We are at Mettupalayam Railway Station at the crack of dawn, excited for the adventurous train ride ahead, which covers 16 tunnels, over 200 steep curves, and 257 bridges. It has been 125 years since the Nilgiris Mountain Railway (NMR), fondly called the Ooty toy train of the Nilgiris Railway Company, first chugged up the hills on June 15, 1899. “A ride on the NMR is an experience,” says K Natrajan, a heritage enthusiast and founder of the Heritage Steam Chariot Trust .
He adds that it is not just a mode of transportation, but a throwback to a time when life was slower and travel was about the joy of the journey itself. “As the rhythmic chugging, hissing, and whistle blowing echoes across the valley, one can sit back and soak up the sights of lush greenery, bursts of colourful blooms, and cloud-kissed mountains punctuated by the chirping of birds. The smell of steam from the engine adds to the drama,” describes Natrajan.
K Natrajan of Heritage Steam Chariot trust with a silver miniature of the NMR| Photo Credit:SATHYAMOORTHY M As the train passes through several quaint towns like Adderly, Runnymede, Ketti, and Lovedale, passengers have their faces and phones glued to the windows. “It’s a proud moment for me to travel in this heritage train that has completed 125 years,” says 53-year-old Vikram Nagaraj from Chennai, recalling a ‘roller coaster ride’ on the train during his youth. “We were a bunch of 20 boys from Guru Nanak College who played pranks along th.