Fascinated
by the ethereal beauty of the Kanchenjunga, Franklin Prestage, the
agent of the Eastern Bengal Railway formulated the plan for
Darjeeling Railway in 1878. Construction of the railway line up to
Darjeeling was completed by July 1881 and the earliest locomotive
came from Atlas Works in Manchester. The Darjeeling Steam Tramway
Company, which was formed later, became the Darjeeling Himalayan
Railway Company in September 1881.
The
earliest passenger vehicles had canvas roofs and wooden benches.
There was a first class carriage for six passengers, a
second-class carriage for eight and third class open trolleys with
side and end curtains for a load of 16 passengers each.
The
zigzag railway linking Siliguri in north Bengal with Darjeeling is
a marvel of miniature rail engineering and girdles streams and tea
gardens on the way to Sukana where the ascent begins. By the time
it reaches Chunbhati and crosses the loop, it has climbed up to
672.9 m. The method applied in constructing this line had been
first adopted by an Austrian, Chega, who helped the engineers in
obviating the necessity to bore tunnels, by artificially
lengthening the line by means of looping it.
The
train strikes the first spiral or loop followed by the second in
proximity of the 20-kilometer post. It is an amazing engineering
feat, practically a double loop, for the rise from Rungtong to
Tindharia. The third loop is around 22 kilometers away and lends
an enchanting peep into the valley below with the Bhutan range in
the east, the Teesta River and its Tiger Island in the southeast.
The sensational point of the fourth spiral, the Agony Point, is
reached outside the Tindharia station.
The
tiny engine puts in its best effort while hauling one up more than
1,463 m to Kurseong. Smiling Bhutia and Lepcha women with babies
strapped across the back, heavy silver trinkets oxidized by the
air, costumes bright as a peacock’s tail, all add to the charm
of the journey.
Past
the wayside haunts of Tung Chutlinkpur, and Jorebunglow, one
arrives at Ghoom, 2,257.65 m above sea level, which is Asia’s
highest train station. Another six kilometer ride downhill from
here, past Retreat Halt and West Point Halt takes one to the
destination—Darjeeling, at 2,076 m above sea level.
