Nilgiri Mountain Railway (NMR)

  • The Nilgiri Mountain Railway (NMR) connects Mettupalayam with the hill station of Udagamandalam (Ootacamund or Ooty) in Tamil Nadu.
  • It uses rack and pinion system to climb the steep gradient(1 in 12 steepest in India), the only railway line in India to use this system.
  • NMR was opened in 1908 and was operated by the former Madras Railway Company.
  • In 2005,UNESCO added the Nilgiri Mountain Railway to the World Heritage Site.
  • The 'Nilagiri Passenger' train winds its way up the majestic Nilgiri mountains. It covers a distance of 41.8 km, travels through 208 curves, 16 tunnels, and 250 bridges.
  • The uphill journey takes around 5 hours, and the downhill journey takes 215 minutes 3 and a half hours. It has the steepest track in Asia with a maximum gradient of 1 in 12.
  • NMR provides spectacular views of the Nilgiri Hills.

Train timings on NMR
Up Direction Mettupalayam – Coonoor -Ooty

 

Mettupalayam

Coonoor

Ooty

56141 Coonoor – Ooty Pass

--

07.45

09.45

56136 Mettupalayam – Ooty Pass

07.10

10.40

12.00

56143 Coonoor – Ooty Pass

--

12.35

13.50

56138 Coonoor – Ooty Pass

--

16.30

17.45

Up Direction Mettupalayam – Coonoor -Ooty

 

Ooty

Coonoor

Mettupalayam

56139 Ooty - Coonoor Pass

09.15

10.25

--

56142 Ooty - Coonoor Pass

12.15

13.20

 

56137 Ooty - Mettupalayam Pass

14.00

15.15

17.35

56140 Ooty - Coonoor Pass

18.00

19.10

 

  • Those who come from North it is convenient to take Nilagiri Exp from Chennai Central (12671 Exp Dep: 2100 hrs) which reaches Mettupalayam at 06.15 hrs. From there catch 56136 Pass to Ooty (dep: 0710 hrs).
  • Advance reservation is available for 56136 Pass in second & First Classes.

Holiday Home for Employees

  • Holiday homes are available in Ooty(11 rooms for Railway employees, 4 for ICF employees and 2 for Wheel and Axle Plant employees). They are rather well maintained with all facilities.
  • Holiday Homes must be booked in advance with DPO/ SA(Salem).
  • Officers Rest house are available in Ooty, Lovedale and Conoor.

Retiring Rooms

  • Retiring rooms are available in Coonoor, Ooty and Lovedale for those who cant get accommodation in Holiday Homes. No advance reservation is possible for Retiring Rooms.

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