Shimla Toy TrainImage Credit source: Twitter
For the first time in the history of 120 years, the Kalka-Shimla railway will now be visible to the passengers in a new style. Because Indian Railways is going to change the look of Shimla toy train. The 120-year-old Shimla toy train is all set to get a new look for the first time as it is put into service by induction of indigenously made Vistadome coaches with glass roof and mini pantry. The narrow-gauge rolling stock, developed by the Rail Coach Factory (RCF) at Kaputhala in Punjab, is the first indigenously manufactured train coach, reminiscent of Swiss narrow-gauge carriages in red colour. RCF on Monday prepared four advanced Vistadome narrow gauge coaches for the heritage track. Which will make the passengers feel ‘supercool’ travel.
At present, the Kalka-Shimla Railway (KSR) also a UNESCO World Heritage Site uses the coach design which was built over a hundred years ago by the Moghalpura Workshop, which is now a part of Pakistan Railways. The Kalka-Shimla narrow-gauge track is a 96.6 km long functional rail link with 0.762-metre gauge. The line was opened in November 1903, almost 12 years after the Delhi Railway line was connected to Kalka in 1891.
The Railway Ministry tweeted that bring out your Himalayan wanderlust! Get a glimpse of the upcoming coaches for the Kalka-Shimla UNESCO Heritage Railway line designed by the Rail Coach Factory in Kapurthala. Elevating your experience is the promise of plush seating, mesmerizing glass windows and other modern amenities.
Unleash your Himalayan Wanderlust!
Get a sneak peek of the upcoming coaches for the Kalka-Shimla UNESCO heritage Railway line designed by @KapurthalaRcf to elevate your experience. Promising luxurious seating, mesmerizing glass windows and other modern amenities. pic.twitter.com/9gTIPmlMpt
— Ministry of Railways (@RailMinIndia) May 30, 2023
Main workshop is in Pakistan
Officials say that when the RCF was given the responsibility to design and manufacture the rolling stock of KSR, they faced two major problems. Firstly, there was no digital data for modeling the narrow-gauge track for design development and verification. Secondly, there is no availability of design assumptions, limitations and procedures for verification of the design as the main workshop is now in Pakistan.
Also said that initially 3D models were made using old blueprints and sketches available in Kalka workshop. These models were then used as a baseline for the development of a new design of bogies, a new shell superstructure and furnishings design.
Railways will decide the date of flagging off
RCF has developed the interior decoration according to the new design. Ashesh Agarwal, general manager of RCF in Kapurthala, said that these coaches are one AC executive car (12 seats), one AC chair car (24 seats), one non-AC chair car (30 seats) and one power-cum-luggage and guard coach. There will be a trial run on the heritage track before being put into service. He has been handed over to Kalka Railway. The coaches will be put into operation after getting approval from the Commissioner of Railway Safety. The date of their flagging off will be decided by the Railway Board.
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These special facilities will be
The interiors of the coaches of this train include noise and vibration proofing, anti-UV-coated window glass, bio-toilet, power windows in upper class, darkening vista glass in upper class, slide windows in second class, powered doors, heating/cooling package AC included. It will have modular seating with aircraft-like rail mounted seats with flip backs, restaurant seating with luxury seats for executives, a mini pantry and luggage bin and a vestibule.
The cost of each coach is Rs 1.3 crore.
Railway Board has asked RCF to manufacture 30 Vistadome coaches for Kalka-Shimla line and has approved manufacture of these coaches for Kangra Valley line. Each Vistadome coach will cost around Rs 1.3 crore. To connect Shimla, the British laid the first rail link in 1903. In 2009, UNESCO declared the Kalka-Shimla rail track as a World Heritage Site. There are 103 tunnels, 800 bridges, 919 diversions and 18 railway stations on the railway line.
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