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{{Short description|Heritage rail line in North India}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2016}}
{{Infobox heritage railway
| name = Kalka–Shimla Railway
| other_name =
| logo =
| logo_width =
| logo_alt = Red passenger train
| image = KSR Steam special at Taradevi 05-02-13 56.jpeg
| image_name =
| image_width =
| image_alt =
| caption = At the Taradevi station
| color =
| locale =
| terminus = [[Shimla]]
| longitude =
| latitude =
| map =
| map_caption =
| map_alt =
| mapsize =
| connections =
| linename =
| builtby = Herbert Septimus Harington (20 April 1855 – 11 November 1913)
| originalopen = 1903
| originalgauge =
| originalrack =
| originalelec =
| owned =
| operator = [[Northern Railway zone|Northern Railway]]
| marks =
| stations = 18
| length = 96.60 km
| preservedgauge = {{RailGauge|2ft6in|lk=on}}
| preservedrack =
| preservedelec =
| era =
| com-years =
| com-events =
| com-years1 =
| com-events1 =
| com-years9 =
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| closedpassengers =
| closed =
| years =
| events =
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| headquarters = [[Shimla]]
| website =
| routemap = {{Kalka–Shimla Railway}}
| routemap_name = Kalka–Shimla Railway map
| routemap_state = collapsed
| embedded = {{Infobox UNESCO World Heritage Site
| child = yes
| part_of = [[Mountain railways of India|Mountain Railways of India]]
| location = [[Himachal Pradesh]], [[India]]
| criteria = {{UNESCO WHS type|(ii)(iv)}}(ii)(iv)
| ID = 944ter-003
| coordinates = {{coord|30|51|8|N|76|56|15|E|format=dms|type:railwaystation|display=title, inline}}
| year = 1999
| extension = 2005, 2008
| area = {{convert|79.06|ha|sqmi|abbr=on}}
| buffer_zone = {{convert|74.88|ha|sqmi|abbr=on}}
| locmapin = India
| map_caption =
}}
}}
The '''Kalka–Shimla Railway''' is a {{track gauge|2ft6in|lk=on}} [[narrow-gauge]] [[railway]] in [[North India]] which traverses a mostly mountainous route from [[Kalka railway station|Kalka]] to [[Shimla]]. It is known for dramatic views of the hills and surrounding villages. The railway was built under the direction of Herbert Septimus Harington between 1898 and 1903 to connect Shimla, the summer capital of India during the [[British Raj]], with the rest of the Indian rail system.

Its early locomotives were manufactured by [[Sharp, Stewart and Company]]. Larger locomotives were introduced, which were manufactured by the [[Hunslet Engine Company]]. Diesel and diesel-hydraulic locomotives began operation in 1955 and 1970, respectively.

On 8 July 2008, [[UNESCO]] added the Kalka–Shimla Railway to the [[mountain railways of India]] [[World Heritage Site]].<ref name=heritageunesco>{{cite web |publisher= UNESCO World Heritage Centre |url=https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/944 | title= Mountain Railways of India | access-date= 2009-04-30}}</ref>

==History==

Shimla (then spelt Simla), which was settled by the British shortly after the [[Anglo-Nepalese War|first Anglo-Gurkha war]], is located at {{convert|7116|ft|m|0}} in the foothills of the [[Himalayas]].
The idea of connecting Shimla by rail was first raised by a correspondent to the Delhi gazette in November 1847.<ref name=Wolmer>{{cite book |last= Wolmer |first= Christian |title= Railways & the Raj |location= London |publisher= Atlantic Books |date = 2017 |page = 114 to 115 |isbn= 978-0-85789-064-1}}</ref><ref name=Priya>{{cite web |last= Priya |first= R. |title= The Development Of Mountain Railways In India A Study: Kalka - Shimla Railway | publisher= University of Madras | page = 116 to 143 |url= http://shodhganga.inflibnet.ac.in/bitstream/10603/190126/6/chapter%204.pdf |access-date= November 26, 2018}}</ref>

Shimla became the summer capital of British India in 1864, and was the headquarters of the Indian army. This meant that twice a year it was necessary to transfer the entire government between [[Calcutta]] and [[Shimla]] by horse and ox drawn carts.<ref name=Wolmer/><ref name=Engineer/>

