Toy Train celebrating centenary year

Mumbai, Apr 14 (UNI) The 'Toy Train' on the picturesque Matheran and Neral route of Central Railway is celebrating its centenary this year.

The construction of the two-feet gauge line was started in the year 1904 and was opened to traffic in 1907.

The Union Minister of State for Railway Narayanbhai Rathawa will be the chief guest at the centenary celebrations, organised by the Central Railway at Matheran tomorrow.

In 1900, Abdul Hussain, son of business tycoon Sir Adamjee Peerbhoy of Mumbai was a regular visitor to Matheran. He camped at Neral to plan for a narrow gauge railway line to Matheran. The construction of the line was authorised by Public Works Department, Bombay, in July 1904.

Mr Hussain floated a company called 'Matheran Steam Light Tramway' with a share capital of Rs 10 lakh, wholly owned by Pheerbhoy family. However, Government land was provided at free of cost and private land was acquired by Government at the expense of Railway Company.

The promoters were authorised for construction, maintenance and working of this line.

Two steam locomotives built by Orenstein and Koppel (O and K), Germany with 0-6-0 T design and one Darjeeling class 'A' 0-4-0 ST engine were used on this line when the line was opened in March 1907.

The Darjeeling locomotive was withdrawn during 1924-26. In 1995, three diesel locomotives were purchased. The rails used were 30 lb flat footed of steel on half round Burmese teakwood and other wooden sleepers fully ballanced with broken stone. These rails have been replaced by heavier 42lb to a yard. The topography was selected in such a way to avoid tunnels except for a small tunnel.

Train services on this section were suspended for 20-months in July 2005 due to unprecedented rain fall, which damaged (Washed off) the tracks at many points. The service was reopened in March 2007, after repairing the tracks.

Matheran was discovered by Hugh Mallet, Collector of Thane district in 1850, has long been a refuge for humidity-stricken Bombayites.

Matheran means 'Jungle on Top', is an undulating hilltop cloaked with shady trees, at an altitude of 800 metres. The journey involves an adventurous two-hour ascent in a toy train, with food vendors and monkeys jumping on and off as the valley glides by sedately.

UNI