nilgiri mountain railway

I like traveling in toy trains as these are different kind of experience, so I take the opportunity when ever I can. I traveled from Udhagamandalam (Ooty) to Mettupalayam. I booked in advanced as don't want to take chance with current booking. I booked first class ticket but after checking the train on arrival, I realised there there is not much difference between first and second class. My couch was last so, I can see the train from one end to other. Its last station and from here train start return journey after halt of approx 30 minutes. There is charm of train so, the moment train arrives people start clicking pictures with engine, compartments and guard's place. Train is blue in colour and looks interesting when moving in green terrain.From Ooty to Coonoor, it runs on steam engine and from Coonoor to Mettupalayam on diesel engine and this line uses the Abt rack and pinion system to climb the steep gradient. There is a canteen at Ooty station and they serve decent thali and south Indian food at reasonable price. Its clean and eatable.On the way train stops at 3 different stations (Coonoor stop is longest as they change engine here) and you can have tea or some snacks.Its 42 Kms journey with covering 108 curves, 16 tunnels and 250 small & big bridges and it takes approx double time as compared to car or bus but traveling by this train has its old world charm.

At a cost of 10 rupees for travel one side , this is a must see in the ooty trip.The train travels from ooty to conoor and mettupalayam on scheduled timings..try to come a bit early if you want a ticket and also a gud seat to see the views..the train passes through bridges inside hills and has a lot of visions to offer...After alighting or before boaridng take a look at the ingenious engine which is the real beauty of the Nilgiri Queen!!

If you want to know where train spotters go in the winter then look no further, not surprising as it is quite an exceptional trip. The train travels slowly down through the hills and it feels no where near as perilous as the drive up to Ooty did. You'd be mad to miss it.

This is surely a must. Boarding at Ooty (Udagamandalam) you wind your way slowly down the mountain through lush tea plantations and arrive at Conoor which the train engine changes from steam to desiel.Then you stop at Hillgrove, now if you are afraid of monkeys beware! Monkeys everywhere and if you don't watch out they will be in the carriage.The rest of journey goes through banana plantations and arrives in Mettupalayam.Very worthwhile

It was a delight 1 hour journey from Ooty to Coonoor, really great view on the way of tea plantations, values, ravines, waterfalls. The railway staff filled our compartment with all white, western travellers, which I though a bit odd! The train and railway stations were delightful. I would highly recommend that you book early for your ticket and go.

First travelled from udagamandalam to Connor and then from udagamandalam to mettupalayam. Book second class rather than first class as there's not much of a difference. Prefer reserving a seat on left side of the coach as you get to see amazing views from here.

Green green green everywhere......wow what a delightful sight.....Mother Nature will shower her love

Great.... The Route, The Train, The Coach each and everything is a great experience for me.The same excitement I feel whatever I feel in my childhood.

What an unusual experience. If you are in the area it's a "must do". The cost of a First Class ticket for the 4 hour journey is only 150 IR (<£2) and our agents booked us well in advance. The journey from Ooty to Coonoor was lovely but it only really became special from the leg between Coonoor and Mettupalayam when the steam engine took over. The scenery was spectacular if you could dare to look down. The narrow gauge track looked well worn, the bridges rickety and the drops precipitous - you just have to surrender yourself and trust the fact it has been running safely for many years.

LOVE this little train! Such a lovely way to get to Ooty. As it leaves the station and travels up into the hills , the views are incredible. It doesn't have a toilet but no need to worry as the train stops frequently to top up the water for the engine. Make sure you get there early if you don't have a ticket or are waitlisted. Just brilliant:')

The weather did me in. I caught the train in Coonoor and rode in second class (10 Rs) up to Ooty, the last third of the way. A lot of nice track-side pictures of trees in the fog. The whistle is loud, the stations are quaint, the in-train atmosphere was empty, but a train in the other direction was crowded.

Me and my wife after coming from the Tea Gardens at Coonoor travelled by this Toy Train on 31st Dec. Travelled from Coonoor to Ooty (Udagamandalam). The train was constructed by British.There was a good crowd for this train. Fortunately we have booked the tickets on IRCTC in one day advance. There is a toy train at Matheran, Maharashtra also. But, we never travelled. That's why wanted the experience travelling by toy train.After travelling, we concluded that our decision was right an its many times worth to travell by toy train instead of travelling by road. Very first reason is that it routed through the mountains. So that you will get the good natural views and along side tea gardens and nilgiri tress.I noticed the tracks also. Being a Mechanical Engineer, I immediately concluded that the triains are running by Rack & Pinion arrangement. This basically to avoid the slipping of train at the slops in mountain. Also it has traditional steam engine.The train route has many turns and few tunnels. Therefore, we got some amazing views of running train.On journey, we met a family, who came from USA. We found them very talkative and we immediately inquired about their travelling plans. We told them about famous tourist places in INDIA. This one is one of them.Overall, we enjoyed a lot during the journey. Taken many snaps.I suggest people should travel at least one side by the Toy train.I rate this in the excellent category.

Must travel with the heritage railway from Ooty - Conoor. There is so many enjoyable and pleasure views but the thing is to be booked 2-4 months earlier.

It is probably one of the best legacies of the british empire. Though we have Good roads now earlier it was this very railway which was a life line to ooty. We took the train from Coonoor to ooty. The train was on time departing from Coonoor and since it was a weekend there was a huge crowd luckily we had reserved our tickets through the Irctc website. The journey to Ooty offers some excellent views on either side and has a few tunnels as well. The coaches could be better maintained otherwise it is an excellent journey.

World Class train ride along the Western Ghats' scenic locations comprising of several bridges, tunnels, turns. The Railway still preserves its historic status of providing card type tickets. Its a UNESCO certified one