In 1891 the {{Track gauge|5ft6in|lk=on}} [[broad gauge]] [[Delhi–Kalka line]] opened, which made the construction of a branch line up to [[Shimla]] feasible.<ref name=Wolmer/><ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.irfca.org/faq/faq-history2.html |title = IR History: Early Days II (1870-1899)| publisher= IRFCA | access-date = 26 January 2014}}</ref>

The earliest survey was made in 1884 followed by another survey in 1885. Based on these two surveys, a project report was submitted in 1887 to the government of British India.<ref name=Priya/> Fresh surveys were made in 1892, and 1893 which lead to four alternative schemes being suggested - two adhesion lines {{convert|67.25 |mi|km|abbr=on}} and {{convert|69.75 |mi|km|abbr=on}} long and two rack lines.<ref name=Priya/> Fresh surveys were again made in 1895 from Kalka to Solan with a view to determine whether a 1 in 12 rack or 1 in 25 adhesion line should be chosen. After much debate an adhesion line was chosen in preference to a rack system.<ref name=Priya/>

Construction of the Kalka–Shimla Railway on {{track gauge|2ft|lk=on}} narrow-gauge tracks was begun by the privately funded Delhi-Ambala-Kalka Railway Company following the signing of a contract between the secretary of state and the company on 29 June 1898.<ref name=Priya/><ref name=Engineer/> The contract specified that the line would be built without any financial aid or guarantee from the government. The government however provided the land free of charge to the company. The estimated cost of 8,678,500 rupees doubled by the time the line was opened.<ref name=Priya/> The Chief Engineer of the project was Herbert Septimus Harington.

The {{convert|95.68 |km|mi|abbr=on}} line opened for traffic on 9 November 1903<ref name=Engineer/> and was dedicated by [[Viceroy of India|Viceroy]] Lord Curzon.<ref>{{Cite web |url= http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/109-year-old-steam-engine-once-again-rolls-out-on-Shimla-track/articleshow/32915005.cms |title= 109-year-old steam engine once again rolls out on Shimla track - the Times of India |website= [[The Times of India]] |access-date=30 March 2014 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20140331014506/http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/109-year-old-steam-engine-once-again-rolls-out-on-Shimla-track/articleshow/32915005.cms |archive-date=31 March 2014 |url-status= dead |df= dmy-all }}</ref>
This line was further extended from Shimla to Shimla Goods (which had once housed the bullock cart office) on 27 June 1909 making it {{convert|96.60|km|mi|abbr=on}}.<ref name=IR1>{{cite web |title= World Heritage Site - Kalka Shimla Railway: An Introduction | publisher= Indian Railways |url= http://www.nr.indianrailways.gov.in/KSR/1.pdf |access-date= December 5, 2018}}</ref>

The [[British Indian Army|Indian Army]] were sceptical about the two feet gauge chosen for the line and requested that a wider standard gauge be used for mountain and light strategic railways. Eventually the government agreed that the gauge was too narrow for was essentially a capital city and for military purposes.<ref name=Wolmer/> As a result, the contract with the railway company was revised on 15 November 1901 and the line gauge changed to {{track gauge|2ft6in}} with the track built to date being [[Track gauge conversion|regauged]].<ref name=Priya/><ref name=UNESCO>{{cite web |title= Kalka Shimla Railway (India) No 944 ter | publisher= UNESCO |url= https://whc.unesco.org/document/154654 |access-date= November 29, 2018}}</ref> Some sources however state the regauging wasn't undertaken until 1905.<ref>{{cite web |title= IR History: Part - III (1900 - 1947) | publisher= Indian Railways Fan Club |url= https://www.irfca.org/faq/faq-history3.html |access-date= November 26, 2018}}</ref>

In 1905 the company took delivery of a 10-ton [[Clarke Chapman|Cowans Sheldon]] travelling crane to assist with lifting rolling stock back onto the tracks after accidents and for general track maintenance.

