The track rises from Kalka at 640 meters to the cool climes of Shimla at 2,060 meters. A journey from Kalka to Shimla is simply out of this world. The toy train winds its way slowly through the hills up to the alpine reaches of the lower Himalayas. At the foothills one gets a breathtaking view of the Kushalya River and the tiny stations on the way-Koti, Barog, Kanoh that are characterized by neat gardens and gabled roofs. The passage through the Koti tunnel makes one hunt for a coat and the chilly air jabs him the moment one hits Jabli, 1,240 meters above sea level.

The other hill section of the North is the Pathankot-Joginder Nagar section which is the rail approach to the beautiful Kangra Valley of Himachal Pradesh. Kangra Valley draws not only tourists and nature lovers, it also has a special attraction for the religiously inclined, as it is the earthy abode of several gods and goddesses. Keeping the traveling comfort of its passengers in mind, a new luxury narrow gauge train 'Kangra Queen' has been introduced on this section.