DARJEELING

JOIN US FOR THE TRIP OF A LIFETIME

The Darjeeling Himalayan Railway is a classic British railway… in India! It features Scottish-built saddle tank engines, steep gradients, spiral loops, switch-back reverses, stunning scenery, and great hospitality. Steam Railway is going - and you can join us.

January 31: We leave the UK (choice of Gatwick, Heathrow, Birmingham or Manchester). February 1: We arrive in India’s old capital, Kolkata (Calcutta). From there, we have a choice. OPTION 1: Fly to Bagdogra, and head to our hotel. After lunch, we take a minibus north to meet the southbound service train (diesel), for our first photographs. OPTION 2: We transfer to a central Kolkata hotel where we will have reserved rooms in which to freshen up. In the afternoon, we ride on one of the city’s vintage trams, before heading to Sealdah station to catch the overnight ‘Darjeeling Mail’. February 2: OPTION 1: Arrive in New Jalpaiguri, where we will be greeted and taken to our hotel, where breakfast will be ready. OPTION 2: In the morning, we will take a short ride to Sevoke to see a few remains of the Teesta Valley branch, and the Coronation Bridge, which carries India’s road connection to Assam. BOTH OPTIONS: Charter trains over the lowest section of the DHR are very rare, but we cover it in the afternoon with a ‘B’ class-hauled charter that will stop in Siliguri’s bazaar for one of the DHR’s iconic photographs of the train passing within inches of shops. We also look at Siliguri Town station, the original lower terminus of the DHR, and learn the history of the line in this area. February 3: Our private charter will run from Siliguri Junction to Tindharia, a section that includes no fewer than three of the DHR’s famous zigzags and one spiral loop. A lineside coach will run for photographers. At Tindharia we visit the main workshops, where the ‘Bs’ are maintained. We return by coach to Siliguri for the evening. February 4: After travelling by coach to Tindharia, we join our charter for the run to Darjeeling. Again, a lineside coach will run for photographers. On this section there is just one zigzag - but also the famous spirals at Agony Point and Batasia. If we are lucky, we should have views of the Himalayas. We will also arrange for everyone to be able to photograph the train in Kurseong’s bazaar, another iconic location. We stay in Darjeeling at The Windamere, the historic hotel once preferred by British tea-planters. February 5: Using the newly restored goods wagons we run a photographic charter from Sonada to Darjeeling with a twist: at Ghum we attach an open wagon in which we can ride to Darjeeling! February 6: Free day in Darjeeling, with transport arranged for anyone who wishes to ride or chase the daily ‘Joy Trains’ between Darjeeling and Ghum – there are wonderful photo opportunities on this stretch. Alternatively, Darjeeling has many other attractions. February 7: We drive to Kurseong, and take our charter train up through Kurseong bazaar and on to Sonada. Then we head by coach to Siliguri. For those who wish, we can arrange a downhill journey on the service train. We are at the Cindrella hotel for two more nights. February 8: Again accompanied by a photographers’ coach, we run a second ‘B’-hauled charter from Siliguri Junction to Kurseong, then return to Siliguri by road. February 9: Time to go… but we have a chance to watch the regular morning diesel through train leave Siliguri (and chase it to Sukna), before heading to Bagdogra airport for the afternoon flight to Kolkata. We then check in for the evening flight… February 10: …via Dubai, back to the UK. (February 10-13 Optional extension to Delhi, including National Rail Museum; and the Taj Mahal, Agra.) z On selected evenings, we will arrange for local rail staff and local personalities to come and talk to us. What’s included? Economy class flights to/from India, breakfast and dinner (*) daily, accommodation in 3-4 star hotels (or best available locally), all transport, charter trains and excursions as set out in the itinerary and the services of a Darjeeling Tours Limited Tour Manager and staff from Steam Railway. It is expected that Peter Jordan will be the tour manager and there will be two representatives from Steam Railway. (Personal and incidental expenses are not included). (*) Dinner is not included in Kolkata (or Agra or Delhi on the optional extension). Prices from London: £3,595 based on two people sharing Ground only (international flights excluded): £3,145 Single supplement: £430 Extension to Agra/Delhi: £450 based on two people sharing (Single supplement £65) BOOK NOW: Call 0208 249 8943 or visit www. darjeelingtours.co.uk