The Mountain railways of India are a UNESCO World Heritage Site (Darjeeling Himalayan Railway, Nilgiri Mountain Railway and the Kalka Shimla Railway). Apart from these we have two other fine narrow gauge railways in the Kangra Valley Railway and the Neral Matheran Tramway. In most countries when UNESCO inscribes a World Heritage Site, the site becomes a major toursit attraction and a money spinner. In fact this is one of the reasons why nations try to get historical or natural sites included in the World Heritage List.
In the case of the Mountain Railways of India this has not happened. The Railways have put in considerable effort in upgrading the lines, designated officers dedicated to ensure good upkeep and maintenance, set up mini-museums on site and given some publicity. The lines, however, continue to lose money. There is of course the handicap that the journey time is much longer on these lines as compared with road. Various options such as privatisation of the lines have been considered.
The question, therefore, is what needs to be done popularise travel on the hill railways and make them finacially viable?