Matheran Hill RailwayMatheran Hill Railway Matheran Hill Railway is a 2 ft (610 mm) narrow-gauge heritage railway in Maharashtra, India. The railways comes under the administration of the Central Railways. The railway covers a distance of 21 km (13.05 mi), over large swathes of forest territory connecting Neral to Matheran in the Western Ghats. MHR is in the tentative list of UNESCO world heritage sites. Matheran Hill Railway History The Neral–Matheran Light Railway was built between 1901 and 1907 by Abdul Hussein Adamjee Peerbhoy, financed by his father, Sir Adamjee Peerbhoy at a cost of ₹16 lakh (US$25,000). Sir Adamjee Peerbhoy visited Matheran often and wanted to build a railway to make it easier to get there. Hussain's plans for the Matheran Hill Railway were formulated in 1900 and construction started in 1904. Consulting engineer was Everard Calthrop of Barsi Light Railway fame. The line was open to traffic by 1907. Originally, the tracks were laid with 30 lb/yd (14.9 kg/m) rails but now has 42 lb/yd (20.8 kg/m) rails. Ruling gradient is 1:20 (5%) with tight curves and speeds are limited to 12 km/h (7.5 mph). The railway was closed by flood damage during 2005 and was not expected to reopen before April 2007. Contrary to those expectations, the first run on the repaired railway was on 5 March 2007. The line observed its centenary on 15 April 2007. Train services were suspended during the monsoon season from June to October because of the danger of landslides. During the 2012 monsoon season, CR conducted tests of the air brakes, and after receiving approval from the Commission of Railway Safety, ran the train during the monsoon for the first time. CR plans to shorten the period during which services are suspended by suspending services only from 15 July and restarting them on 1 October. In November 2012, CR added a special coach called a saloon to trains operating on the line. The saloons feature cushioned sofas and LCD screens showing images from outside the train. Earlier, these saloons were available only to railway officers. Matheran Hill Railway Operators The MHR and all its movable and immovable assets, including the authentic railway stations, the line, and the track vehicles, belong to the Government of India entrusted to the Ministry of Railways. The Central Railway handles the day-to-day maintenance and management. But moreover, several programs, divisions and departments of the Indian Railways are responsible for operating, maintaining and repairing the KSR. This includes technical as well as non-technical work. Matheran Hill Railway Rolling Stock Matheran Hill Railway Steam Locomotives Consulting engineer Everard Calthrop designed a 0-6-0T with Klein-Linder locomotives articulated coupled axles to provide a flexible wheelbase, and four were supplied by Orenstein & Koppel. They ran from the railway's opening in 1907 till 1982, when they were replaced by diesel engines. By 1983, all steam locomotives were phased out. A 'B' class loco #794 from the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway was transferred to the Neral-Matheran line in 2001 to test the feasibility of steam excursions. In 2013, it was sent to Golden Rock workshops to be converted to oil firing and returned to Neral soon after. MHR No. ISR No. Builder Builders No. Date Current Location 1 738 O & K 1766 1905 Neral 2 739 O & K 2342 1907 Delhi 3 740 O & K 2343 1907 South Tynedale Railway 4 741 O & K 1767 1905 Matheran 794 Baldwin 44914 1917 Neral Matheran Hill Railway Diesel Locomotives Because of the sharp curves on the line, only short-wheelbase four-wheel diesel units can be used, with Class NDM1 and NDM6 locomotives in use. Class NDM1 is a design incorporating two powered units articulated with a central cab, initially developed by German builder Arn Jung. The non-articulated Class NDM6 type was manufactured by Bangalore builders SAN ISR No: 400Class: NDM1 Builder: Indian Railways, Parel Works, Mumbai Date: 2016 Delivered Current Status: In Neral shed awaiting commissioning, 1 April 2016 Notes: from Parel, January 2016 ISR No: 500 Class: NDM1 Builder: Jung Builders No: 12108 Date: 1956 Withdrawn. Current Status: Not present 1 April 2016. Notes: Originally No.700 from Kalka Shimla Railway. ISR No: 501 Class: NDM1 Builder: Jung Builders No: 12109 Date: 1956 Current Status: Rebuilt at Parel 2002 Notes: In Service Originally No.750 ISR No: 502 Class: NDM1 Builder: Jung Builders No: 12110 Date: 1956 Current Status: Dismantled for repairs at Neral 1 April 2016. Notes: Originally No.751 ISR No: 503 Class: NDM1 Builder: Jung Builders No: 12111 Date: 1956 Current Status: Withdrawn. Not present 1 April 2016. Notes: Originally No.752. ISR No: 504 Class: NDM1 Builder: Jung Builders No:12105 Date: 1956 Current Status: Withdrawn. Not present 1 April 2016. Notes: Originally No.701 from Kalka Shimla Railway. ISR No: 505 Class: NDM1 Builder: Jung Builders No: 12107 Date: 1956 Current Status: Withdrawn. Not present 1 April 2016. Notes: Originally No.703 from Kalka Shimla Railway. ISR No: 506 Class: NDM1 Builder: Jung Builders No:12106 Date: 1956 Current Status: Withdrawn. Not present 1 April 2016. Notes: Originally No.702 from Kalka Shimla Railway. ISR No: 550 Class: NDM1A Builder: Indian Railways, Parel Works, Mumbai Date: 2006 Current Status: In Service Notes: On Aman Lodge shuttle 7/3/15 ISR No: 551 Class: NDM1A Builder: Indian Railways, Parel Works, Mumbai Date: 2006 Current Status: In Service Notes: On Aman Lodge shuttle 7/3/15 ISR No: 600 Class: NDM6 Builder: SAN Builders No: 559 Date: 1997 Current Status: In Service Notes: Repairs at Neral 1 April 2016 ISR No: 603 Class: NDM6 Builder: SAN Builders No: 568 Date: 1998 Current Status: In Service Notes: Recorded on 7 March 2015 on Aman Lodge shuttle Matheran Hill Railway Route Neral Jummapatti Water Pipe Aman Lodge Matheran Matheran Hill Railway Route Detail Neral Neral, the starting point, is near Mumbai. The 2 ft (610 mm) narrow-gauge line runs parallel to the BG line to the west of Hardal Hill and then turns east to ascend towards Matheran. The rail alignment and the roadway meet near Jumappati and meet again, after a brief separation, at Bhekra Khud. Following a small level stretch, there is a sharp ascent just before Mount Barry. A large horseshoe embankment was built to avoid a reversing station here. The line runs for a mile or so northwards around this and then turns around to take the "One kiss Tunnel" through the embankment. Two more zig-zags through deep cuttings remain before Panorama Point is reached, and then the line bends back to Simpson's Tank and terminates at Matheran. It takes approximately 2 hours and 20 minutes to complete the 21 km journey. CR plans to reduce this to 1 hour 30 minutes. Neral Railway Station Neral railway station is on 5 ft 6 in (1,676 mm) line from Mumbai to Chennai. The narrow gauge line starts from here. Jummapatti Railway Station Water Pipe Railway Station Used for filling water in steam locomotives. Aman Lodge Railway Station Named after nearby lodge. Matheran Railway Station The last station Matheran Hill Railway Operational Detail Matheran Hill Railway Terminus: Matheran Matheran Hill Railway Built by: Adamjee Peerbhoy Matheran Hill Railway Operated by: Central Railways Matheran Hill Railway Length: 21 km Matheran Hill Railway Preserved Gauge: 2 ft (610 mm) Matheran Hill Railway Opened: 1907 Matheran Hill Railway Headquarters: Neral * Read also our other many web pages on India Rail Transport: | |||||
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