Viceroy Special by JF Tours

A TALE OF

LIVING HISTORY

A CONNECTION BETWEEN UNSEEN PLACES 1978 marks a year of birth and becoming for JF Tours and Travels. It marks the beginning of a history of professionalism in the world of travel. It marks the moment of vision in planning and creating cutting edge opportunities to experience a country and its people. It marks wheels a-turning on a journey of commitment to clients the world over. It marks the creation of connections between people, unseen places of untapped secrets.

Experience, in the soul and business of travel, is a well-crafted art at JF Tours; it is a legacy that is passed through an organisational structure that is tuned into the needs of the most diverse traveller. With almost four decades of working as a limited liabilities company incorporated in Sri Lanka and licensed by the Ceylon Tourist Board as an inbound tour operator, JF tours has fine-tuned the practice of truly listening to a myriad of needs, and can thus boast of being able to create a personalised experience in travel for absolutely anyone.

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THE MAGIC OF A WELCOMING SMILE Sri Lanka - as you may have heard - is the country of a million smiles. So is the service we offer. We extend ourselves to fulfilling every possible need in the context of general tourism and travel-related business, starting with tour planning and reservation services. From exploring culture to nature, from relaxing beach holidays to wellness retreats, from pursuits in adrenaline-pumping adventure to safari and wildlife thrills, we understand that every traveller has different needs and desires, and thus are equipped to create individualised travel itineraries, handle hotel reservation, booking guides and all related activities. To support a journey in uninterrupted, hassle-free tranquillity, we also offer vehicle-hiring services that come with experienced chauffeur guides, designed for leisure and luxury. Our forte, and edge in the world of travel, is our passion for railway experiences, which has inspired specially designed Rail Tours that is the absolutely unique travel experience offered only through JF Tours.

A part of our legacy is having pioneered the exclusive heritage train: the “Viceroy Special.” The Viceroy is the only vintage luxury steam train in the country; one that has delighted thousands of steam enthusiasts and many a happy traveller from various parts of the world over the years. The train journey to hill country of Sri Lanka is rated as one of the world’s most picturesque train journeys, which begins at an elevation of 14ft from sea level in Colombo and reaches 6224ft closer to Nuwara Eliya. And, in the luxurious Viceroy, this already spectacular journey becomes a voyage of stunning indulgence.

Whilst handling special interest groups, professionals and incentive groups we also concentrate on up-market travellers from the countries such as UK, Germany, France, and Italy, and are also responsible for providing travel arrangements for most of the visiting naval vessels from countries world wide which include aircraft carriers. We are also well equipped with a large fleet of comprehensively insured vehicles ranging from saloon cars to 4WD luxury jeeps, along with an excellent team of well experienced, knowledgeable English speaking chauffeur guides.

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At JF Tours, to host is both a pleasure and a privilege; our work ethic is founded on service that does not compromise on quality. We offer the flexibility and enjoyment of independent travel, with a personalized touch, irrespective of whether you are the one-off traveller or a diverse group. Approach us as a group, and you would feel as though the journey was designed just for you. To travel with us, is to journey into serendipity.

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AT THE HEART OF SERENDIPITY Historically, Sri Lanka has been for travellers a place or rest, a place of discovery, a place of serendipitous journeys. The island is known for her ability to capture the imagination of writers and philosophers, and hold in a spell those who wandered into her magical landscapes and rich cultural heritage. In modern times, the country hasn’t lost her allure, drawing also the hip and trendy into her charm.

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At 65,610 sq.km, Sri Lanka is a small, but tantalising tour destination packed with the absolute best of so many worlds: sun-bronzed beaches, brilliant green paddy fields, ancient cities, small lively rural dwellings, urbane cityscapes, wild life in tropical jungles and hill country tea plantation within hours of each other are just some of the country’s main attractions. In the sphere of bio diversity, Sri Lanka has always been the focus of attention.

The World Heritage Committee of UNESCO quite recently identified three hot spots in the Central Highlands, 2500 meters above sea level, as World Heritage Sites owing to an extra ordinary range of flora and fauna and several endangered specifies. Sri Lanka is now enriched with a total of ten such astounding sites.

Traveller’s tales of yore have it that the ancient traveller who chanced upon the island, called her Serendib (the ancient Arabic, Urdu and Persian name for Sri Lanka) – the land stumbled upon by fortunate chance. Despite the passing of time, this joy of discovering Sri Lanka has not changed.

