It has been quite sometime since I went somewhere. And I didn’t want to travel very far this time. So I finally settled for Ooty, even when people told me that the place is commercialized, and not that good. Is Ooty commercialized? Let us revisit that question at the end of this travelogue series.
Having decided that Ooty is the destination, I was pondering upon the approach route. I initially thought of going by bus directly from Bangalore to Ooty. And return in the same way. But then, I will miss the toy train journey from Mettupalayam to Ooty. On Thursday the 24th, I left for Coimbatore from Bangalore and from there, reached Mettupalayam by mid afternoon. The next day morning, I left for Coonoor from there. Though I had a waitlisted ticket, my friend used her influence and got me a seat right in the front.
The coach was filled with people from Chennai, who had taken the Nilgiri express. Most of them just crossed the platform and reached this train. And since they had traveled overnight, most of them were stinking To add to the misery, my finger got stuck in one of the windows and before I realized what had happened my seat was filled with blood. Thankfully the train hadn’t started yet. So I rushed to the tap, and held my finger under cold water for a while. And then I got the latest copy of Dinakaran to clear the mess. Dinakaran absorbs blood really well 
The toy train leaves Mettupalayam at 07.10 in the morning and reaches Coonoor by around 10.30 AM. Then from there it reaches Ooty by around 12 in the afternoon. This train consists of around 5 coaches, with the engine at the back.
For the journey from Mettupalayam to Coonoor, Steam Engine is being used to push the train. Since it’s a steep climb, the engine is at the back and not at the front. The train moves at a maximum speed of 30 kmph in plains and even slower, while climbing. And every 5 kms, the train stops so that the steam engine can be refilled with water.
Initially till Kallar, the train travels on plain land. And after that slowly it climbs the mountain. It is just like a trek. The scenery is something beyond words, and is really amazing. Considering the fact that I went before monsoon, the green cover of the mountain is pretty impressive.
After around 2 hours of journey, the best part of the Mettupalayam- Coonoor section starts. By this time, the train has reached a considerable height and you get to see tea estates and stuff. I had the best view,sitting right in the front. It is one experience, I will never forget in my lifetime!
You can view the full set here. As always, please click on the thumbnail for better resolution pictures.
..to be continued
I too want to go by this train. But – no vacation.
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waaaaaah!
Priya.
can you send me those pictures to my mail? it’s awesome!
Nice photos prabhu!!!
Meanwhile i have created an automatic alert service using twitter whenever u write a new post in ur blog.Im using it presently for myself to get a text message whenever u update ur blog.Actually two other of my friends blog feeds are also updated thru that account.So thought of creating a seperate twitter account only for ur blog feed so that anyone else interested can use it. I felt that it would be better to ask permission b4 starting it. Any objections?
Take a look at the updates @ http://www.twitter.com/blntech
(Its nearly two months old now)
Hey! I did this trip in 1951 – when the train was much younger – the welcome board was not there – but i do remember Kallar and the Jackfruit trees visible from the train. I did not have a camera then as otherwise we could have compared the pictures!
You are lucky Prabhu! You would have read in newspapers that,due to heavy rains and landslide in Ooty, the Toy train tracks are heavily damaged and God only knows as how long will it take to repair .
Hmmmm….
The Panju mittai karan has given a super pose !
I used to love the contour farming pictures of ooty… green steps… The ones in your collection dont seem to show the steps well…
Priya,
When next to India?
Lakshminarayanan,
No need of permission or anything. People reading my blog is very nice. Am happy. Anything more is bonus 
Oops
Ram,
Yes it would have been great to compare
Vigneshram,
Oh yeah. I consider myself lucky
Sshhhhh,
Wait for the entire travelogue, please
Lovely pictures. Looks like the steam engine does push hard ! Doesnt it !The Canon has captured moments pretty well.
And Dinakaran absorbs blood ! yes it does !!
