It’s astonishing to travel by Toy train from Neral to Matheran a hill station in Raigad district in Maharashtra (India). Toy Trains journey takes around 281 thriller zigzag turns (ghat) from Neral to Matheran hill top.
The Matheran Railway is a small line of 2 ft. gauge constructed in the year 1907 and being rewarded World Heritage in by UNESCO. It’s mode of transport to reach the plateau top in the near vicinity of the city of Mumbai.
This railway is known as matheran toy train. Later the special Toy Train has honored by the name “PhulRani”Neral - Matheran - A hill station at an altitude of 800 meters (average height of 2500 feet above sea level), Matheran is 110 km. away from Mumbai on Mumbai-Pune rail route.
A narrow gauge toy train from Neral (87 km. from Mumbai) meanders up the mountain, treating the tourists to a breathtaking view.
Mr. Hugh Poyntz Malet,
the then Collector of Thane, discovered Matheran (meaning "forest on the top") in May 1850. Lord Elphinstone, the then Governor of Mumbai laid foundations of the future development of Matheran as a hill station. This 2-foot narrow gauge hill railway, connecting Neral was opened to traffic in 1907.This hill railway was built by Sir Adamjee Peerbhoy, who formed a limited company with an authorised capital of ten lakh rupees divided into 2000 shares. The railway is 20 km. (12.6 miles) long and has a gauge of two feet with a ruling gradient of 1 in 20. The track zig zags up the side of the hill, bringing into view the full beauty of the Matheran Hill station. There are four pairs of train running between Neral and Matheran. However, during monsoon i.e. June to September, only one pair of train is run to open timings.