100 Year Old Nerel-Matheran Toy Train To Resume Services By End of 2022. All You Need To about This Iconic Locomotive

The iconic heritage train, Nerel-Matheran will soon be chugging through the Western Ghats by the end of 2022.

Mumbai: Iconic toy train that runs between Nerel and Matheran in Maharashtra is likely to resume its operations by the end of this year after a hiatus of three years. The operations of this toy train running through the hill stations was suspended following extensive damage to its narrow gauge rail tracks due to heavy rains. The restoration work of this century old heritage train is estimated to be worth Rs 5 crore. According to Central Railway (CR) officials, travelling by it will be safer and more comfortable as compared to the pre-2019 period, after the work is complete.

The Neral-Matheran track renewal and other safety work will help make travel safer, more comfortable and better. The work is expected to be completed by the end of the year, said Shivaji Sutar, Chief Public Relations Officer of the CR.

The officials said that during the 2019 monsoon, the railway line was severely damaged and got breached at more than 20 locations. At a few spots, the tracks loosened up and even started hanging out as the embankment under it got washed away.

Matheran hill station is located at an elevation of around 2,600 feet above sea level.

Restoration Work

1. The track renewal work includes replacing old rails with new ones, changing the earlier steel, iron and wooden sleepers with the concrete ones, erecting gabion walls and building drains, among others.
2. According to the CR, it has already installed cement sleepers on the nearly 12 km stretch of the route.
3. Since the train passes through hilly section having some sharp curves, the railway authorities are also installing new anti-crash barriers at dangerous spots overlooking the deep valley.
4. To avoid damage to tracks during monsoon, the CR has been building drains along the route in some sections, erecting gabion walls at certain locations, and bolting rocks at some places to prevent

A Trip to Heaven: Neral-Matheran toy train, Maharashtra, curving its way surrounded by beautiful green cover with the dark clouds providing a wonderful backdrop. pic.twitter.com/8Uc96TNHI3

— Piyush Goyal (@PiyushGoyal) December 21, 2020

100 year old heritage train trivia

• The Neral-Matheran line was built in 1907 as a family enterprise of the Peerbhoys and is now in the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization’s (UNESCO) tentative list of World Heritage Sites.
• This toy train is one of the major attractions among the tourists, especially children, visiting Matheran hill station, located about 100 km from here in Raigad district.
• Apart from carrying passengers, the train helps the local residents in ferrying essential items and other things.
• The 20-km long narrow gauge Neral-Matheran train came to a grinding halt three years back as the railway line was severely damaged due to torrential rains and landslides.

Route to Matheran

In normal course, tourists can reach Matheran either using this train or by road. Since the mini train service is currently shut between Neral and Aman Lodge stations, passengers have to rely on either cabs or private vehicles to reach the hill station.

But vehicles are allowed only up to Dasturi Naka, the entry point of Matheran, and only ambulances have permission to proceed further.

In the absence of the mini train service till Matheran, tourists as well as local residents have to shell out a hefty amount for the road journey. Moreover, after reaching Dasturi Naka, they have to either walk or hire a horse ride or hand cart to go to their desired destination in Matheran. In this situation, carrying luggage becomes a tough task.

So the mini train is the only mode of transport that takes tourists till Matheran market from Neral village, and perhaps the most convenient one that also offers an enchanting view.

Now, there is a beacon of hope for the locals as well as for avid travellers, as the heritage train is will soon chug through the scenic scaped of Maharashtra. The wait will be over soon.

(With inputs from PTI)