Nilgiri Mountain Railway – Travel Guide
Taking a trip on the historic UNESCO World Heritage Site, Nilgiri toy train or Nilgiri Mountain Railway (NMR) is like traveling back in time. BUILT in Tamil Nadu, India, by the British in 1908, the meter guage railway is operated by the Southern Railway and is the only rack railway in India. NMR operates a fleet of steam locomotives. In 1854, plans were made to build a mountain railway from Mettupalayam to the Nilgiri Hills. However, it took the decision-makers 45 years to cut through the bureaucratic red tape and complete the construction.
The first-ever trip of the train was on June 15, 1899. After nine years, on October 15, 1908, it got extended till Udhagamandalam. But switched to diesel locomotives on the section between Coonoor and Udhagamandalam. The railway provides one of the most scenic toy train journeys in India. It enlivens passengers as it gradually winds its way steeply upwards along the narrow track, through rugged mountains and dense forests. In July 2005, UNESCO added the Nilgiri Mountain Railway as an extension to the World Heritage Site of Darjeeling Himalayan Railway. NMR has featured in numerous films documentaries and TV shows till date. The carriages have always remained the same blue and cream color and it is easily recognized. October to June is considered the most favorable time to tour on the Nilgiri Mountain Railway.
Coimbatore is the nearest city to reach Mettupalayam and tourist can reach their by train, bus or taxi. The Museum at Mettupalayam station is a walk through history of how NMR came into being. A number of old photographs taken during the construction of the railways, visits of personalities and inaugural journeys grace the wall. It houses models of of some of the oldest locomotives and coaches used on the Nilgiri mountain route, and other rare artefacts related to the Nilgiri Mountain Railway (NMR) The first loco, made at Swiss Locomotive and Machine Works Winterthur in Zurich in Switzerland, which pulled the NMR on one of its first rides on the Western Ghats in 1899, is on display.
NMR Train Route
The track is a total of 46 kilometers and runs completely through the picturesque Nilgiri Mountains and the journey is worth the time spending in the train. The uphill journey takes around 290 minutes (4.8 hours), and the downhill journey takes 215 minutes (3.6 hours). It has the steepest track in Asia with a maximum gradient of 8.33%. a daily train crosses the rack section, which starts from Mettupalayam at 07:10 and reaches Udhagamandalam at noon. The return train starts from Udhagamandalam at 14:00, and reaches at 17:35.
The train is scheduled to connect to the Nilgiri Express, which travels from Mettupalayam to Chennai via Coimbatore. A summer special service runs in April and May, starting from Mettupalayam at 09:30 am and from Udhagamandalam at 12:15 pm. Between Coonoor and Udagamandalam, four daily trains run each way. Even though the NMR supplies networked computerized ticketing systems for onward journeys, it still issues Edmondson style manual tickets for the Udhagamandalam-Mettupalayam journey to preserve its ‘World Heritage Site’ status. Those who loves some quiet and calm, go for the first-class tickets and enjoy the mountains and the beautiful scenery that whisks pass you in the train.
Toy Train from Mettupalayam to Ooty
| Train No / Name | From | Dep | To | Arr | Duration |
| 56136 / Mettupalayam-Ooty MG Passenger | Mettupalayam (MTP) | 7:10 | Ooty (UAM) | 12:00 | 4h 50m / 46 km |
Toy Train from Coonoor to Ooty
| Train No / Name | From | Dep | To | Arr | Duration |
| 56141 / Coonoor-Udagamandalam MG Passenger | Coonoor (ONR) | 7:45 | Ooty (UAM) | 9:05 | 1h 20m / 19 km |
| 56136 / Mettupalayam-Ooty MG Passenger | Coonoor (ONR) | 10:40 | Ooty (UAM) | 12:00 | 1h 20m / 19 km |
| 56143 / Coonoor-Udagamandalam MG Passenger | Coonoor (ONR) | 12:35 | Ooty (UAM) | 13:50 | 1h 15m / 19 km |
| 56138 / Coonoor-Udagamandalam MG Passenger | Coonoor (ONR) | 16:30 | Ooty (UAM) | 17:45 | 1h 15m / 19 km |
Toy Train for Return Journey – Ooty to Mettupalayam
| Train No / Name | From | Dep | To | Arr | Duration |
| 56137 / Ooty-Mettupalayam MG Passenger | Ooty (UAM) | 14:00 | Mettupalayam (MTP) | 17:35 | 3h 35m / 46 km |
Toy Train from Ooty to Coonoor
| Train No / Name | From | Dep | To | Arr | Duration |
| 56139 / Udagamandalam-Coonoor MG Passenger | Ooty (UAM) | 9:15 | Coonoor (ONR) | 10:25 | 1h 10m / 19 km |
