Mumbai businessman Sir Adamjee Peerbhoy began construction of a narrow-gauge railway connecting Neral with the hill station of Matheran. The 21-km line cost about Rs 16 lakh and was built along steep terrain without aerial surveys or modern construction machinery. Workers broke through the hills by hand to create the railway’s gradient, and the line was completed in three years.Peerbhoy had visited Matheran on horseback and wanted to make the hill station accessible to Indians who could not afford or use the traditional modes of reaching it. At the time, some visitors travelled up the hill by palanquin.In 1901, Peerbhoy wrote to the Secretary of State in India proposing a railway to Matheran. The British government initially warned that the project would not succeed, but permission was eventually granted. The railway line was planned as a two-foot narrow-gauge line between Neral, at the foot of the hills, and Matheran. Construction began in 1904, with Peerbhoy’s son Abdul Hussain involved in planning and overseeing the project. The line opened for traffic in 1907.
Workers cut through the hills by hand
Building the railway line presented a major engineering challenge. There were no JCBs or aerial surveys available for the project, and communications and transport facilities in the hilly area were limited. According to the Peerbhoy family, workers broke the hill by hand to create the required gradient for the railway line. Despite the difficult terrain, construction was completed within three years after work began in 1904. The completed railway line stretched for about 21 km and climbed from Neral to Matheran through the Sahyadri hills. The route included numerous curves and steep sections.
Four engines came from Germany
Peerbhoy travelled to Germany to purchase locomotives for the new railway line. Four narrow-gauge steam engines were acquired from German manufacturer Orenstein & Koppel and numbered 738, 739, 740 and 741. Engine 738 hauled the first train to Matheran. The four locomotives remained in service for decades, operating on the railway from 1907 until 1982. Two of the original engines are now preserved at Neral and Matheran, while another is at the National Railway Museum in Delhi and the fourth is in the UK.
Built for more than tourism
The railway line was intended to make Matheran easier to reach for Indian travellers, but the early tourist traffic was limited because the hill station had few accommodation facilities. Peerbhoy subsequently built inns and hotels to encourage visitors to stay in Matheran. He eventually built 105 inns and hotels in the hill station. He also established a community cemetery and helped set up the local civic council.
The toy train still runs on the historic route
The Neral-Matheran railway became known for its small steam locomotives and narrow track. The line has faced disruptions over the years, including a major suspension after derailments and damage during heavy rains, but sections have continued to operate as a heritage railway. The railway line remains about 21 km long and connects Neral with Matheran, where motor vehicles are not permitted beyond the designated entry point. The project that began in 1904 with a Rs 16-lakh investment and hand-cut construction through the hills became one of India’s historic mountain railways.
Neral-Matheran train services to remain suspended till October 15
Regular passenger services on the Neral-Aman Lodge section of the Neral-Matheran railway line will remain suspended from June 15 to October 15, 2026, due to safety concerns during the monsoon and heavy rains. Train services on the Aman Lodge-Matheran section will continue to operate during the monsoon period. The services will run between Aman Lodge and Matheran according to the prescribed timetable. The trains will operate with a six-coach rake comprising three second-class coaches, one first-class coach and two SLR/LR coaches.