Do you know which track is known as the Greatest Narrow-Gauge Engineering Marvel in India It is the 99-kilometer-long Shimla-Kalka railway line. Built in 1903 under the British, the train chugs along acres of lush greenery, over multiple bridges and through 100 tunnels over this track. In 2008, UNESCO added the Kalka&ndashShimla railway to the mountain railways of India World Heritage Site celebrating the cultural legacy of the country.
Due to the popularity and the ever-accelerating footfall of curious tourists, the authorities at the Kalka railway station have decided to erect a small museum on site. A British-era parcel cabin box counter situated at the station has been selected. This will store and exhibit antique items such as the uniform worn by the railway employees during the British era, used tickets of the Kalka-Shimla train and old photographs of the steam engine. The station is already decorated with large scale paintings of the locomotives running through spectacular mountainous vistas. The museum will definitely be a source of wonder for children who are always intrigued with the workings of the toy train.
This and many more such initiatives are being taken up Northern Railway in order to increase the heritage value of the Shimla-Kalka line. Keeping in mind the comfort and interest of tourists a new Vistadome coach and an open window restaurant coach has been added to the train. This new museum though smaller takes inspiration from the Baba Bhalku Rail Museum in Shimla.
Make sure to chalk in a visit to both on your next trip to the hills.
