The Darjeeling Himalayan Railway, aka the Toy Train or DHR, is still going strong after more than 150 years. The most characterful journeys take place by steam train (known as a "Steam Joyride"), which run up to four times a day in peak season between Darjeeling and Ghum (taking 1 hour and 40 minutes). This unique trip blends mountain life with heritage.
A Head of Steam
Darjeeling Train Station is the starting point for steam-train journeys between Darjeeling and Ghum, and diesel services all the way to New Jalpaiguri Junction (NJP). Darjeeling's station, where you can buy tickets if you haven’t bought them online, is charming in its traditional ramshackle way. The Toy Train’s aging steam locomotives, such as the 804B built in Glasgow in 1925, chug and jolt and jerk their way into the station, often behind schedule, and link to the carriages.
Swing Round the Batasia Loop
Belching steam, trains grind along the narrow-gauge tracks beside, over and sometimes on Hill Cart Rd, with jeeps and cars scrambling to move out of the way. Seating can get a little cramped, but you can get up and hang out the door (with care) to get better photos.
The first stop is Batasia Loop, where clever engineering ingenuity was employed to navigate a steep incline. Trains stop here for around 20 minutes. The descent into Ghum is particularly exciting as the carriages whip right past grocery shops, their vegetables arranged only inches away from the train.
