Nilgiri Mountain Railway (NMR)

• The Nilgiri Mountain Railway (NMR) connects Mettupalayam with the hill station of Udagamandalam (Ootacamund or Ooty) in Tamil Nadu.
• It uses rack and pinion system to climb the steep gradient(1 in 12 steepest in India), the only railway line in India to use this system.
• NMR was opened in 1908 and was operated by the former Madras Railway Company.
• In 2005,UNESCO added the Nilgiri Mountain Railway to the World Heritage Site.
• The 'Nilagiri Passenger' train winds its way up the majestic Nilgiri mountains. It covers a distance of 41.8 km, travels through 208 curves, 16 tunnels, and 250 bridges.
• The uphill journey takes around 5 hours, and the downhill journey takes 215 minutes 3 and a half hours. It has the steepest track in Asia with a maximum gradient of 1 in 12.
• NMR provides spectacular views of the Nilgiri Hills.

Train timings on NMR
Up Direction Mettupalayam – Coonoor -Ooty

Up Direction Mettupalayam – Coonoor -Ooty

• Those who come from North it is convenient to take Nilagiri Exp from Chennai Central (12671 Exp Dep: 2100 hrs) which reaches Mettupalayam at 06.15 hrs. From there catch 56136 Pass to Ooty (dep: 0710 hrs).
• Advance reservation is available for 56136 Pass in second & First Classes.

Holiday Home for Employees

• Holiday homes are available in Ooty(11 rooms for Railway employees, 4 for ICF employees and 2 for Wheel and Axle Plant employees). They are rather well maintained with all facilities.
• Holiday Homes must be booked in advance with DPO/ SA(Salem).
• Officers Rest house are available in Ooty, Lovedale and Conoor.

Retiring Rooms

• Retiring rooms are available in Coonoor, Ooty and Lovedale for those who cant get accommodation in Holiday Homes. No advance reservation is possible for Retiring Rooms.