An Exciting Toy Train Journey to Ooty!

Train journeys are always close to our hearts as we travel through places enjoying the beauty of the surroundings we live in. It gives us an experience that none other travel experience could offer. #13;You wouldve travelled in trains that are pretty fast and where you just cant have a look at the places that flash by! Here is a train that is slow and takes you through a beautiful location which is truly a sight! #13;The Mettupalayam- Ooty train which is also called as the Nilgiri Toy Train is one such train that allows you to soak in the beauty of nature, yet enjoy the ride. This train has been a popular tourist attraction in South India as the other toy trains in India re found in Shimla and Darjeeling. #13;The journey starts from Mettupalayam and heads towards Ooty taking you through the scenic Nilgiri hills. The train covers 16 tunnels, 250 bridges and 208 curves. The railway track is the steepest in Asia that is operated by X Class steam rack locomotives, unlike other railway tracks. This Abt rack and pinion system is used as the track is steep enough making the ride otherwise difficult. #13;Lets take a trip through 46 km of fun and excitement! #13; The journey starts from Mettupalayam at 7.10am. This station is around 496 km from Chennai, 32 km from Coimbatore, 85 km from Palakkad and 362 km from Bangalore. Crossing Mettupalam, the train rides through steep hills which is the best part of the journey. The engines used in this train are X Class steam engine locomotives, unlike the electric or diesel engines used in ordinary trains. How nice it would be to travel through tunnels and bridges, that too on the steepest track in Asia! This journey covers 46 km from Mettupalam to Ooty, at an average speed of 33 km/hr. The racks that hold the train are fixed between the track and the trains pinion wheels ride on these racks. This system was used in early 19th century for train rides. Around 8.45am, the train reaches Hillgrove Station, where it stops for a while and passengers are offered refreshments too. As the train reaches Kateri Station, the region you see is 5070ft above sea level. The views are splendid and since there is no stop here for passenger trains, you can enjoy the breathtaking views as you slowly pass by. The train reaches Coonoor station around 10.30am. This is one of the important stations and the train stops here for a while. The rack system of tracks end here. From here, the trains runs on diesel engines. By 10.47 we wouldve reached the Wellington station. By now were about 5804 ft above sea level, and the views are stunning from here! The train reaches Ketti Railway Station by 11.19am. Ooty is just 8 km from here. The time is 11.39am when we would be hitting Lovedale, a railway station just 4 km away from Ooty. Hope you would be still enjoying the journey. Finally we reach Uthagamandalam Railway Station or what is popularly known as the Ooty railway station. The time is 12 noon. Hope you all enjoyed this virtual tour. So, when are you planning to take this amazing train ride? #13; #13;