After the overnight from Chennai (Ying took the sleeplessness hit for the team), we battled through the melee and got 4 seats on the Ooty Toy Train
It took virtually 5hrs to negotiate the 46km uphill to Ooty mostly powered by the diesel steam cog train
The train stopped every 5km or so to take on water, allow people to let off water(!) if they were brave, and sometimes buy/eat food
The terrain was precipitous at times and the bridges daunting
Finally arrived in Ooty and had a welcome caffeine hit and food before heading off to our remote but excellent Homestay outside Ooty in a tea plantation valley
First rain (and thunderstorm) of our time here, so stayed in and had wonderful pakora and chai