1879
Construction is started by the Darjeeling Steam Tramway Company to a narrow gauge of only 2ft (610mm). Its purpose is to reduce the haulage rates of commodities (such as rice) to Darjeeling and to improve the viability of local industries such as tea production. The line closely follows the route of the existing Hill Cart Road – the Government supports the scheme so as to reduce road maintenance costs.
1880
Eight steam locomotives arrive from the works of Messrs Sharp Stewart, Manchester, England. In March Lord Lytton, the Viceroy of India visits the line which opens to the public between Siliguri and Kurseong in August.
1881
On 3 July the line is officially opened to Darjeeling. It is 51 miles (82km) long and climbs from only 400ft (120m) at Siliguri to the summit at Ghum (7407ft / 2257m) before descending to Darjeeling (6812ft / 2075m).
The Company is renamed the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway Co. In its first full year the line carries 8,000 passengers and 380 tons of goods.
1882
Four loops and four reverses (zig-zags) are constructed between Sukna and Gayabari to ease the gradient.
1885
A short extension for goods traffic is opened to the bazaar at Darjeeling.
1891
Darjeeling station is enlarged and rebuilt.
1896
Kurseong gets a new station (previously the Clarendon Hotel had been used for this purpose) and storage sheds.
1897
Many homes in Darjeeling and Kurseong are damaged by an earthquake and tremors. DHR service is maintained.
1899
A devastating cyclone hits Darjeeling on 23 September – 4,000ft of mountainside slips into the valley causing much loss of life and damage to the DHR.
1905
Traffic on the line continues to grow with 29,000 passengers and 31,570 tons of goods. In addition to rice, flour and coal the line is bringing increasing numbers of tourists to the region. The shareholders in the Company are benefiting from dividends of 11-14%.
1909-10
Growth continues with 174,000 passengers and 47,000 tons of goods. The first bogie carriages enter service, replacing very basic 4 wheel carriages.
1914/15
A branch line of the DHR opens from Siliguri (Panchanai) to Kishenganj. At Tindharia the railway works are relocated from behind the loco shed to a new and extensive site created from removing the summit of Selim Hill. The line is now carrying 250,000 passengers and 60,000 tons of freight (flour and rice 17,804 tons, tea 5,354 tons, potatoes 3,824 tons, salt 1,634 tons, sugar 894 tons and metals 915 tons).
With the continued growth in staff and business, the headquarters of the railway moves from Darjeeling to more spacious accommodation at Kurseong.
1915
Another branch – the Teesta Valley Line - is opened from Siliguri to Kalimpong Road (Gielle Khola).
1919
The loop at Batasia is constructed, eliminating problems by creating easier gradients on the ascent from Darjeeling. But the first sign of competition for the railway comes with the introduction of a bus service, making the journey in 3 ½ hrs – 1 ½ hrs faster than the trains. The railway retaliates with a railcar in 1920 but it can carry only 9 passengers and is soon out of service.
1921/22/24
The DHR and the Teesta Valley line are used to transport men and equipment for attempts to reach the summit of Mount Everest.
1930
Despite increasing competition from private cars and buses, the line continues to prosper with 258,000 passengers and 80,000 tons of goods, although earnings from both sources are declining.
1934
A serious earthquake in Bihar shakes all of Northeast India. Many buildings in Darjeeling are heavily damaged and the railway is also badly affected, although it soon recovers and plays a vital role in transporting repair materials.
1936
The line is running three through trains a day in each direction, taking 5 ¼ hrs and two local services running from Tindharia and Kurseong
1939 –1945
The effect of World War 2 dramatically increases traffic on the DHR which plays a vital role transporting military personnel and supplies to the numerous camps around Ghum and Darjeeling. The line now has 39 working locomotives and Tindharia Works, employing almost 400 workers, constructs extra rolling stock including a five vehicle ambulance train for the wounded. A Walford diesel locomotive arrives in 1942, but the trials are unsuccessful. In the year 1943-44 the line carries 311,000 passengers and 76,000 tons of goods.
1947
The old wooden station at Darjeeling is replaced by a modern concrete building.
1948
On 20 October the DHR is purchased by the Indian Government and is absorbed into the Indian Government Railways organisation.
1950
As Partition has severed the main line railway link with Assam, the Kishenganj to Siliguri and Siliguri to Sevoke sections of the two DHR branch lines are replaced by metre gauge track as part of the new Assam Rail Link Project. After heavy damage from flooding the remaining section of the Teesta Valley branch from Sevoke to Gielle Khola is abandoned. The DHR comes under the management of the Assam Railways organisation.
1952
Assam Railways including the DHR become part of the North Eastern Railway zone.
1958
The DHR and other Assam lines are transferred to the new North East Frontier Railway Zone.
1962
At Siliguri the line is re-aligned and extended by approx 4 miles (6 km) to New Jalpaiguri (NJP) to meet the new broad gauge line there. It opens for freight that year and for passengers in 1964. The loco shed and carriage depot at Siliguri Junction are relocated to NJP.
1984
The once important railway mail services on the line end – beaten by road competition.
1988/9
The line is closed for 18 months due to civil unrest.
1993
Competition from road haulage and the interruption to services in previous years finally ends the freight services.
1999
The DHR is awarded UNESCO ‘World Heritage’ status, only the second railway in the world to get such recognition.
