The Darjeeling Himalayan Railway
- Episode aired Feb 14, 2010
IMDb RATING
7.4/10
12
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The Darjeeling Himalayan Railway
The first episode of Indian Hill Railways looks at the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway. From the Himalayas in the north to the Nilgiris in the south these little trains have climbed up to over 7000 feet over its 48 miles long track. This is railway line famous around the world and global pressure was applied by railway enthusiasts when it was at risk of closure.
The Darjeeling Himalayan Railway has been operating since 1881 and was declared a World Heritage Site in 1999. It was hoped that this would secure the future of the railway when it was at risk of closure. It previously had severe cutbacks and receives heavy subsidies from the Indian government.
This episode examined the history of the railway line and the people working or affected by the railway line. We see a workshop much reduced in scope trying to rebuild an engine. A worker wanting to take early retirement so he can dedicate his life to Buddhism. A female porter hoping her son will pass the entrance exams to a celebrated college. A lad who hopes to join the Gurkha regiment and get secure employment in an area where regular employment is rare and poverty is still rife.
Although the line is in Bengal state, a new generation of Gurkhas living in the hills want an independent state of Gorkhaland.
The producers of this series have made other shows about Indian railways and have got a nice formula of human interest stories as well as presenting the historical backgrounds and current problems.
The Darjeeling Himalayan Railway has been operating since 1881 and was declared a World Heritage Site in 1999. It was hoped that this would secure the future of the railway when it was at risk of closure. It previously had severe cutbacks and receives heavy subsidies from the Indian government.
This episode examined the history of the railway line and the people working or affected by the railway line. We see a workshop much reduced in scope trying to rebuild an engine. A worker wanting to take early retirement so he can dedicate his life to Buddhism. A female porter hoping her son will pass the entrance exams to a celebrated college. A lad who hopes to join the Gurkha regiment and get secure employment in an area where regular employment is rare and poverty is still rife.
Although the line is in Bengal state, a new generation of Gurkhas living in the hills want an independent state of Gorkhaland.
The producers of this series have made other shows about Indian railways and have got a nice formula of human interest stories as well as presenting the historical backgrounds and current problems.
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- Prismark10
- Mar 3, 2016
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What is the broadcast (satellite or terrestrial TV) release date of The Darjeeling Himalayan Railway (2010) in Australia?
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