A Ride Back in Time on the KC-520 Steam Engine

A Ride Back in Time on the KC-520 Steam Engine

Table of Contents

Introduction

The 22-kilometre train route between Shimla and Kalka is classified as a UNESCO World Heritage property. One of the most beautiful railways in India is the Kalka-Shimla Railway. It was constructed in 1903. It is renowned for its tight curves, steep grades, and breathtaking vistas of the Indian Himalayas.

In recent years, tourists have been able to experience the beauty of the Kalka-Shimla Railway in a truly unique way: by riding on the KC-520 steam engine. This 116-year-old engine is a heritage property and is one of the last steam engines still operating in India. It is very popular with tourists, especially foreigners.

KC-520 steam engine:

North British Locomotive Company produced the KC-520 engine, which was purchased for Rs 30,000. Due to the arrival of diesel locomotives in 1971, it was retired. The British-era steam engine was recently repaired and restored in Amritsar in Punjab. According to Baba Bhalku rail museum in Shimla, the steam engine has been declared a heritage property by UNESCO. The speciality of the engine is that it can run on a gradient of 1 in 33. After repairing in Amritsar, the engine ran a successful trial on December 2012. On February 15, 2013, the Indian Railways Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC), a division of the Indian Railways, began operating a steam engine-hauled small train for short rides between Shimla and Kathlighat. On 15th February’2013, four charter coaches narrow gauge steam engine dating back to 1903, KC-520, started a journey from Shimla Railway station at about 10.40am and successfully reached Kathlighat, carrying 24 foreign passengers on board. According to railway officials, it will now run daily to and fro between the two stations and under the plan, any company or individual can hire a steam train comprising three coaches with a capacity to accommodate up to 50 people. 50 people.

Tourists can now reserve a seat on the KC-520 steam engine and enjoy the thrilling experience of travelling by steam train over the Indian Himalayas. Passengers get plenty of time to delight in the landscape as the train moves along at a leisurely speed.

The KC-520 steam engine is a truly unique way to experience the beauty of the Kalka-Shimla Railway. The engine's whistle is a familiar sound to the people of Himachal Pradesh, and it is a reminder of the days when steam trains were the primary mode of transportation in the region.

Conclusion:

If you are looking for a truly unique and memorable travel experience, I highly recommend taking a ride on the KC-520 steam engine on the Kalka-Shimla Railway. It is an experience that you will never forget.

Call to action:

To book a ride on the KC-520 steam engine, please visit the website of the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC).

Additional information:

The Kalka-Shimla Railway is a 96-kilometre  railway line that connects the town of Kalka in Haryana to the city of Shimla in Himachal Pradesh.

The railway was built in 1903 and is one of the steepest railways in the world. The maximum gradient is 1 in 33.

The railway is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is known for its stunning views of the Indian Himalayas.

The KC-520 steam engine is a heritage property and is one of the last steam engines still operating in India.

The engine was built in 1906 and was originally used to haul passenger trains on the Kalka-Shimla Railway.

The engine was retired in 1971, but it was restored in 2013 and put back into service for special charters.

Today, tourists can book a ride on the KC-520 steam engine and experience the thrill of riding a steam train through the Indian Himalayas.