Nilgiri Mountain Railway ticket

kailash35 · Oct 17th, 2004, 16:10

Hello,
is booking available and necessary on the blue train from Mettupalayam to Udagamandalam or just be there in time?
(departure 13.45). I will be there at the end of March.
thank you

steven_ber · Oct 17th, 2004, 16:22

Booking not required, just buy tickets from the ticket office at Mettupalayam station

departure 13.45????

The train departs at 07:10, there is only one train that runs from Mettupalayam to Ooty.

kailash35 · Oct 17th, 2004, 16:33

Steve,
I found the information on http://www.indianrail.gov.in/ in the Special Hill trains section and there is a departure at 13.15.

steven_ber · Oct 17th, 2004, 16:58

That’s the timetable from 2 years ago, last years timetable only had one train going the full distance, I will have this year’s timetable in the next couple of weeks and will check for any changes.

I doubt that the attached timetable is this year’s timetable; Southern Railways trains now start with the number 6.

kailash35 · Oct 17th, 2004, 17:04

Steve, thank you!
I downloaded this information just now. Maybe the website is not upto date.

SHIMLA · Oct 17th, 2004, 18:04

Quote:

Originally Posted by steven_ber

The train departs at 07:10, there is only one train that runs from Mettupalayam to Ooty.

Right !

Refer http://www.southernrailway.org/srail...s1=761&s2=1295

kailash35 · Oct 17th, 2004, 18:28

thanks for the link, Shimla.

beach · Oct 18th, 2004, 15:11

Mettupalayam to Ooty there is one train a day. It waits for the Chennai-Mettupalayam (Blue Mountain Express) to reach to collect the passengers (if the BM Exp is late). Most of the passengers for the MTP-Ooty arrive by this train.

There is a warning!!!! At times the train gets overcrowded due to the over booking and waitlisted passengers form the BM Exp. In that case they will not issue tickets at the local counter at MTP. There are only 3 or 4 small coaches.

There is way out!!! Catch a bus and reach Coonoor. This is a mid way station between MTP & Ooty. There are many trains from Coonoor to Ooty. You can buy tickets at station. I feel this is more practical if you are hard pressed with time. The mountain train from MTP actually reaches Ooty not earlier than 1PM. That is 4 hours for a 45Km journey. It’s very nice and fun if you have time. Else the 1Hrs+ journey from Coonoor to Ooty is also charming.

MTP-Coonoor-Ooty are well connected by bus (fast) also.

You can go all the way to Ooty by bus and catch a train upto Coonoor/MTP also. And go back to your base at Ooty by bus. There are many options to meddle with.

Catch the left-hand side seat towards Ooty from MTP(in bus or train) This will give you the fantastic view of the valley and the gorge. The right side window is most of the time against the mountain wall.

Also Remember!!The train is pushed up to Ooty. The engine is at the back. Decide the travel direction accordingly for occupying the right seat, that is if you can

kailash35 · Oct 18th, 2004, 15:25

thank you Beach, this is precious information (specially about the seats).
I will not be in a rush, I will already be in Coimbatore or MTP and I can go by bus to Connor if necessary.
But I would like to do it the MTP -Ooty direction as I have to go Mysore after. Does it make sense?

beach · Oct 18th, 2004, 22:37

There are some buses (private(pref) & state run) from Coimbatore as early as 4 AM to MTP (even to Ooty also!). Catch one. They'll take you to MTP at break neck speed

for Rs10.
At 5.30 or 6.0 the ticket counter opens. The man's name is Raja (king

). Take a ticket and catch the seat (unreserved) as early as possible before the Blue Mountain mob arrives

Then the snail rail starts.You can almost walk along with the running train. Stock enough food etc, if required for the 4 hours. It's mostly forest route with some small nice stations. You can see passengers screeming at the conductor to not to give the green flag ( someone has has gone to the toilet at the mid stations for a leak

).There is no toilet attached with the train.

Catch a bus from Ooty to Mysore. Book with a good private agency they'll pick you from the guesthouse.Your guest house can book. Usually from Rs80 to Rs120. In 4Hrs flat you'll be at Mysore.

Again a nerve wrecking journey with about 30 or so hairpin curves and through the reserve forests. It's a freefall from the mountain top to the valley. If you are lucky (some times unlucky

) you can encounter some wild elephant herds on the way. Single elephants are dangerous and the herds are peaceful. The single fellows are the rogue ones chucked out of their groups and hence angry. The drivers know how to manage the situation. Don’t scream, that is the only thing expected from the passengers.

