 |
The Ooty Rack
Far less well-known than the DHR, the Nilgiri Railway still rates among the world's best train rides. The rack
section, from Mettupalaiyam to Coonoor, is steam operated, with a daily service. The line ascends a rugged valley
on an average grade of 1 in 12.5, with stunning views out over the South Indian plains as it rises. Dramatic cliffs
and waterfalls are interspersed with tea and coffee plantations producing some of the world's finest brews.
Listed as a World Heritage site in 2005, this metre gauge line was built in 1899. It is India's only rack railway.
It is relatively long for a rack line, and runs through very difficult country. The 21km (12.2 mile) Abt rack section,
graded at 1 in 12½, climbs through the rugged "Blue Hills" of Southern India, through tea and
coffee plantations, to the hill stations of Coonoor and Ootacamund or Ooty. There are 208 bridges, 16 tunnels and
an unusual "half-tunnel".
The massive "X" class 0-8-2RT locomotives, built by Swiss Locomotive Works (SLM) between 1914 and 1952,
have special small low-pressure compound cylinders for the rack drive, working simple on adhesion sections. The
rack pistons work at twice the speed of the adhesion ones.
The long-awaited DVD version is 95 minutes long and incorporates material filmed in 1990, 1997, 1999 and 2004.
It shows trains operating over the full length of the line, includings sequences from lineside, showing the spectacular
scenery, on the train (much of it from the front platform) and on the footplate. The party conducting the UNESCO
World Heritage inspection in 2004 is shown at work.
Maps, stills, diagrams. 95 min total.
DVD ONLY. RRP: $34.95
Click here to purchase through PayPal |
|
|
|
 |
Clouds Rising in the Sky
Clouds Rising in the Sky is professional film-maker Ian Walker's eyewitness record of the UNESCO inspection of
the Nilgiri Railway in September 2004. Conducted by Dr. Robert Lee of the University of Western Sydney, the outcome
was the listing of the NMR. Clouds shares some footage with The Ooty Rack, but offers a different perspective,
including more detail of the inspection, more of the workshops at Mettupalaiyam and Coonoor, plus traditional Toda
tribal dances at Ooty and a visit to the railway museum at Mysore. It is 38 minutes long. All content is digital.
DVD ONLY. RRP: $19.95
Click here to purchase through PayPal |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
COMBO OFFER
|
|
SPECIAL OFFER
Buy both together for $ 44.95,
and Save $ 10.00
Click here to purchase through PayPal |
|
|
|
 |
The Ooty Rack (VHS)
The video was filmed in March 1997 and April 1999, but incorporates four short scenes taken in 1990 on Super-8
film, and professionally transferred to video. Some stills are incorporated, dating back to 1973. Scenes focus
mainly on the rack, including trains ascending and descending. 58 minutes.
VHS ONLY. RRP: $10.00
Click here to purchase through PayPal |
|
|
|
The following thumbnails lead to stills taken directly
from the video. Just click on the thumbnail to see the full picture. The stills have been slightly compressed for
faster loading, with possible minor loss of definition in some cases.
Back to List |
|