Due to the high capital and maintenance costs and difficult working conditions, the railway was allowed to charge higher fares than on other lines. Nevertheless, the company had spent 16,525,000 rupees by 1904 with no sign of the line becoming profitable, which lead to it being purchased by the government on 1 January 1906 for 17,107,748 rupees.<ref name=Priya/>

Once it came under the control of the government the line was originally managed as an independent unit from the North West Railway office in Lahore until 1926, when it was transferred to Delhi Division. Since July 1987, the line has been managed by the [[Ambala railway division|Ambala Division]] from Ambala Cantt.<ref name=IR1/>

In 2007, the [[Himachal Pradesh]] government declared the railway a heritage property.<ref>{{cite news |url= http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus/004200708130322.htm |title=HP declares Kalka–Shimla railway as 'heritage' property |date=2007-08-13 |work=The Hindu |access-date=2007-08-13 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080927210127/http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus/004200708130322.htm |archive-date=27 September 2008 }}</ref> For about a week, beginning on 11 September 2007, a [[UNESCO]] team visited the railway to inspect it for possible selection as a [[World Heritage Site]]. On 8 July 2008, it became part of the [[mountain railways of India]] World Heritage Site<ref>{{cite news | work=The Hindu Business Line |url= http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2008/07/09/stories/2008070951530700.htm | title= Kalka–Shimla Railway makes it to Unesco's World Heritage list |date= 2008-07-09 |access-date= 2008-07-10 | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20090625175612/http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2008/07/09/stories/2008070951530700.htm | archive-date=25 June 2009 | url-status=dead | df=dmy-all }}</ref> with the [[Darjeeling Himalayan Railway|Darjeeling Himalayan]] and [[Nilgiri Mountain Railway]]s.<ref>{{cite web |title= Kalka-Shimla Railway is now a World Heritage Site| publisher= Outlook India |date=July 8, 2008 |url= https://www.outlookindia.com/newswire/story/kalka-shimla-railway-is-now-a-world-heritage-site/586924 |access-date= November 26, 2018}}</ref>

During the [[2023 North India floods]], several sections of the line were washed out by landslides.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2023-08-15 |title=Heritage track of 114-year-old Kalka-Shimla railway line suspended in air after landslide |work=The Times of India |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chandigarh/heritage-track-suspended-in-air-after-shimla-landslide/articleshow/102738348.cms?from=mdr |access-date=2023-08-17 |issn=0971-8257}}</ref>

==Technical details==
The track has 20 picturesque stations, 103 tunnels, 912 curves, 969 bridges and 3% slope (1:33 [[Grade (slope)|gradient]]). The 1,143.61 m tunnel at [[Barog]] immediately before the [[Barog railway station|Barog station]] is longest, a 60 ft (18.29 m) bridge is the longest and the sharpest curve has a 123 ft (38 m) [[radius of curvature]]. The railway line originally used {{convert|42|lb/yd|kg/m|1|abbr=on}} [[Rail profile|rail]], which was later replaced with {{convert|60|lb/yd|kg/m|1|abbr=on}} rail.<ref name=Engineer/> The train has an average speed of 25–30 km/h but the railcar is almost 50–60 km/h. Both the train and railcar are equipped with [[Dome car|vistadomes]].

The temperature range and annual rainfall are 0–45 °C and 200–250 cm, respectively.

==Operators==
The KSR and its assets, including the stations, line and vehicles, belong to the [[government of India]] under the [[Ministry of Railways (India)|Ministry of Railways]]. The [[Northern Railway zone|Northern Railway]] handles day-to-day maintenance and management, and several programs, divisions and departments of [[Indian Railways]] are responsible for repairs.

==Route==
The route winds from a height of {{convert|656|m|ft}} at Kalka in the Himalayan [[Sivalik Hills|Shivalik Hills]] foothills, past Dharampur, [[Solan]], [[Kandaghat]], Taradevi, [[Barog]], Salogra, Totu ([[Jutogh]]) and Summerhill, to Shimla at an altitude of {{convert|2075|m|ft}}.<ref name=UNESCO/>
The difference in height between the two ends of line is {{convert|1419|m|ft}}.

===Stations===

The alignment of the railway route from south to north, along the [[National Highway 5 (India)|NH-5]] on highway's western side till north of Jabli (Koti) and then on eastern side, is as follows.

