• A Darjeeling Himalayan Railway steam train passes by a market in Ghum, India. All photos by Reuters
    A Darjeeling Himalayan Railway steam train passes by a market in Ghum, India. All photos by Reuters
  • Vendors sell candy floss to passengers as Darjeeling Himalayan Railway trains arrive at a station in Ghum.
    Vendors sell candy floss to passengers as Darjeeling Himalayan Railway trains arrive at a station in Ghum.
  • A Darjeeling Himalayan Railway steam train prepares to leave Batasia Loop.
    A Darjeeling Himalayan Railway steam train prepares to leave Batasia Loop.
  • Train driver Hari Chettri sits in the engine of Darjeeling Himalayan Railway steam train as it leaves Batasia Loop.
    Train driver Hari Chettri sits in the engine of Darjeeling Himalayan Railway steam train as it leaves Batasia Loop.
  • A Darjeeling Himalayan Railway train passes by Dali monastery in Darjeeling.
    A Darjeeling Himalayan Railway train passes by Dali monastery in Darjeeling.
  • A worker breaks coal for a steam engine belonging to Darjeeling Himalayan Railway at a station in Darjeeling.
    A worker breaks coal for a steam engine belonging to Darjeeling Himalayan Railway at a station in Darjeeling.
  • Workers repair a steam engine belonging to Darjeeling Himalayan Railway at a workshop in Darjeeling.
    Workers repair a steam engine belonging to Darjeeling Himalayan Railway at a workshop in Darjeeling.
  • Passengers stand next to a Darjeeling Himalayan Railway steam train as it halts briefly at Batasia Loop.
    Passengers stand next to a Darjeeling Himalayan Railway steam train as it halts briefly at Batasia Loop.
  • Passengers sit inside a Darjeeling Himalayan Railway steam train at a station in Darjeeling.
    Passengers sit inside a Darjeeling Himalayan Railway steam train at a station in Darjeeling.
  • School children walk past a parked Darjeeling Himalayan Railway train at a station in Darjeeling.
    School children walk past a parked Darjeeling Himalayan Railway train at a station in Darjeeling.
  • People cross the narrow-gauge tracks as a Darjeeling Himalayan Railway train prepares to depart from a station in Ghum.
    People cross the narrow-gauge tracks as a Darjeeling Himalayan Railway train prepares to depart from a station in Ghum.
  • An engine belonging to the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway leaves a station in Darjeeling.
    An engine belonging to the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway leaves a station in Darjeeling.
  • Darjeeling Himalayan Railway trains are seen at a station in Darjeeling.
    Darjeeling Himalayan Railway trains are seen at a station in Darjeeling.
  • A man climbs down a Darjeeling Himalayan Railway train at a station in Darjeeling.
    A man climbs down a Darjeeling Himalayan Railway train at a station in Darjeeling.
  • A boy looks out of a Darjeeling Himalayan Railway train in Darjeeling.
    A boy looks out of a Darjeeling Himalayan Railway train in Darjeeling.

All aboard the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway - in pictures

The narrow-gauge railway runs from 100-metres above sea level at New Jalpaijuri to 2,200m in Darjeeling

The National

June 28, 2019

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Situated between the foot of the Himalayas and the northern extreme of Bangladesh lies the starting terminal of India's highest railway - the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway.

Built between 1879 and 1881, the narrow-gauge line runs from 100-metres above sea level at New Jalpaijuri to 2,200m in Darjeeling.

To get from one end of the 88-kilometre line to the other, the steam engines negotiate the steep climbs by either zig-zagging or looping.

It serves tourists and schoolchildren alike and earned a Unesco World Heritage site status in 1999.

Check out some of the sights on the railway line in the gallery above.

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