Travelling in a toy train is itself an adventure. Chugging through the dense forests, the amazing Coonoor to Ooty Toy Train takes the guests to the quaint hill station of Ooty, also named as Udagamandalam.
The remarkable journey from Coonoor to Ooty is packed with splendid breath-taking views which include the dense shola forests, a myriad of birds, varied species of plants, forested hills, gushing waterfalls, meandering rivers and mist clad mountains. The train navigates through major bridges on the route from Ooty to Coonoor covering a distance of 19 km in almost one and half hours.
About Coonoor to Ooty Toy Train
The Nilgiri Mountain Railways is a single line railway service built by the Britishers and is an example of the stupendous engineering achievements attained amidst the rugged mountainous terrain. Laying the railway track was not an easy task because of the steep gradient and involved brilliant minds behind its designing and development.
Though the project was proposed in 1854 it became operational in 1899 connecting Mettupalayam to Coonoor. It was in the year 1908, that the line was extended till Udagamandalam. UNESCO has designated Nilgiri Mountain Railways as single World Heritage Site in India. The old fashioned steam locomotives of Ooty Toy Train have been replaced by diesel locomotives on the route from Coonoor to Ooty.
Time Table for Coonoor to Ooty Toy Trains
| Train No / Name | From | Dep | To | Arr | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 06141 / Coonoor-Udagamandalam Special | Coonoor (ONR) | 7:45 | Ooty (UAM) | 9:00 | 1h 15m / 19 km |
| 06136 / Mettupalayam-Ooty Special | Coonoor (ONR) | 10:40 | Ooty (UAM) | 11:55 | 1h 15m / 19 km |
| 06143 / Coonoor-Udagamandalam Special | Coonoor (ONR) | 12:35 | Ooty (UAM) | 13:45 | 1h 10m / 19 km |
| 06138 / Coonoor-Udagamandalam Special | Coonoor (ONR) | 16:00 | Ooty (UAM) | 17:10 | 1h 10m / 19 km |
The Southern Railways has two daily railway services from Coonoor to Ooty - the 06136 Mettupalayam to Udagamandalam train and the 06138 Coonoor to Udagamandalam train. Despite these two trains running daily there is a huge demand for the joyful toy train ride.
The 06136 Mettupalayam to Udagamandalam train leaves Coonoor at 10.40 am to reach Ooty at 11:55 am while the 06138 Coonoor to Udagamandalam train that departs from Coonor at 16 hours arrives at Ooty around 17:10 hours.
Ooty Toy Train Ticket Booking
Buying tickets at the Coonoor station is not a recommended option as it is going to be cumbersome standing in the long queue for your tickets. You can book your tickets online through Indian Railways website www.irctc.co.in. As there is a huge demand for the tickets especially in peak tourists’ seasons, in order to avoid the inconvenience and ease your work it is advised that you book your tickets 2 to 3 months in advance online.
Railway Station Codes
Train Class & No. of Seats
- First Class: 12 Seats
- Second Sitting: 88 Seats
- Unreserved / General
Things to Note
- No restrooms in trains use them at the Railway Station before boarding.
- Not more than 4 tickets per person at the booking window.
- Huge Crowd on holidays / weekends and during the peak season.
- Book at least two to three months in advance.
- There is no catering service in the train hence do pack your Tiffin boxes
The train journey through the craggy mountainous terrain is worth a ride as it provides us with an opportunity to have a very close charismatic experience with nature. So make yourselves comfortable as you sit on the benches of the toy train and get immersed in the scenic beauty of the inspiring landscape.