{|class="wikitable sortable"
! Station !! [[Milepost]] !! [[Height above sea level]] !! Description
|-
| [[Kalka railway station|Kalka]] || {{Convert|0|km|abbr=on}} ||data-sort-value=656| {{Convert|656|m|abbr=on}} || It derived its name from Kali Mata temple located at the Shimla end of the town. It is home to a diesel shed as well as a workshop to service the narrow gauge engines and carriages of the Kalka-Shimla line.<ref name=IR>{{cite web |title=Railway Stations of Kalka Shimla Section & its Attractions |publisher=Indian Railways |url=http://www.nr.indianrailways.gov.in/KSR/6.pdf |access-date=November 29, 2018}}</ref>
|-
| [[Taksal]] || {{Convert|5.69|km|abbr=on}} ||data-sort-value=806| {{Convert|806|m|abbr=on}} || First station after entering Himachal got the name because it was the place where coins were made in ancient time.<ref name=IR/>
|-
| {{anchor|Gumman}}[[Gumman railway station|Gumman]]|| {{Convert|10.41|km|abbr=on}} ||data-sort-value=940| {{Convert|940|m|abbr=on}} || An isolated station in Kasauli hills,<ref name=IR/> though Sonwara is the closest train station to Kasauli.
|-
| [[Koti railway station|Koti]]<br> (Jabli) || {{Convert|16.23|km|abbr=on}} ||data-sort-value=1098| {{Convert|1098|m|abbr=on}} || This station is also known as the jabli railway station. The station is often visited by wild animals. The second longest tunnel (No. 10) with a length of {{Convert|693.72|m|ftin}} is situated near this station.<ref name=IR/> In August, 2007 a heavy downpour washed away part of the station building and track.
|-
| {{anchor|Sonwara}}[[Sonwara railway station|Sonwara]]|| {{Convert|26|km|abbr=on}} ||data-sort-value=1334| {{Convert| 1,334|m|abbr=on}} || The historic residential [[The Lawrence School, Sanawar|The Lawrence School]] at Sanawar is 6 km away. The longest bridge (No.226) on the line with an overall length of {{Convert|97.40|m|ftin}} and height of {{Convert|19.31|m|ftin}} is situated near this station.<ref name=IR/> This services the [[Kasauli Brewery]] and Kasauli hill station which are {{Convert|9.3|km}} and {{Convert|11|km}} away respectively.
|-
| [[Dharampur Himachal railway station|Dharampur]] || {{Convert|32.14|km|abbr=on}} ||data-sort-value=1469| {{Convert|1469|m|abbr=on}} || This services the Kasauli hill station which is {{Convert|13|km}} away. The Engineer's Bungalow (MP {{Convert|33|km|abbr=on}}) which was the official residence of the engineer in charge of this section of the line until the late 1960s was converted into the Northern Railway Safety Institute.<ref name=IR/>
|-
| [[Kumarhati railway station|Kumarhati]] <br>([[Dagshai]]) || {{Convert|39|km|abbr=on}} ||data-sort-value=1579| {{Convert|1579|m|abbr=on}} || This isolated station serviced the Dagshai military cantonment.<ref name=IR/>
|-
| [[Barog railway station|Barog]] || {{Convert|42.14|km|abbr=on}} ||data-sort-value=1531| {{Convert|1531|m|abbr=on}} || The longest tunnel (No.33) with a length of {{Convert|1143.61|m|ftin}} is situated close to the Kalka side of the station.<ref name=IR/>
|-
| [[Solan]] || {{Convert|46.10|km|abbr=on}} ||data-sort-value=1429| {{Convert|1429|m|abbr=on}} || The National Institute of Research on Mushroom Farming and Solan Agriculture University is situated nearby.<ref name=IR/>
|-
| [[Salogra railway station|Salogra]] || {{Convert|52.70|km|abbr=on}} ||data-sort-value=1509| {{Convert|1509|m|abbr=on}} || The famous Solan Brewery is just a few kilometres away from Salogra station.<ref name=IR/>
|-
| [[Kandaghat]] || {{Convert|58.24|km|abbr=on}} ||data-sort-value=1433| {{Convert|1433|m|abbr=on}} || Arch bridge No. 493 with a length of {{Convert|32|m|ft}} is situated here.<ref name=IR/>
|-
| [[Kanoh railway station|Kanoh]] || {{Convert|69.42|km|abbr=on}} ||data-sort-value=1647| {{Convert|1647|m|abbr=on}} || The highest arch gallery bridge (No.541) with a height of {{Convert|23|m|ftin}} and length of {{Convert|54.8|m|ftin}} is situated here.<ref name=IR/>
|-
| [[Kathleeghat railway station|Kathleeghat]]|| {{Convert|72.23|km|abbr=on}} ||data-sort-value=1701| {{Convert|1701|m|abbr=on}} || It is the last station of Shimla district.<ref name=IR/>
|-
| [[Shoghi railway station|Shoghi]] || {{Convert|77.81|km|abbr=on}} ||data-sort-value=1832| {{Convert|1832|m|abbr=on}} || Shoghi is the first station of Shimla district.<ref name=IR/>
|-
| [[Taradevi Railway Station|Taradevi]] || {{Convert|84.64|km|abbr=on}} ||data-sort-value=1936| {{Convert|1936|m|abbr=on}} || The name derives from Mata Tara Devi. The Sankat Mochan and Tara Devi temples are situated near this station. The third longest tunnel (No.91) at {{Convert|992|m|ft}} is situated on the Shimla end of this station.<ref name=IR/>
|-
| [[Jutogh]] || {{Convert|89.41|km|abbr=on}} ||data-sort-value=1958| {{Convert|1958|m|abbr=on}} || This suburb station of Shimla, once served as the transit point for Jutogh Military Cantonment.<ref name=IR/>
|-
| [[Summer Hill, Shimla|Summer Hill]] || {{Convert|92.93|km|abbr=on}} ||data-sort-value=2042| {{Convert|2042|m|abbr=on}} || This suburb station of Shimla originally serviced the [[Rashtrapati Niwas|Viceregal Lodge]]. The Himachal Pradesh University is situated near the station.<ref name=IR/>
|-
| [[Shimla railway station|Shimla]] || {{Convert|95.60|km|abbr=on}} ||data-sort-value=2075| {{Convert|2075|m|abbr=on}} || This beautiful station is just below the old bus stand in Shimla.<ref name=UNESCO/><ref name=IR/>
|}

