Best toy train from Shimla to Kalka

ritesh · Feb 4th, 2007, 18:25

Hi All,

I have heard a lot about the toy train ride from Shimla to Kalka. I've never been on a hill toy train.

So, can u suggest which toy train will be the best?

I got some info at the following url
http://www.himachalpradesh.us/himach...ain.php#timing

but, i don't know how reliable this info is.

I also got to knwo that 'Toy Train' travels from Shimla to Kethalighat,only.After that one has to catch up a bus to kalka which is another 3hrs journey. Is this true?

And, most imp question, how does one book a seat on the toy train? I don't think it shows up on the indian railways website.

kullukid · Feb 4th, 2007, 22:31

The best toy train i've been on is the 1 to Ooty it's amazing. But don't let me put you off the Shimla 1 that's also amazing (been on it 3x now) i just prefer the Ooty journey, this yr i finally managed to catch the Kangra valley toy train from Pathankot to Kangra & to be honest i was very disappointed nothing like as good as the other 2, maybe it gets more interesting from Kangra to Jogindernagar???
Anyway the shimla 1 goes all the way from Kalka to Shimla you don't have to catch a bus. I've never booked a ticket in advance i've always caught it coming from Shimla & purchased my ticket the day before at the station. KK

shere · Feb 5th, 2007, 01:03

5:30am train is the best one.

I got this in July 2006. Nice easy journey to Shimla with only one stop at Barog.

I booked over internet and eveything was fine.

Only thing I did not like was that due to the timings etc I had to get to Kalka the day before and stay a night there. However I found this was ok.

ritesh · Feb 5th, 2007, 14:39

thanks for the replies Kullukid and shere...

I am looking to travel from Shimla to Kalka...can you tell me the name and time of the best toy train as per your experience. Which ones have you guys travelled by?

Is Himalayan Queen a toy train? (Shimla Dep 10:30, Kalka arrival 16:05)

jyotirmoy · Feb 5th, 2007, 15:15

You can take Kalka Mail from Delhi & reach Kalka early morning. The toy train is a connecting train so it will start after Kalka mail arrives.

shere · Feb 5th, 2007, 15:18

The railway line form Kalka to Shimla is narrow gauge so most the trains are what you term toy trains.

Not sure if it runs out of season but the 05:30am train is the best one.

Have a search on http://www.irctc.co.in

rishabh6296 · Feb 5th, 2007, 18:39

I would say,kangra valley railway is the best because of its proximity to the snow ranes of dhauladhar,but you'll get to see them after kangra.overall in india the toy train to darjeeling is the best.
Rishabh

ritesh · Feb 6th, 2007, 20:14

Guys,

I am looking to travel from Shimla to Kalka. All your suggestions are for Kalka to Shimla. Please suggest best train combination for Shimla-Kalka-Delhi journey.

Is Himalayan Queen also a connecting train?
256 HIMALYAN QUEEN SIMLA 10:30 KALKA 16:05
4096 HIMALYAN QUEEN KALKA 16:40 N DELHI 22:20

thanks for all your replies.

rishabh6296 · Feb 8th, 2007, 05:10

Himalayan queen is connected to the delhi-kalka shatabdi if i'm not wrong.
Rishabh

ritesh · Feb 27th, 2007, 14:21

thanks for the reply Rishabh

neotraveller · Apr 1st, 2007, 21:35

I am also looking for a convenient toy train from Shimla to kalka.
Hopefully one which starts in daylght so that i can enjoy the scenic travel. Shivalik express starts pretty late at 5:40PM

Is the shimla-kalka passenger a toy train? Is it on-par with Himalayan queen / sivalik express? Please guide me.

Here are timings of various trains from shimla to kalka:
http://www.shimla-travel.com/shimla_railway.shtml

Goldrush77 · Apr 1st, 2007, 22:23

I was always under the impression that all of the trains on that line were, by definition, "toy trains", as they ran on the small guage line... Is there some kind of fancier, more tourist-oriented type of scene in addition to this that I'm not aware of?

I took the one in the morning three years ago, and if I recall, they have it timed not to leave until the train from Delhi reaches Kalka, as a very large proportion of the passengers on the Kalka to Shimla line are connecting.

Also, of course, there are many buses that go to Shimla direct from all these places. But there's nothing scenic about a Volvo.

Goldrush77 · Apr 1st, 2007, 22:24

On afterthought, that goes the same for the reverse trip as well, if I recall correctly.