Modernity has only heightened the experience. And, with JF Tours creating, designing and supporting your travel, not a single aspect of the sights and experiences that will bring you great joy will be left to chance. (Unless of course it’s a carefully planned island surprise!)

Enjoy the island in her era of peace, and let us give you the best possible experience of the place they call paradise.

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IT’S ALL IN THE JOURNEY, AND THE PEOPLE YOU MEET ALONG THE WAY. . .

The time will come when people will travel in stages moved by steam engines from one city to another, almost as fast as birds can fly, 15 or 20 miles an hour.... A carriage will start from Washington in the morning, the passengers will breakfast at Baltimore, dine at Philadelphia, and sup in New York the same day.... Engines will drive boats 10 or 12 miles an hour, and there will be hundreds of steamers running on the Mississippi, as predicted years ago. - Oliver Evans In the 1800, Oliver Evans is said to have made this historic statement about power, potential and promise of the steam engine. The same year Evans made this statement, he created the earliest successful non-condensing high-pressure stationary steam engine. The steam engine is thus historic. It is also a legacy. And each time you step into a steam engine, you step into this history, this legacy. It’s a nostalgic train ride back in time.

With its vintage luxury steam train fleet, JF Tours extends this international and Sri Lankan rail travel history, drawing on all the romance and charm of the train travel nostalgia bringing it in conversation with the technological advancement and indulgent luxury of the contemporary. This is an essential part of the JF Tours travel experience that is defined by exclusivity and a legacy in train travel.

“I always preferred to occupy a desk by the side of the large window of the classroom, facing the huge banyan tree in one corner of the playground bordering the narrow gauge Kelani Valley (KV) railway line. It was for nothing else but obtaining the maximum opportunities for viewing “the baby trains” chugging between Baseline Road and Cotta Road railway stations. (…) I liked the trains and the railway track so much that whenever there was a little free time during school hours, I always spent it under the shade of the banyan tree identifying the number plates of both steam and diesel locomotives and thoroughly enjoying the smell of burning coal, and the rhythm and noise of moving trains.” (Hemasiri Fernando in “The Viceroy Special”)

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JF Tours is, in many ways, the story of how a childish curiosity in a young boy grew into one man’s lifelong commitment and passion. When he wrote his book on the memory and experience of bringing the Viceroy Special to life, Hemasiri Fernando’s closing chapter is set on that memorable day when the Viceroy Special gets off the ground: the 2nd of February, 1986 at 6.30 in the morning. His concluding line in the book is: “A new era of the preserved steam train in Sri Lanka was just beginning!” These words are tinged with the passion and marvel he had always had for trains. When you come aboard the Viceroy Special Vintage Train, you step into this story, this memory, and this passion for train travel as a way of life.

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FULL STEAM AHEAD! I like trains. I like their rhythm, and I like the freedom of being suspended between two places, all anxieties of purpose taken care of: for this moment I know where I am going. (Anna Funder) Trains tap deep into our collective memory; we all remember the child in us excited by bursts of steam, chug-chugging rhythms, breath-taking views, whistles and tunnels. In our memory we never really leave behind the joys of train travel. Step on a train and you commit to a journey in motion that promises you an experience in the thrills of living somewhere between the nostalgic past and the buzzing present.

The Viceroy Special is a colonial memento, which offers two beautifully rebuilt compartments, each carrying a maximum of 32 passengers who are accommodated in luxury and style. The use of traditional furnishings and period dècor ensure an atmosphere of elegance and grandeur of bygone era.

There isn’t a train I wouldn’t take. No matter where it’s going.

(Edna St. Vincent Millay)

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The only compromise in style is the modern but necessary convenience of air conditioning in the compartments. This heritage train is the only steam hauled train still in operation in Sri Lanka, pioneered and managed by J.F. Tours & Travels (Ceylon) Ltd since 1986. The Viceroy Special can be hauled by the fleet of steam engines that are now in operation, making the Viceroy journey a historical monument, a museum experience and an experience in time travel. For the history buff and the rail enthusiast, here are some of the details of the different engines that are in operation to choose from.

The Viceroy is an unmatched way to see the country, considered by many to be a trip of a lifetime. Unlike modern trains, it travels at a leisurely pace and can be stopped to allow passengers to photograph the passing locales of surpassing beauty. Relax in one of the wood-panelled compartments, play a game of chess or backgammon, listen to soothing music of your choice. You really can inhabit this life, even if time is limited. Enjoy the possibility of life at a different pace aboard the Viceroy Special. There isn’t a more pleasurable way to experience the diverse and breath-taking landscape of Sri Lanka.