<gallery mode="packed" heights="110px">
File:Narrow Gauge train at Shimla Railway Station.jpg|alt=A narrow gauge train standing at the Shimla Railway Station|Shimla
File:Barog hill station tunnel 33 haunted.jpg|alt=Narrow platform and train, with a bilingual sign|Barog
File:Solan station, 2011-12-26.JPG|alt=Station on a curve, with people waiting on the platform|Solan
File:July2007 Shimla Himachal Pradesh India --gopal1035-- (389).jpg|alt=Station photographed from between two tracks|Shimla
File:Summer hills(winter-2008).jpg|alt=Summer hill railway station under snow|Summer Hill
</gallery>

===Bridges and viaducts===

The railway has 988 bridges and viaducts<ref name=UNESCO/> and a [[ruling gradient]] of 1 in 33, or three percent. It has 917 curves,<ref name=UNESCO/> and the [[Minimum railway curve radius|sharpest]] is 48 [[Degree of curvature#Formula from chord length|degrees]] (a radius of {{convert|122.93|ft|m|disp=or|abbr=out}}).

The most architecturally complex bridge is No. 226 which spans a deep valley which required that it had to be constructed in five stages with each level having its own stone arched tier.

<gallery mode="packed" class="center">

File:KSR Train on a small bridge 05-02-12 52.jpeg|alt=Train crossing a bridge on a curve|Crossing a bridge
File:Kalka-Shimla Railway at Solan station, 2011-12-26 - 4.JPG|alt=Train entering a tunnel|Tunnel near Solan
File:Kalka-Shimla Railway (1).jpg|alt=Round tunnel|Tunnel near Jutogh
</gallery>

===Tunnels===

One hundred seven tunnels were originally built, but as a result of landslides only 102 remain in use.<ref name=UNESCO/>

==Rolling stock==

[[File:KSR Steam locomotive 520 05-02-13 11.jpeg|thumb|alt=Black-and-red locomotive|Steam locomotive 520]]
The first locomotives were two class-B [[0-4-0ST]]s from the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway. These were built as {{track gauge|2ft}}-gauge engines, but were converted to {{track gauge|2ft6in}}-gauge in 1901. They were not large enough (they were sold in 1908), and were followed in 1902 by 10 slightly larger engines with a [[0-4-2T]] wheel arrangement. The locomotives weighed {{Convert|21.5|LT|t ST|lk=on}} each, and had {{Convert|30|in|mm|0|abbr=on}} [[driving wheel]]s and {{convert|12|x|16|in|mm|1|abbr=on}} cylinders. Later classified as B-class by the [[North Western State Railway]], they were manufactured by the British [[Sharp, Stewart and Company]].<ref name=Hughes>Hughes, Hugh 1994 ''Indian Locomotives Pt. 3, Narrow Gauge 1863–1940''. Continental Railway Circle.</ref>

