It is early morning at the Mettupalayam railway station. The weather is cold. Everyone is waiting for the train scheduled at 7.10 am. The station master looks a little busy and all of a sudden we hear a sweet sound of the horn from the forests, but all we can see is the smoke over the misty woods. The Ooty Train which is connected by a narrow gauge line from Mettupalayam finally arrives.
The train was crowded with 3 compartments comprising wooden coaches and large windows.
The distance is around 46 kms from Mettupalayam to Ooty, a 4.5 hour journey and the train moves through forests, tea plantations, sixteen tunnels, and more than 250 bridges, starting from Mettupalayam on the plains.
The construction of this line was a wonder throughout the journey. It was in 1854 that the initial plans were drawn up to build a mountain railway from Mettupalayam to the Nilgiris Hills. But it took a good 45 years, for the first train to chug up this track. It is hauled uphill by steam engines, designed and built by the Swiss Locomotive Works.
There are six stations between Mettupalayam and Ooty namely Coonoor, Kallar, Adderely, Hill Grove, Runnymede and Kateri - and, at one time, there used to be five between Coonoor and Ooty too. Though Wellington, Aruvankkadu, Ketti and Lovedale are still functional, Fern Hill, the last one, was closed down a few years ago.
Rice fields surround the 5 kilometre stretch between Mettupalayam and Kallar. Soon after is an impressive 20 kilometre section through a truly rocky terrain.
The track passes over 26 viaducts and twists and bends through 13 tunnels. After a steep climb, the train enters Coonoor, the little hill station known for its tea plantations. From here, the track is uphill till you reach Fern Hill at a height of 2,200 metres, the highest point on the railroad. Shortly before Ooty, the line dips downhill.
If you enjoy taking pictures, keep your camera handy for a few shots of the bridge between Kallar and Adderley. This ride is sure to turn the most hardened rail critic into an avid fan.
You’ll be on the edge of your seats, with the twists and turns, as the train will run across tall joist bridges and green hills before gently obliquing through rolling tea estates. The exhaust beat of the loco never falters, maintaining a loud staccato which can be heard for miles away. The locomotive pilot takes care in every turn during this mountain trip.
After 38 years of service, train technician Venkatesh is happy, but also sad that the train has only one trip per day ,i.e Morning 7.10am from Mettupalayam to Ooty and 1.30pm return. If you miss this journey, your travel to Ooty is incomplete!
Finally don’t forget to buy Nilgiri Organic Green Tea.