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THE VICEROY SPECIAL A JOURNEY IN DISTINCTION The Viceroy Special, the JF Tours vintage steam train, is the only one currently in operation in Sri Lanka. Complete with period fittings, a bar and smoking area, dining and recreation area, plush seating with an observation cabin, on board music and Wi-Fi, and four course menus, The Viceroy is an experience in luxury train travel. The train is run on a charter basis and runs to any rail destination in the island. The hill country ride in Sri Lanka, which is considered to be one of the most picturesque train journeys in the world, will be a journey best experienced on the Viceroy Special.

Passengers in Ac carriages: 64 Non-Ac restaurant car: 24 Availability of Wi-Fi, bar services, onboard dining facility and public announcement facility

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VICEROY II AN ODYSSEY IN LUXURY REDEFINED This dual-purpose luxury carriage is designed to increase the seating capacity of the Viceroy Special to accommodate larger groups, as well as to be attached to the public service trains for the benefit of individual passengers and smaller groups in a more affordable way. The carriage has been refurbished in period style to reconnect with an old-world charm that is in the style of the authentic Viceroy Special, which is operational on charter basis. This air-conditioned carriage has 24 comfortable reclining seats with tables, fine dining, bar, high-end sound system and WIFI facilities.

Passengers in Ac carriage: 24 Availability of Wi-Fi, bar services onboard dining facility and public announcement facility

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THE HITACHI TRAIN A TRAIN FOR LARGER CAPACITIES Built in 1970 in Japan, this train is a train that can accommodate a larger group. The Hitachi train has five air-conditioned observation saloons furnished in modern style, with 100 plush reclining seats and individual adjustable tables. The train also boasts a spacious cafeteria complete with tables and 30 chairs. There is also a Public Address system available in case it is required. Each saloon has an adjoining lounge and a modern toilet. In addition to larger tour groups, this train is ideal for a company outing and special events such as on-board business meetings. It can also be used for groups of school children for educational purposes. This train can reach any railway bound destination, including Jaffna, but is currently limited to Rumbukkana on the up country main line due to technical reasons. No one ever said that luxury was meant to be enjoyed only by a select few.

Debunk that myth with a ride on the Hitachi Train.

Passengers in Ac carriages: 100 Passengers in Ac restaurant car: 30 Availability of TV, music and Public announcement facility onboard There’s something about the sound of a train that’s very romantic and nostalgic and hopeful. - Paul Simon -

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T1 RAIL CAR AN INTIMATE RAIL EXPERIENCE As the pioneer of The Viceroy Special, and the forerunner in designing spectacular train travel opportunities with expertise and creativity, JF Tours is always passionate about rail travel, and finds ways of keeping this rail history alive. We have embarked upon another venture in the form of the T1 railcar (Diesel Deluxe), manufactured by the English Electric Co. UK, and designed to offer a railway travel of a different kind. The rustic railcar, which was in passenger service between 1947 and 1970, is now beautifully restored – and offers not just the joy of the train journey in luxury (which is the JF Tours hallmark), but also the experience of intimacy that comes with being with the right people in this perfect, cosy atmosphere.

With a capacity for up to 32 passengers, we offer the booking of an entire railcar which is also more cost effective than using a longer train. It facilitates not only travel to destinations, but also the hosting of special family occasions and corporate functions.

Passengers in Ac carriage: 32 Availability of Wi-Fi & onboard dining facility

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Everyone wants a travel experience that feels like it was made just for them.

At JF Tours, we make ourselves available to you, to support you to do just that. Our knowledge and experience of working within the Sri Lankan rail networks positions us as uniquely situated to offer you a range of possibilities, with the assurance of quality, diversity and dynamism.

The Sri Lankan rail network, conceived of in the 1850s, was initially constructed to transport coffee and tea from the hill regions to Colombo.

The rail service began in 1864, with the building of the Main Line from Colombo to Ambepussa. By the 1960s, passenger traffic overtook freight, and the railway is now primarily engaged in the transport of passengers over ten key rail lines – i.e., the Main Line, Coastal Line, Puttlam Line, Kelani Valley Line, Matale Line, Nothern Line, Mannar Line, Batticaloa Line, Trincomalee Line and Mihintale Line. Currently, the railway moves up to 300,000 passengers daily on 324 trains between 320 stations across the country. At a peak of 1,900 metres (6,200 ft.), Sri Lanka has the highest broad gauge railway in the world.