Yes, That was a good journey. i have been in it once. btw, i don want any o we indians to miss what i had experienced. a journey to kashmir. pls people, plan atleast once in a life time
Amazing pics!! Reminds me of my trip to Ooty by the toy train when i was 14 years old
kavi,
Thank you
Madrasfella,
Yes. Kashmir is on my agenda as well. Probably sometime this year
Nandu,
Do check it out again
prabhu sir,
saw this news and shocked…
kalaignar tv la sivaji august 15th podarangalam…
link
it was published in yest. hindu paper also…
Dear Pee Kay,
After a hard day, your travelogue was extremely refreshing. Great job. Hope you enjoyed it much much more than I did – just reading it.
Dee
I am planning to take my family there. I am planning a trip from chennai. First to fly to coimbatore and then take this train from mettupalayam. It looks like this train runs only once a day. can u confirm this? so its from mettupalayam at around 7 am? any online booking possible? further doesn’t run the entire stretch upto ooty as somebody pointed out that the tracks are damaged? any clues on that.
Thanks
Ravi
hi prabhu
my name is altaf i m from hyderabad and i m planning to go to ooty via this toy train but i want some info regarding travelling can u mail me back so that i can ask u the queries
Hai Prabhu,
Actually i planned to go there by next week, before that i search something about ooty train, and i gt ur site, really nice
and the photos are awsome, Really nice, and after seeing ur photos, my plan changed a week before,
Thanks Prabhu,
Written superbly..it must have inded been a wunderful experience…i cant wait to go by this train..
I also wanted to know whether the train will be functional in the month of august…n how cud i buk tickets in advance online….cud u pllllzzzzzzzz mail me the details…thanx…
Hi..
I am xxx ..on 24th may 2008 in nilagiri express i saw yyy…yyy looks so preety and we both talked in eyes for around 5 hours …suddely i got down in my station…i miss u lot dear…my best wishes for ur bright life…
I also wanted to know whether the train will be functional in the month of june 29th…n how cud i buk tickets in advance online….cud u pllllzzzzzzzz mail me the details…thanx… theschoolofkarate@gmail.com
Now track maintenance is going on. i don’t know when it will be alright.
Regards
FelixDavid
David , who in the world told you that maintanence is going on. I travelled on the train yesterday , and it is in fantastic condition.. Had a great journey.
Sudhakar , the train was indeed functioning on the 29th.
One can book the tickets online on irctc website.
Hi
Nice pics but I need your help I am going to Ooty in Sepyember and I want to know from Banglore how can I reach Ooty? Someone told me that I can reach through this Toy train but I don’t know from where to catch this train and from where to get the bookings done.
Please help me and reply as soon as possible.
I will wait for your reply
Tribhuwan Singh
guys i am planning for a trip to ooty from banglore on 4th of november 08, can u plz guide m wth d bst possible transport so that i can catch the toy train in coimbatore
Hi, Nice pictures. I did this journey 50 years ago! Intend to do it again in Jan.09 on my holiday to India. Will send you some of my pictures then.
You didn’t mention how to reach Mettupalyam from Bangalore, you went to Coimbatore by bus and from there? Taxi or another bus or same bus?
Would be very kind of you if you could tweet your answer to me.. I am at http://twitter.com/Sanjukta
Can’t figure out what is your twitter handle from the twitter badge you have put up on this blog..
How to Reach India and how to Reach other part of India like Bangalore, Airport Delhi, Shirdi Dham, Mumbai Airport, Chennai, Pune, Hydrabad, Manali, Goa, Munnar, Ooty, Shimla, Kolkata. Find full travel guide over here. Train, Airway and Road way InformationHow to Reach Banglore, How to reach Banglore City, Banglore City Toure Guide
Realy i love this journey…
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IS IT POSSIBLE TO BOOK TICKET ON 12 TH OCTOBER 2011 FOR TOY TRAIN FROM METTUPALYAM TO OOTY AS ADVANCE THROUGH OR E-TICKET
Is it possible to book some tickets in this toy train from mettupalayam to ooty through online? if so please send your email id
Mettupalayam to Ooty – Toy Train – Travelogue – Its quite interesting
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