| 56142 / Udagamandalam-Coonoor MG Passenger | Ooty (UAM) | 12:15 | Coonoor (ONR) | 13:20 | 1h 05m / 19 km |
| 56137 / Udagamandalam-Mettupalayam MG Passenger | Ooty (UAM) | 14:00 | Coonoor (ONR) | 15:05 | 1h 15m / 19 km |
| 56140 / Udagamandalam-Coonoor MG Passenger | Ooty (UAM) | 18:00 | Coonoor (ONR) | 19:10 | 1h 10m / 19 km |
56136 Toy Train Route from Mettupalayam to Ooty
| Station No. | Station Code | Station Name | Arrives | Departs | Halt | Km |
| #1 | MTP | Mettupalayam | 7:10 | 0 | ||
| #2 | ONR | Coonoor | 10:30 | 10:40 | 10m | 27.4 |
| #3 | WEL | Wellington | 10:47 | 10:48 | 1m | 29 |
| #4 | AVK | Aravankadu | 10:59 | 11:00 | 1m | 31.8 |
| $5 | KXT | Ketti | 11:19 | 11:20 | 1m | 37.7 |
| #6 | LOV | Lovedale | 11:39 | 11:40 | 1m | 42.2 |
| #7 | UAM | Udagamandalam | 12:00 | 46.3 |
Train Stations
- Mettpalayam is the start of NMR. Leaving Mettupalayam, the line is adhesion-worked and actually drops for a short distance before crossing the Bhavani River, after which it starts to climb gently.
- Kallar is closed as passenger station, it is here rack rail begins with gradient of 1 in 12 (8.33%).
- Adderly is used only as a water stop.
- Hillgrove is a block post and water stop with passenger refreshments.
- Runneymede is used only as a water stop.
- Kateri Road: trains no longer not stop there.
- Coonoor is the main intermediate station, here steam locomotive are changed to diesel engine for journey to Udhagamandalam. Trains reverse short distances before climbing towards Udhagamandalam.
- Wellington
- Aravankadu
- Ketti
- Lovedale station is where the line descends into Udhagamandalam.
- Udhagamandalam the last stop, the UNESCO World Heritage site has preserved much of its equipment from the British Raj including the original 1908 building, water dispenser for steam locomotives, and weighing scale from 1907 by Hendry Boomley & Son of Birmingham
Train Fares
The train fares are as follows:
- First Class- Rs. 1100 for adults and Rs. 650 for kids, from Mettupalayam to Coonoor.
- Second Class- Rs. 800 for adults and Rs. 500 for kids, from Mettupalayam to Coonoor.
Beautiful Train Journey
As the train starts moving , for the first five kilometres, it chugs along flat plains cutting through banana plantations, arecanut farms, and fields being readied for farming. At Kallar, the first station on the route, the rack and pinion system engages and the train begins its ascent through bridges and dark, winding tunnels, in total the train crosses 250 bridges and passes through 16 tunnels. At Adderly, engineers refill the water tanks. The stretch from Mettupalayam to Coonoor. 27 kilometres of the total 46 goes through deep valleys, thick forests with dense greenery, and by leafy walls covered in yellow, red, and orange wild flowers. At Runnymede, one can see neatly trimmed green patches of tea plantations with towering silver oak trees. The journey from Coonoor to Udhagamandalam. Onward it goes through tea plantations, and the blue-green expanse of the Ooty lake. The most spectacular scenery and best views are situated along the stretch from Mettupalayam to Coonoor.
Summer Train Services
After a break of five years, special summer train services will recommence in 2018. A “Heritage Steam Voyage” will operate between Mettupalayam and Coonoor, on Saturdays and Sundays, from March 31 to June 24. The train is officially called the 06171/Mettupalayam-Coonoor Nilagiri Summer Special. It’s scheduled to depart Mettupalayam at 9.10 a.m. and reach Coonoor at 12.30 p.m., with stops at Kallar and Hillgrove. In the return direction, it will leave Coonoor at 1.30 p.m. and arrive in Mettupalayam at 4.20 p.m.
Train Reservations
Reservations for travel on the Nilgiri Mountain Railway can be made at Indian Railways computerized reservation counters or on the Indian Railways website. It’s advisable to book as far ahead as possible, particularly during the peak summer season from April to June, Indian festival season (especially around Diwali vacation), and Christmas. The train fills up months in advance for these times.
Travel Tips
- Book online in advance to avoid the rush, as the touring by the Nilgiri Mountain Railways is popular with tourists throughout all seasons.
- Come winter-ready, with something to cover your head and neck since the mountain wind blows strongly inside the coaches.
- Avoid the monsoons, for the rain covered windows will make it hard for you to see anything outside.
- Take the whole tour, from Mettupalayam to Coonoor for a complete experience.