2000
Two NDM6 diesel locomotives are introduced into service.
2002
Steam locomotive No 787 is converted to oil-firing, but despite subsequent trials and modifications, it is not a success.
2003/4
More re-alignment of the line takes place at Siliguri and New Jalpaiguri because of the broad gauge conversion of the Assam line. The DHR gains a new island platform at NJP. The locomotive shed and carriage servicing are relocated to Siliguri Junction.
2005
Two new oil-fired steam locomotives Nos 1001-2 arrive but design problems prevent them from entering service. Tourist traffic shows a welcome increase – 82 steam-hauled charter trains compared with only 20 or less in previous years.
2006
The historic Elysia Building, Kurseong (former residence of the GM DHR prior to 1948) is rededicated after extensive restoration. Two more NDM6 diesel locomotives arrive from the Matheran line. Indian Railways celebrates the DHR’s 125th anniversary with a series of ‘Steam on Three Gauges’ charter trains at Siliguri Junction.
2007
The DHR gets its first full time Director. The heaviest monsoon in decades disrupts services and Darjeeling loco shed is badly damaged. A new daily train, The Himalayan Princess (3D/4D) and more Darjeeling-Ghum tourist services are introduced.
2008
Oil-firing trials end. Coal will continue to power the steam fleet. Tindharia Works gets a thorough renovation. Widespread political unrest and’ bandhs’ (strikes) continue to disrupt services. A wash out in June closes the Kurseong-NJP section for 10 weeks.
2009
Storm damage closes the line for almost 3 months. Major repairs start at Darjeeling Station and loco shed.
2010
A huge landslip at Pagla Jhora in mid June closes the NJP- Kurseong section
2011
Monsoon rains wreck the Pagla Jhora repair work. At Tindharia there is a severe landslip that severs the road and the DHR. The five 4-wheeled vans are restored to running order. Political peace returns after state elections and tourism starts to recover. But the DHR is now cut in two places. Two DHRS steam loco engineers make the first of three visits to Tindharia where they improve the performance of two steam locos and assist in revamping skills and work shop procedures.
2012
In July a further land slip at Tindharia causes more damage, including to the workshop. Locos and carriages are moved by road from Siliguri to Darjeeling to allow a fourth Joy Train service and the resumption of a daily Kurseong-Darjeeling service train.
In October Sonada Station is largely destroyed by fire.
2013
On 5 April a Darjeeling Tours group is the first to use a restored bogie wagon, complete with railings, for photography. In May work starts on a new rail alignment at Tindharia Station rehabilitation starts with Sukna as the first to be improved.
Work continues on repairs at Pagla Jhora despite delays caused by further monsoon damage.
2014
The new formation at Tindharia enables services to resume to Gayabari in January, and a new loop at Mahanadi enables services from there to Kurseong to resume in March.
2015
Following further repair work at Pagla Jhora, the year ends with resumption of the daily diesel-hauled service from NJP.
At Kurseong work nears completion on reinstating the sidings. At Tindharia a new sign commemorates the centenary of the workshops.
2016
In April the UNESCO team starts work on a 2 year conservation plan. Two more NDM6 diesels arrive from the Matheran Railway.
In November freight photo charters see the first ‘goods trains’ in over 25 years. Nine daily Joy Trains boost revenue.
2017
Political agitation for ‘Gorkhaland’ closes the line from June-December.
Sonada and Gayabari stations and DHR HQ, Kurseong are fire-damaged by protesters.
2018
Two air-conditioned carriages enter service.
In Sep/Oct the NJP-Darjeeling service is suspended for several weeks due to monsoon damage.
In November a new DHR halt station at Siliguri Town is brought into use, and the old station is renovated.
2019
The DHRS conducts a UNESCO-funded 3 day engineering workshop for DHR staff.
2020
Repairs to Gayabari and Sonada Stations (damaged in the 2017 unrest) are complete. All DHR services are suspended on 22 March due to the Covid 19 pandemic. Services resume on 25 December.
2021
After a further national wave of Covid infections all DHR services are suspended from 2 May. ‘Joy Train’ services resume on 16 August. The service to New Jalpaiguri resumes on 25 August. A new daily steam ‘Jungle Safari’ service runs from Siliguri Junction to Rangtong. A new ‘Red Panda’ weekend-only diesel service runs from Kurseong to Mahanadi.
2022
A drive for extra revenue results in initiatives unsympathetic to the DHR’s heritage, including commercial advertising on carriages and stations, and an ATM kiosk in the station conservation area at Kurseong. The peak period ‘Joy Train’ timetable now has 12 trains (8 diesel, 4 steam). From 25 December to 2 January a new two-carriage diesel ‘Christmas Special’ service runs from New Jalpaiguri to Sukna.
2023
In February and March, several derailments (albeit minor) draw attention to track and loco maintenance issues. In April a large group of G20 Tourism delegates visit the DHR. In May two redundant carriages are installed at the town end of Darjeeling Station as a restaurant, soon joined by a rooftop café. Plans are announced for the construction of three additional NDM6 diesels. A legal dispute over the removal of commercial advertising goes to the High Court, Kolkata. Over Christmas and the New Year ‘Joy Trains’ run packed, setting new records with almost 1,00 passengers each day.
