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Riding the toy train to Ooty
The train spends considerable time at the station. A technician manning our coach says the train will now move on gears. Gears, in sheer technical terms is a rack and pinion system, where interlocking cogs on the track and the rakes offer better grip.
These technicians (there is one on each coach.) can be called co-motormen. Because, for the upward journey, the engine pushes the train up and the motorman has no way to see what lies ahead. How it works is the technician who is in the first coach waves a red flag if there is any obstacle on the track. The signal is passed with the technician in each coach waves the red flag and the engine driver brings the train to a halt.
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After checking if all is well with the cogs, the train sets off. Soon, the first tunnel comes up into view and is swallowed quickly. After that every minute is a joy as nature engages you with a waterfall here and a ravine there. The tunnels (There are 14 of them) and the viaducts (24) compete with each other to showcase the marvels of engineering (The railroad is 109 years old).
Text and photograph: Krishna Kumar
Also read: South India's luxury train with a spa!
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