Haulage trolley track — Jogindernagar to Winch Camp to Barot Valley.
Discover the Jogindernagar – Barot Tramway , a unique and fascinating tourist destination located in Himachal Pradesh, India near famous tourist destination Bir Billing. Experience a journey back in time as you ride on trolleys that were procured in 1932 for the Shanan Hydroelectric Power Project and are still in operation today.
In 1925, Raja Jogindrasen envisioned a bold project to harness the power of water to generate electricity near the village of Sakrahati. With the help of English engineer Karnel Batty and his team, a tunnel was constructed to bring water from the Uhl river in Barot to Joginder Nagar. A pipeline was laid through the tunnel to the Shanan Power House, where the water was used to generate electricity.
To support the construction of the Power House, trolley lines were built from Shanan to Barot to transport construction materials and machinery. A narrow railway line was also established from Pathankot to Joginder Nagar’s Shanan to bring in heavy machinery imported from Britain. A trolley route was created with the assistance of iron ropes to carry goods from Shanan to Barot.
In 1932, the construction of the Shanan Power House was completed, making Joginder Nagar the only city in Asia with three simultaneous hydroelectric projects. The city’s economy received a boost when the water from the Shanan Power House was used to build a power plant in Bassi in 1970. Joginder Nagar became a popular city both domestically and internationally for its innovative and cost-effective hydroelectric projects.
Nevertheless, the Shanan Power House continues to provide electricity to Punjab and Delhi at a low cost, making it one of the most successful hydroelectric projects in the country.
Haulage trolley track — Jogindernagar to Winch Camp to Barot valley
Haulage trolley details.
These trolleys are a truly unique mode of transportation, with a small cabin at the front that can seat four people and an open space in the back for carrying materials and passengers.
Embark on an exciting journey from Jogindar Nagar to Barot, stopping at four stations along the way.
1st Station – Jogindernagar
2nd station – Winch Camp
3rd station – Headgear
4th Station – Barot
The trolleys are attached to a metal rope that is not powered by an any electric motor, its running on the principle of pully and are moved up and down the railway line. The journey is controlled by a driver who has a copper stick that he uses to ring a bell in the control room, which stops or starts the tram trolly.
At the second station, riders must switch to another trolley and continue to Winch Camp, located at the top of a hill at 9,000 ft. From there, they must walk 2 km to reach the third station, Head Gear. This strech is flat rail leveled route which earlier trolly pulled by human to reach Headgear, now this route rails is broken at few points. The stretch between Head Gear and Kaphyadu has a slope of 75 degrees and is called Khoonee Ghatee.
This journey is not only unique and interesting but also offers breathtaking views of the jungle and steep climbs along the way.
Alternate route which is best workable these days for trekkers.
1. Reach – Barot
2. Barot to Head gear by trolly route (option through village trek as well)
3. Headgear to Winch Camp
4. Winch Camp to Head Gear to Barot
For those seeking a unique and breathtaking adventure, a trek from Barot to Winch Camp is the perfect option. As the trolly service is unreliable, it is best to drive to the starting point of the haulage trolly at Barot valley and then embark on a 3 km trek along the steep, 75 degree elevated rail line until reaching the Headgear. Another option is to take a gentler trek through the village and the Betty House (Government Guest House), which provides a clear path until reaching the Headgear. From there, the trail continues for another 3 km on flat rail line route until arriving at the Winch Camp, which is located at the same elevation as the Headgear. After taking in the breathtaking views and exploring the area, return back along the same route.
Jogindernagar is 12 km from Bir Billing takes 30 min to reach by driving. Barot is 37 km by road from Jogindernagar and takes 2 hrs but by trolly its amazing route and great view from top.
0