Shimla railway station (station code: SML[1]) is a railway station in Shimla in the Indian state of Himachal Pradesh. The station is the terminus of the UNESCO World Heritage Site Kalka–Shimla Railway. Shimla railway station is located at an altitude of 2,075 metres (6,808 ft) above mean sea level.[2] It was allotted the railway code of SML under the jurisdiction of Ambala railway division. The 762 mm (2 ft 6 in)-wide narrow-gauge Kalka-Shimla Railway was constructed by Delhi–Ambala–Kalka Railway Company and opened for traffic in 1903.[3]
Shimla railway station | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Indian Railways station | |||||
 Shimla Railway station view at dawn | |||||
| General information | |||||
| Location | NH 22, Nabha, Shimla, Himachal Pradesh India | ||||
| Coordinates | 31°06′09″N 77°09′36″E / 31.1025°N 77.1601°E | ||||
| Elevation | 2,075 metres (6,808 ft) | ||||
| Owned by | Indian Railways | ||||
| Line(s) | Kalka–Shimla Railway | ||||
| Platforms | 2 | ||||
| Tracks | 4 (Narrow Gauge) | ||||
| Connections | Auto stand | ||||
| Construction | |||||
| Structure type | Standard (on-ground station) | ||||
| Parking | No | ||||
| Bicycle facilities | No | ||||
| Other information | |||||
| Status | Functioning | ||||
| Station code | SML[1] | ||||
| Zone(s) | Northern Railway | ||||
| Division(s) | Ambala | ||||
| History | |||||
| Opened | 1903 | ||||
| Electrified | No | ||||
| Part of | Mountain Railways of India | ||||
| Criteria | Cultural: (ii)(iv) | ||||
| Reference | 944ter-002 | ||||
| Inscription | 1999 (23rd Session) | ||||
| Extensions | 2005, 2008 | ||||
| Area | 4.59 ha (11.3 acres) | ||||
| Buffer zone | 500 ha (1,200 acres) | ||||
| Coordinates | 31°06′09″N 77°09′35″E / 31.10250°N 77.15972°E | ||||
  Location of Shimla railway station in India | |||||
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History
editThe station opened in 1903.[4] Originally, the walls of the station building were made of wood with a sloping galvanised iron roof, but due to the growth in traffic it was rebuilt and extended in 1921 with a new double storey brick masonry (plastered in lime mortar) building housing the offices of the station master, staff and control, accident relief arrangements, waiting rooms, telegraph office and shelters.[2] After the roof over the platform collapsed in 1944 due to a heavy snowfall a new roof over the station building and platform was built.[4]
In 1986–87 the station was redeveloped with end-to-end platform shelters, while the platform was resurfaced and various services refurbished or rebuilt such as the tourist information office, railway telephone exchange, platform ticketing office, reservation office while 10 new retiring rooms (each having large windows providing a valley view) were installed and a waiting hall provided on the ground floor.[2]
Originating Trains
editThe nearest railway station to Shimla is Kalka. You can take the Kalka to Shimla train route to reach Shimla which is one of India's most beautiful train routes.
| Train No. | Train Name | Destination | Departure | Running | Halts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01624 | Shimla - Kalka Summer Special | Kalka | 09:20 | All Days | |
| 52456 | Himalayan Queen | 10:40 | Summer Hill, Jutgoh, Taradevi, Shoghi, Kandaghat, Salogra, Solan, Barog, Dharmpur Himachal | ||
| 72452 | Rail Motor | 11:40 | N.A. | ||
| 52458 | Shimla - Kalka Express | 14:15 | Summer Hill, Jutogh, Taradevi, Shoghi, Kathleeghat, Kanoh, Kandaghat, Salogra, Solan, Barog, Kumarhatti, Dharmpur Himachal, Sonwara, Koti, Gumman, Taksal | ||
| 52460 | Him Darshan Express | 15:50 | Barog | ||
| 52452 | Shivalik Deluxe Express | 17:55 | Barog | ||
| 52454 | Shimla - Kalka NG Express | 18:35 | Summer Hill, Jutogh, Taradevi, Shoghi, Kathleeghat, Kanoh, Kandaghat, Salogra, Solan, Barog, Kumarhatti, Dharmpur Himachal |
References
edit- ^ a b "Station Code Index" (PDF). Portal of Indian Railways. Centre For Railway Information Systems. 2023–24. p. 8. Archived from the original (PDF) on 16 February 2024. Retrieved 23 March 2024.
- ^ a b c "Kalka Shimla Railway (India) No 944 ter". UNESCO. Retrieved 29 November 2018.
- ^ Engineer journal article, circa 1915, reprinted in Narrow Gauge & Industrial Railway Modelling Review, no. 75, July 2008
- ^ a b "About Shimla Town" (PDF). Indian Railways. Retrieved 5 December 2018.
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