Coal shortage derails toy train

By Subir Bhaumik
BBC News, Calcutta

The train goes to the highest station for steam engines

The famous toy train that ferries tourists in India's tea country in Darjeeling has run out of steam.

The steam engines of the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway, a Unesco World Heritage treasure, have suffered an acute shortage of coal.

This is Darjeeling's peak season and the train is a top tourist attraction, running to the world's highest station for steam engines at Ghoom.

Officials said services should resume in a couple of days.

Annual loss

Notices were put up at the Darjeeling Railway Station announcing the cancellation of two rides on Wednesday.

The ride on the toy train in the north-eastern state starts from the plains town of New Jalpaiguri and goes to the hill town of Darjeeling via Ghoom.

Railway official LM Pradhan blamed the temporary closure on a technical defect in the transport chain.

He said enough coal had arrived at the depot in Siliguri and would be sent to Darjeeling on Thursday.

The 116-year-old Darjeeling Himalayan Railway was declared a World Heritage Site by Unesco in December 1999.

However, the railway incurs an estimated 70m rupee ($1.6m) loss annually.