Bigzero · Oct 18th, 2004, 22:57

funny..

i have been to ooty a number of times and have never used the train.. ( always wanted to, but never worked out - have mostly approached ooty from the other side )

but if you watch movies with ooty as the locale , you will think that the only way to reach ooty is by train! film directors love the little blue train that goes on reverse...

and many a tearful movie climax have been shot in stations in that route... ( like the hero reaching late to tell the heroine he loves her, and misses the train by seconds ( he will run the entire length of the platform, almost touching the heroine's extended arm, and finally fall down flat on the platform. ) the last shot of the movie is typically of the train disappearing into the ooty mist...

so, the next time you stand on the station platform, think about these tragic moments....

beach · Oct 18th, 2004, 23:50

Quote:

and many a tearful movie climax have been shot in stations in that route... ( like the hero reaching late to tell the heroine he loves her, and misses the train by seconds ( he will run the entire length of the platform, almost touching the heroine's extended arm, and finally fall down flat on the platform. ) the last shot of the movie is typically of the train disappearing into the ooty mist...

The local tourists get a wild satisfaction from this

That Rs 90 Ooty sightseeing tour guide explains it all.Abou 20-30 movies.. that is. It’s more like a Bollywood historic tour.

The driver stops all of a sudden at a point and says “the church you see down there was where the climax of Sajan was shot!” The whole crowd jumps out. Take photo with the church as background. click…..click..…click…..

He stops at another place “this is the place where the heroin met hero by accident in the XYZ movie”. The crowd jumps out click…..click..…click…..

3 Km of drive. The bus stops. “This is the tree around around which the hero and heroin danced in XYZ hit movie”. The crowd jumps out click…..click..…click…..

6Km down the road.. the driver stops in front of a railway station. In XYZ movie this stations name was changed. The crowd learns yet another Bollywood secret. click…..click..…click….. click…..click..…click…..

4Km down the road.. the driver stops. 'Dil Se' was shot here. The crowd reaches its climax. click…..click..…click….. click…..click..…click….. click…..click..…click…..

At the end of day 1 he promises. “Tomorrow’s trip we’ll take you to XYZ location. ALL the songs were shot there ” . The crowd agrees with cheers

kailash35 · Oct 19th, 2004, 01:59

Bigzero, my major reason to go to Ooty and MTP is to take the blue moutain train.

Beach, thank you for the extra information : your help is precious.
I've never seen elephants on the way but on one early morning (5am) in the lights of the bus that had suddendly stopped, I saw a leopard ( well I think it was a leopard)! It was near Kollegal, can't remember exactly the name of the village, something like Odeyarpalya.
Thanks again

SHIMLA · Oct 19th, 2004, 08:39

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bigzero

and many a tearful movie climax have been shot in stations in that route... ( like the hero reaching late to tell the heroine he loves her, and misses the train by seconds ( he will run the entire length of the platform, almost touching the heroine's extended arm, and finally fall down flat on the platform. ) the last shot of the movie is typically of the train disappearing into the ooty mist...

so, the next time you stand on the station platform, think about these tragic moments....

Yes !

Who can forget the stunning climax of the 1983 Balu Mahendra movie "Sadma", with the excellent Kamal Hasan and Sridevi dishing out a magnificent performance ?

pkalra · Oct 19th, 2004, 09:09

Shimla

what station was it in SADMA climax???

Oct 17th, 2004, 16:10	#1
kailash35 Kailash in India Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Belgium Posts: 250	Nilgiri Mountain Railway ticket Hello, is booking available and necessary on the blue train from Mettupalayam to Udagamandalam or just be there in time? (departure 13.45). I will be there at the end of March. thank you

Oct 17th, 2004, 16:22	#2
steven_ber Member Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: South of England. Posts: 11,562	Booking not required, just buy tickets from the ticket office at Mettupalayam station departure 13.45???? The train departs at 07:10, there is only one train that runs from Mettupalayam to Ooty. __________________ . How to get helpful replies to your transport/Itinerary questions. Train information. RAC & Waitlists explained.

Oct 17th, 2004, 16:33	#3
kailash35 Kailash in India Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Belgium Posts: 250	Steve, I found the information on http://www.indianrail.gov.in/ in the Special Hill trains section and there is a departure at 13.15. Attached Thumbnails Last edited by kailash35 : Oct 17th, 2004 at 16:48. Reason: updating attachment

