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Hill Railways of the Indian Subcontinent describes seven branch lines which climbed into the mountain ranges that span the length and breadth of the countries of India and Pakistan.
Some - like the Darjeeling Himalayan - are well known, but others - like the Zhob Valley, Khyber Pass and Kangra Valley lines - are less so. Unsurprisingly, as hill railways, most of them reached remarkable heights, many using ingenious feats of engineering to assist their climb into seemingly impenetrable terrain.
These lines served diverse locations, each with its own characteristics, from the hostile territories of the North-West Frontier, along the spectacular foothills of the Himalayas, skirting the Western Ghats of the Deccan down to the gentle rolling landscape of the Nilgiris, or Blue Hills, of South India.
The book contains the histories of these seven hill railways including summaries of their operations and routes as well as maps and gradient charts for all seven lines. There are listings of the locomotives operating the hill railways.
About the author
Richard Wallace was born in Hawkhurst, Kent in 1951. Moving to Hythe, he worked for East Kent as Traffic Clerk, Conductor and Driver/Conductor. A spell with London Transport intervened, where he worked on London's iconic number 11 route. A managerial career on the railways then followed, working on the Underground, at the Office of the Rail Regulator, Transport for London's London Rail and finally as European Policy Manager for the Association of Train Operating Companies, representing Great Britain train operators in Brussels. Although he retired in 2013, he still works part-time driving coaches. Richard holds a Master's degree in Transport Policy and is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport. He is part-owner of an ex-East Kent AEC Regent V, which he drives regularly at rallies in Kent.
