Archive · 11 Oct 2026
Ooty Toy Train Could Become Global Heritage Tourism Attraction
The Nilgiri Mountain Railway is a historic train route in the hills of the Nilgiris.
It is known for its old-fashioned train and a special track that helps it travel up steep slopes.
The railway is celebrating its 118th anniversary on October 15.
Many tourists enjoy its journey through scenic areas.
K. Natarajan, who supports the railway’s heritage, says it could attract even more visitors from around the world.
He suggests cleaner stations, helpful information in different languages, and better coordination with tourism organizations.
He also recommends events that showcase local culture and railway history.
These changes could make visits more memorable and support heritage tourism.
The Nilgiri Mountain Railway is marking its 118th anniversary, known as NMR Day, on Thursday, October 15.
The railway is known for its vintage train and 19th-century rack-and-pinion track.
Its World Heritage Site status, conferred in 2005, helped increase its popularity with tourists.
K. Natarajan says more work is needed to establish the railway as a global steam heritage tourism destination.
His proposals include greener stations, multilingual visitor information, tourism partnerships, and heritage-themed events.
- Who
- The Nilgiri Mountain Railway and K. Natarajan, founder of the Heritage Steam Chariot Trust.
- What
- The railway is marking its 118th anniversary, while Natarajan is calling for efforts to develop it as a global heritage steam-train tourism destination.
- When
- Thursday, October 15; the article does not specify the year.
- Where
- The Nilgiris, including the Ooty–Coonoor railway corridor in Tamil Nadu.
- Why
- Natarajan says focused tourism initiatives could attract more visitors, improve visitor experiences, and increase heritage-tourism revenue.
- Railway
- Nilgiri Mountain Railway (NMR), also known as the Ooty toy train
- Anniversary
- 118th anniversary, referred to as NMR Day
- Anniversary date
- Thursday, October 15; no year is specified
- Track feature
- A 19th-century rack-and-pinion track
- World Heritage Site status
- Conferred in 2005
- Advocate
- K. Natarajan, founder of the Heritage Steam Chariot Trust
- Suggested measures
- Greener stations, visitor-friendly services, multilingual information, tourism coordination, and heritage-themed events