Thirty larger [[2-6-2T]] locomotives, with slight variations, were introduced between 1904 and 1910. Built by the [[Hunslet Engine Company|Hunslet Engine]] and [[North British Locomotive Company|North British Locomotive Companies]], they weighed about {{Convert|35|LT|t ST|lk=on}} and had {{Convert|30|in|mm|0|abbr=on}} drivers and {{convert|14|x|16|in|mm|1|abbr=on}} cylinders. Later classed K and K2 by the North Western State Railway, they handled most of the rail traffic during the steam era. A pair of [[Meyer locomotive|Kitson-Meyer]] 2-6-2+2-6-2 articulated locomotives, classed TD, were supplied in 1928. However, they quickly fell into disfavour because it often took all day for enough freight to be assembled to justify operating a [[goods train]] hauled by one of these locomotives. Shippers looking for faster service began turning to road transport. These {{Convert|68|LT|t ST|2|adj=on}} locomotives were soon transferred to the [[Kangra Valley Railway]], and were converted to {{track gauge|1000mm|allk=on}} in [[Pakistan]].<ref name=Hughes/> Regular steam-locomotive operation ended in 1971.

[[File:KSR Diesel Locomotive 148 at Kalka 05-02-12 12.jpeg|thumb|left|alt=Two-tone blue locomotive|Diesel locomotive 148]]
The railway's first diesel locomotives, class ZDM-1 manufactured by [[Arnold Jung Lokomotivfabrik]] (articulated with two prime movers), began operating in 1955; they were regauged, reclassified as [[Indian locomotive class NDM-1|NDM-1]] and used on the [[Matheran Hill Railway]] during the 1970s. In the 1960s, class ZDM-2 locomotives from [[Maschinenbau Kiel]] (MaK) was introduced; they were later transferred to other lines.

The KSR currently operates with class ZDM-3 [[diesel-hydraulic]] locomotives ({{Convert|522|kW|abbr=on|disp=or}}, {{Convert|50|km/h|mph|abbr=on|disp=or}}), built between 1970 and 1982 by [[Chittaranjan Locomotive Works]] with a single-cab road-switcher body.<ref>[http://irfca.org/faq/faq-loco-diesel-mg.html#ngloco Description of narrow-gauge diesel locomotives by IRFCA]</ref> Six locomotives of that class were built in 2008 and 2009 by the Central Railway Loco Workshop in [[Parel]], with updated components and a dual-cab body providing better track vision.<ref>[http://www.cr.indianrailways.gov.in/view_section.jsp?lang=0&id=0,6,287,389,518 Central Railway: NG Loco for Kalka Simla, NR]</ref>

[[File:KSR Railcar 4 at Shimla 05-02-14 40.jpeg|thumb|alt=Aquamarine-and-white railcar at a station|KSR [[railcar]]]]
The railway opened with conventional four-wheel and [[bogie]] [[Passenger car (rail)|coaches]]. Their [[tare weight]] meant that only four bogie coaches could be hauled by the [[2-6-2T]] locomotives. In a 1908 effort to increase capacity, the coach stock was rebuilt as {{convert|33|by|7|ft|m|adj=on}} bogie coaches with [[steel]] frames and bodies. To further save weight, the roofs were made of [[aluminium]]. The weight savings meant that the locomotives could now haul six of the larger coaches. This was an early example of the use of aluminium in coach construction to reduce tare weight.<ref name=Engineer>"Engineer" journal article, circa 1915, reprinted in Narrow Gauge & Industrial Railway Modelling Review, no. 75, July 2008</ref>

Goods rolling stock was constructed on a common {{convert|30|by|7|ft|m|adj=on}} pressed-steel underframe. [[Open wagon|Open]] and [[Goods wagon|covered wagons]] were provided, with the [[open wagon]]s having a capacity of {{convert|19|LT|t ST|2}} and the covered wagons {{convert|17.5|LT|t ST}}.<ref name=Engineer/>

During the winter months snow cutters are attached to the engine to clear the snow from the track.<ref name=IR1/>

===Trains===

* ''Shivalik Deluxe Express'': Ten coaches, with chair cars and meal service
* ''Kalka Shimla Express'': First and second class and unreserved seating
* ''Himalayan Queen'': Connects at Kalka with the express mail of the same name and the [[Kalka Shatabdi Express]] to Delhi.
* ''Kalka Shimla Passenger'': First and second class and unreserved seating
* ''Rail Motor'': First-class [[railbus]] with a glass roof and a front view
* ''Shivalik Queen'': Ten-carriage luxury fleet. Each carriage accommodates up to eight people and has two toilets, wall-to-wall carpeting and large windows. Available through [[Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation|IRCTC's]] [[Chandigarh]] office.

