A perfect name for Nilgiri Chariot (Nilgiri Blue Mountain Express) in the contest held in Nilgiris specially for steam engines organised by NMR, and Nilgiri Chariot Express won this time, last contest was in 1997, it consist of cash prize Rs.25,000/- & a Brass crown.
I would like to share some information regarding the 100 Year Old train as it passes near our house in Wellington (Coonoor). We saw a tamil movie shoot of Kamal Hassan and Sridevi in late 80's on the same train.
The train was made in Switzerland (100 years old), as last month they celebrated the "Centenary Festival". The extension from Coonoor to Ooty was contsructed by the Goverment of India and the lines were opened on September 15th 1908 upto Fernhill then a month later to Ootacamund as before that around 1866 it was operational from Coimbatore to Mettupalayam with a rack railway of 16 3/4 miles.
To quote from Sir Guilford L. Molesworth’s report of 1886: “The locomotive used for working on the Abt System has two distinct functions: first, that of traction by adhesion as in an ordinary loco and second, that of traction by pinions acting upon the rack bars.
The main feature of this line is the unique rack system and the equally unique and complicated locomotives. The brakes are four in number-two hand brakes action by friction and two acting by preventing the free escape of air from cylinder and thus using compressed air in retarding the progress of the engine. The former are used for shunting whilst the latter for descending steep gradients. One of the hand brakes acts on the tyres of the wheels in the ordinary manner and the second acts on grooved surfaces of the pinion axle but can be used in those places where the rack is laid. Even after hundred years, the brake system on Nilgiri locomotives is as intricate and cumbersome as it was in 1886.
The line is a metre gauge, practically level for the first four and a half miles, to Kallar at the immediate foot of the hills. As soon as the train leaves Kallar, the rack rails appears and the long climb begins. In the next 12 miles to Coonoor, the line rises 4,363 feet curving almost continuously as it clings to the mountainside, crossing lofty viaducts or tunnels, the longest being 317 feet in length. The gradient posts read one in twelve and a half with monotonous consistency.Construction expenses were heavy because in addition to the tunnels, a big bridge over the river bhawani at the foothills was necessary. Besides this large bridge, 26 other bridges smaller in size, were constructed and heavy expenditure incurred in rock-cutting and blasting.
And more to your knowledge, the ticket cost from Wellington to Ootacamund is Rs.8/-, time 45 minutes train journey as bus takes 30 minutes. Views are awesome, just check out.
Its my hometown so major visiting areas are : Doddabetha (highest peak at 2,623 m), Rose Garden, Sims Park, Wax Museum, Thread Garden ,Boat house,Kotagiri, Needle Factory Ketti, Lamesrock, Tea Estate, Botanical Garden,Black Thunder (water park) best season & time to visit is summer as they hold fruit, flower, vegetable, rose shows.
Summer: 25°C - 10°C, Winter - 21°C - 5°C, Rainfall - 1900 mm, Altitude - varies between 2,280 to 2,290 m. Nearest Airport - Coimbatore.
Any more info.............ping me.
I would like to share some information regarding the 100 Year Old train as it passes near our house in Wellington (Coonoor). We saw a tamil movie shoot of Kamal Hassan and Sridevi in late 80's on the same train.
The train was made in Switzerland (100 years old), as last month they celebrated the "Centenary Festival". The extension from Coonoor to Ooty was contsructed by the Goverment of India and the lines were opened on September 15th 1908 upto Fernhill then a month later to Ootacamund as before that around 1866 it was operational from Coimbatore to Mettupalayam with a rack railway of 16 3/4 miles.
To quote from Sir Guilford L. Molesworth’s report of 1886: “The locomotive used for working on the Abt System has two distinct functions: first, that of traction by adhesion as in an ordinary loco and second, that of traction by pinions acting upon the rack bars.
The main feature of this line is the unique rack system and the equally unique and complicated locomotives. The brakes are four in number-two hand brakes action by friction and two acting by preventing the free escape of air from cylinder and thus using compressed air in retarding the progress of the engine. The former are used for shunting whilst the latter for descending steep gradients. One of the hand brakes acts on the tyres of the wheels in the ordinary manner and the second acts on grooved surfaces of the pinion axle but can be used in those places where the rack is laid. Even after hundred years, the brake system on Nilgiri locomotives is as intricate and cumbersome as it was in 1886.
The line is a metre gauge, practically level for the first four and a half miles, to Kallar at the immediate foot of the hills. As soon as the train leaves Kallar, the rack rails appears and the long climb begins. In the next 12 miles to Coonoor, the line rises 4,363 feet curving almost continuously as it clings to the mountainside, crossing lofty viaducts or tunnels, the longest being 317 feet in length. The gradient posts read one in twelve and a half with monotonous consistency.Construction expenses were heavy because in addition to the tunnels, a big bridge over the river bhawani at the foothills was necessary. Besides this large bridge, 26 other bridges smaller in size, were constructed and heavy expenditure incurred in rock-cutting and blasting.
And more to your knowledge, the ticket cost from Wellington to Ootacamund is Rs.8/-, time 45 minutes train journey as bus takes 30 minutes. Views are awesome, just check out.
Its my hometown so major visiting areas are : Doddabetha (highest peak at 2,623 m), Rose Garden, Sims Park, Wax Museum, Thread Garden ,Boat house,Kotagiri, Needle Factory Ketti, Lamesrock, Tea Estate, Botanical Garden,Black Thunder (water park) best season & time to visit is summer as they hold fruit, flower, vegetable, rose shows.
Summer: 25°C - 10°C, Winter - 21°C - 5°C, Rainfall - 1900 mm, Altitude - varies between 2,280 to 2,290 m. Nearest Airport - Coimbatore.
Any more info.............ping me.
1 comment:
This is a nice experienced shared... well written...
Post a Comment