regular services were hauled by diesel locos, with steam available for extra workings as required.
At that time the line used to be closed during the monsoon season, June to September.
The line climbs 720 metres in its 21 km length with a maximum grade of 1 in 20. The fare charged though is based on the journey being 126 km to help recoup the considerable costs of keeping the line in service.
The narrow gauge terminus at Neral.
Loco NDM1 501 awaits departure for Matheran. It is a Bo-Bo, one of five built by Jung in 1956.
A view from the train, with two more track levels visible.
Mountain views as the train climbs up from Neral.
The loco works hard with a train full of passengers. At one point there is a lineside sign for 'One Kiss tunnel'!
The curvature is very noticeable.
The crowd from the train went off to the village where numerous hair cutting saloons advertised their services.
An earlier extra working had run with 0-6-0T 738.
738 is seen resting and being serviced at Matheran before moving off to take its train down the hill.
738 waits in Waterpipe Loop for an up train to pass.
Local residents had arrived to fill cans with hot water from the loco's injectors.
Some wagons used for storage parked at Matheran.
Four wheel carriages at Neral, maybe used on peak days.
Page updated
Google Sites
Report abuse