=={{anchor|In popular culture}}In Popular Culture==

[[BBC Four]] televised ''Indian Hill Railways'', a series of three programmes<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00qzzlm#synopsis|title=Indian Hill Railways|publisher=BBC|access-date=28 February 2010}}</ref> which featured the KSR in its third episode, in February 2010; the first two episodes covered the [[Darjeeling Himalayan Railway]] and [[Nilgiri Mountain Railway]]. The episodes, directed by Tarun Bhartiya, Hugo Smith and Nick Mattingly respectively, were produced by Gerry Troyna. ''Indian Hill Railways'' won a [[Royal Television Society]] award in June 2010.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.expressindia.com/latest-news/documentary-on-hill-railways-of-india-bags-uk-award/636391/ |title=Documentary on Hill railways of India bags UK award |publisher=Express India |access-date=19 September 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121010101221/http://www.expressindia.com/latest-news/documentary-on-hill-railways-of-india-bags-uk-award/636391/|archive-date=10 October 2012|df=dmy-all}}</ref> The KSR also featured in the [[Punjab]] episode of [[CNN]]'s ''[[Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown]]''.

In 2018, the KSR was featured in an episode of the [[BBC Two]] programme [[Great Indian Railway Journeys]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Great Indian Railway Journeys |url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b09x4jhh |website=BBC |access-date=20 March 2018}}</ref>

==See also ==
* [[Mountain railways of India]]
* [[Rail transport in India]]
* [[Tourism in India]]

== References ==
===Notes===
{{reflist|30em}}

===Bibliography===

{{refbegin}}
* {{cite book|last=Kennedy|first=Dane Keith|title=The Magic Mountains: Hill Stations and the British Raj|year=1996|publisher=University of California Press|page=206|isbn=9780520201880 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=UveLzKDlZBEC&pg=PA206 }}
* {{Wallace-HRIS |chapter=Chapter 4: The Kalka–Shimla Railway |pages=84–110}}
{{refend}}

==External links==

{{Commons category|Kalka–Shimla Railway}}
*http://www.kalkashimlarailway.in/ksr/
* [http://www.tribuneindia.com/2003/20031104/himachal.htm#1 Himachal Pradesh]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20090123225650/http://www.indianadventureportal.com/trains/kalka-shimla-toy-train.html Kalka–Shimla Toy Train]
* [https://travelloverz.com/kalka-to-shimla-toy-train-which-train-is-best-full-guide Which Train is Best]
* [http://mikes.railhistory.railfan.net/r019.html Kalka–Shimla railway]
* [http://www.tribuneindia.com/2003/20031108/windows/main1.htm Article in ''The Tribune'']
*https://www.thehindu.com/life-and-style/travel/tracking-tales/article24752062.ece
* International Working Steam https://web.archive.org/web/20070609212632/http://www.steam.dial.pipex.com/internat.htm
* [https://himalayanxp.com/18-stations-of-kalka-shimla-railway Information about all 18 railway stations]

{{Mountain railways of India}}
{{Railways in Northern India}}
{{World Heritage Sites in India}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Kalka - Shimla Railway}}
[[Category:2 ft 6 in gauge railways in India]]
[[Category:1903 establishments in India]]
[[Category:Mountain railways in India]]
[[Category:Panchkula]]
[[Category:Rail transport in Haryana]]
[[Category:Rail transport in Himachal Pradesh]]
[[Category:Railway lines opened in 1903]]
[[Category:Shimla]]
[[Category:Tourist attractions in Haryana]]
[[Category:Tourist attractions in Himachal Pradesh]]
[[Category:Tourist attractions in Shimla]]
[[Category:Transport in Kalka]]
[[Category:Transport in Shimla]]
[[Category:World Heritage Sites in India]]
[[Category:British-era buildings in Himachal Pradesh]]

Kalka–Shimla Railway - Revision history

Nelle8556383481: slightly improve intro after review and fixed typos after review

Ajay Kumar: Created a new article