Oct 18th, 2004, 15:11	#8
beach Lost in translation Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: India ! Posts: 2,233	Mettupalayam to Ooty there is one train a day. It waits for the Chennai-Mettupalayam (Blue Mountain Express) to reach to collect the passengers (if the BM Exp is late). Most of the passengers for the MTP-Ooty arrive by this train. There is a warning!!!! At times the train gets overcrowded due to the over booking and waitlisted passengers form the BM Exp. In that case they will not issue tickets at the local counter at MTP. There are only 3 or 4 small coaches. There is way out!!! Catch a bus and reach Coonoor. This is a mid way station between MTP & Ooty. There are many trains from Coonoor to Ooty. You can buy tickets at station. I feel this is more practical if you are hard pressed with time. The mountain train from MTP actually reaches Ooty not earlier than 1PM. That is 4 hours for a 45Km journey. It’s very nice and fun if you have time. Else the 1Hrs+ journey from Coonoor to Ooty is also charming. MTP-Coonoor-Ooty are well connected by bus (fast) also. You can go all the way to Ooty by bus and catch a train upto Coonoor/MTP also. And go back to your base at Ooty by bus. There are many options to meddle with. Catch the left-hand side seat towards Ooty from MTP(in bus or train) This will give you the fantastic view of the valley and the gorge. The right side window is most of the time against the mountain wall. Also Remember!!The train is pushed up to Ooty. The engine is at the back. Decide the travel direction accordingly for occupying the right seat, that is if you can Attached Thumbnails

Oct 18th, 2004, 22:37	#10
beach Lost in translation Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: India ! Posts: 2,233	There are some buses (private(pref) & state run) from Coimbatore as early as 4 AM to MTP (even to Ooty also!). Catch one. They'll take you to MTP at break neck speed for Rs10. At 5.30 or 6.0 the ticket counter opens. The man's name is Raja (king). Take a ticket and catch the seat (unreserved) as early as possible before the Blue Mountain mob arrives Then the snail rail starts.You can almost walk along with the running train. Stock enough food etc, if required for the 4 hours. It's mostly forest route with some small nice stations. You can see passengers screeming at the conductor to not to give the green flag ( someone has has gone to the toilet at the mid stations for a leak).There is no toilet attached with the train. Catch a bus from Ooty to Mysore. Book with a good private agency they'll pick you from the guesthouse.Your guest house can book. Usually from Rs80 to Rs120. In 4Hrs flat you'll be at Mysore. Again a nerve wrecking journey with about 30 or so hairpin curves and through the reserve forests. It's a freefall from the mountain top to the valley. If you are lucky (some times unlucky) you can encounter some wild elephant herds on the way. Single elephants are dangerous and the herds are peaceful. The single fellows are the rogue ones chucked out of their groups and hence angry. The drivers know how to manage the situation. Don’t scream, that is the only thing expected from the passengers.

Oct 17th, 2004, 16:58	#4
steven_ber Member Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: South of England. Posts: 11,562	That’s the timetable from 2 years ago, last years timetable only had one train going the full distance, I will have this year’s timetable in the next couple of weeks and will check for any changes. I doubt that the attached timetable is this year’s timetable; Southern Railways trains now start with the number 6.

Oct 17th, 2004, 17:04	#5
kailash35 Kailash in India Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Belgium Posts: 250	Steve, thank you! I downloaded this information just now. Maybe the website is not upto date.

Oct 17th, 2004, 18:28	#7
kailash35 Kailash in India Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Belgium Posts: 250	thanks for the link, Shimla.

Oct 18th, 2004, 15:25	#9
kailash35 Kailash in India Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Belgium Posts: 250	thank you Beach, this is precious information (specially about the seats). I will not be in a rush, I will already be in Coimbatore or MTP and I can go by bus to Connor if necessary. But I would like to do it the MTP -Ooty direction as I have to go Mysore after. Does it make sense?

Oct 18th, 2004, 22:57	#11
Bigzero back to my old ways Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Hyderabad Posts: 1,507	funny.. i have been to ooty a number of times and have never used the train.. ( always wanted to, but never worked out - have mostly approached ooty from the other side ) but if you watch movies with ooty as the locale , you will think that the only way to reach ooty is by train! film directors love the little blue train that goes on reverse... and many a tearful movie climax have been shot in stations in that route... ( like the hero reaching late to tell the heroine he loves her, and misses the train by seconds ( he will run the entire length of the platform, almost touching the heroine's extended arm, and finally fall down flat on the platform. ) the last shot of the movie is typically of the train disappearing into the ooty mist... so, the next time you stand on the station platform, think about these tragic moments.... __________________ miles to go.... Bigzero's Photo Gallery

Oct 19th, 2004, 01:59	#13
kailash35 Kailash in India Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Belgium Posts: 250	Bigzero, my major reason to go to Ooty and MTP is to take the blue moutain train. Beach, thank you for the extra information : your help is precious. I've never seen elephants on the way but on one early morning (5am) in the lights of the bus that had suddendly stopped, I saw a leopard ( well I think it was a leopard)! It was near Kollegal, can't remember exactly the name of the village, something like Odeyarpalya. Thanks again Last edited by kailash35 : Oct 23rd, 2004 at 16:44. Reason: typo

Oct 19th, 2004, 09:09	#15
pkalra Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Planet Earth Posts: 162	Shimla what station was it in SADMA climax???

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