Feb 4th, 2007, 18:25	#1
ritesh Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Hyderabad Posts: 28	Best toy train from Shimla to Kalka Hi All, I have heard a lot about the toy train ride from Shimla to Kalka. I've never been on a hill toy train. So, can u suggest which toy train will be the best? I got some info at the following url http://www.himachalpradesh.us/himach...ain.php#timing but, i don't know how reliable this info is. I also got to knwo that 'Toy Train' travels from Shimla to Kethalighat,only.After that one has to catch up a bus to kalka which is another 3hrs journey. Is this true? And, most imp question, how does one book a seat on the toy train? I don't think it shows up on the indian railways website.

Feb 6th, 2007, 20:14	#8
ritesh Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Hyderabad Posts: 28	Shimla-Kalka-Delhi Guys, I am looking to travel from Shimla to Kalka. All your suggestions are for Kalka to Shimla. Please suggest best train combination for Shimla-Kalka-Delhi journey. Is Himalayan Queen also a connecting train? 256 HIMALYAN QUEEN SIMLA 10:30 KALKA 16:05 4096 HIMALYAN QUEEN KALKA 16:40 N DELHI 22:20 thanks for all your replies.

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Feb 4th, 2007, 22:31	#2
kullukid Maha Guru Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: u.k. Posts: 980	The best toy train i've been on is the 1 to Ooty it's amazing. But don't let me put you off the Shimla 1 that's also amazing (been on it 3x now) i just prefer the Ooty journey, this yr i finally managed to catch the Kangra valley toy train from Pathankot to Kangra & to be honest i was very disappointed nothing like as good as the other 2, maybe it gets more interesting from Kangra to Jogindernagar??? Anyway the shimla 1 goes all the way from Kalka to Shimla you don't have to catch a bus. I've never booked a ticket in advance i've always caught it coming from Shimla & purchased my ticket the day before at the station. KK

Feb 5th, 2007, 01:03	#3
shere Maha Guru Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: England Posts: 1,105	5:30am train is the best one. I got this in July 2006. Nice easy journey to Shimla with only one stop at Barog. I booked over internet and eveything was fine. Only thing I did not like was that due to the timings etc I had to get to Kalka the day before and stay a night there. However I found this was ok.

Feb 5th, 2007, 14:39	#4
ritesh Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Hyderabad Posts: 28	thanks for the replies Kullukid and shere... I am looking to travel from Shimla to Kalka...can you tell me the name and time of the best toy train as per your experience. Which ones have you guys travelled by? Is Himalayan Queen a toy train? (Shimla Dep 10:30, Kalka arrival 16:05)

Feb 5th, 2007, 15:15	#5
jyotirmoy Maha Guru Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: India Posts: 4,621	You can take Kalka Mail from Delhi & reach Kalka early morning. The toy train is a connecting train so it will start after Kalka mail arrives.

Feb 5th, 2007, 15:18	#6
shere Maha Guru Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: England Posts: 1,105	The railway line form Kalka to Shimla is narrow gauge so most the trains are what you term toy trains. Not sure if it runs out of season but the 05:30am train is the best one. Have a search on http://www.irctc.co.in

Feb 5th, 2007, 18:39	#7
rishabh6296 Maha Guru Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: new delhi Posts: 772	I would say,kangra valley railway is the best because of its proximity to the snow ranes of dhauladhar,but you'll get to see them after kangra.overall in india the toy train to darjeeling is the best. Rishabh

Feb 8th, 2007, 05:10	#9
rishabh6296 Maha Guru Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: new delhi Posts: 772	Himalayan queen is connected to the delhi-kalka shatabdi if i'm not wrong. Rishabh

Feb 27th, 2007, 14:21	#10
ritesh Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Hyderabad Posts: 28	thanks for the reply Rishabh

Apr 1st, 2007, 21:35	#11
neotraveller Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: India Posts: 42	I am also looking for a convenient toy train from Shimla to kalka. Hopefully one which starts in daylght so that i can enjoy the scenic travel. Shivalik express starts pretty late at 5:40PM Is the shimla-kalka passenger a toy train? Is it on-par with Himalayan queen / sivalik express? Please guide me. Here are timings of various trains from shimla to kalka: http://www.shimla-travel.com/shimla_railway.shtml

Apr 1st, 2007, 22:23	#12
Goldrush77 Member Join Date: May 2003 Location: New York, NY, US Posts: 28	I was always under the impression that all of the trains on that line were, by definition, "toy trains", as they ran on the small guage line... Is there some kind of fancier, more tourist-oriented type of scene in addition to this that I'm not aware of? I took the one in the morning three years ago, and if I recall, they have it timed not to leave until the train from Delhi reaches Kalka, as a very large proportion of the passengers on the Kalka to Shimla line are connecting. Also, of course, there are many buses that go to Shimla direct from all these places. But there's nothing scenic about a Volvo.

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Apr 1st, 2007, 22:24	#13
Goldrush77 Member Join Date: May 2003 Location: New York, NY, US Posts: 28	On afterthought, that goes the same for the reverse trip as well, if I recall correctly.