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The gauge is narrow, only 0.6096 m but the journey is something that cannot be experienced anywhere else in the world.
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.
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