Each of these lines, are not simply about transport, they are an integral part of the country’s landscape, history and cultural life. Each line opens up a possibility to imagine anew; to create your own holiday-on-wheels where travel is the adventure, and not simply a means to an end. Each line also offer you something specific by way of experience, allowing you to define and navigate a voyage that is truly your own. Make it happen with choosing just the right rail journey from the range of round tours and excursions that we offer.

You steer the engine, and JF Tours simply supports and guides in the process of perfection.

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Kankasanturai 8h

Jaffna 7h

Talai-Mannar 6h

Meadawachchi Junction

Triconmalee

7h

Perinagavillu 3h 6h

Galoya Junction

Maho Junction Matale 3h 30min

Rambukkana 1h 30min

Katunayake Airport

Batticaloa 8h

3h 30min

Kandy

2h

Ragama

Nanuoya

Colombo-Fort

6h

Badulla 8h 30min

Kataragama

2h

Avissawella Galle 3h

Matara 4h Times indicated are applicable for diesel hauled train trips only.

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Main Line On 1864 December 27th, the first ceremonial train ran to Ambepusse & the passenger services began on 2nd October 1865. The line starts in Colombo and climbs up from the lowlands into the mountains up to Badulla - A length of 292kms. Out of all rail routes of the island, mainline is the most spectacular and runs through beautiful country side with breathtaking scenery, high mountains, 44 tunnels , countless bridges and tea plantations besides cascading waterfalls and scented air.

Important sites en route: Pinnawala Elephant orphanage, Highway museum complex, Temple of sacred tooth relic in Kandy, Buddhist Museum, Kandy National Museum & Royal Palace in Kandy, Lankathilaka, Gadaladeniya & Embekke temples Peradeniya & Hakgala Botanical Gardens, Commonwealth war cemetery and Garrison Cemetery, Tea museums, plantations & tea factories, Victoria & Nuwara Eliya Golf courses, Worlds end, Horton Plains, Ella, Demodara loop & Nine arch bridge and Adams Peak.

Northern Line Built in 1902, the Northern line stretches across diverse landscapes and the breathtaking splendor of the country up to Kankesanthurai. It runs through major cities such as Kurunegala, Anuradhapura, Medawachchiya, Vavuniya & Jaffna. Length of 413 kms.

Important sites en route: Nallur Kandaswamy Hindu Temple of Jaffna, Nagadeepa Purana Raja Maha, Viharaya, Kadurugoda Temple, Shree Nagapooshani Amman Hindu Temple, The Miracle Springs of Keerimalai, Bottomless Well of Nilavarai, Casuarina Beach, Jaffna Fort and Fort Hammenhiel.

Mannar Line Opened in 1914, the Mannar Line straddles the dry zone and so offers a completely different sense of geography. This line branches Westward from Medawachchiya and continues on to the Thalaimannar Island Pier - Length of 98 kms from Medawachchiya Junction.

Important sites en route: Madhu Church, Baobab Tree and Thirukketeeswaram Kovil.

Batticaloa Line Opened in 1928, the Batticaloa line branches off Eastward from Nothern Line at Maho and Gal-Oya, a length of 350kms from Colombo. This line is opened in 1928 as a light railway and in 1950s the route was upgraded to match the rest of the rail system.

Important sites en route: Batticaloa Lighthouse and the Old Dutch Fort.

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Trincomalee Line Opened in 1972, the Trincomalee Line branches off at Gal-Oya on the Batticaloa line and terminates at China Bay - Length of 122kms.

Important sites en route: Trincomalee War Cemetery, Koneswaram Temple, Marble Beach, Fort Federic and Pigeon Island.

Mihintale Line The Mihintale Line is a short branch line which connects Mihintale with Anuradhapura, historical capital of Sri Lanka for over 100 years. The site of historical and spiritual value here is the famous Mihintale Temple to which Thera Mahinda (who brought Buddhism to Sri Lanka) arrived. This Line branches off the Northern Line at Mihintale Junction and runs eastward.

Mihintale Junction and Mihintale are the only stations on this Line.

Puttalam Line Built in 1926, the Puttalam line branches off the mainline at Ragama extending Northward passing Negombo & Chillaw linking busy market towns and fishing villages. Passenger service ends at Noor Nagar just north of Puttalam and beyond that, the tracks are used exclusively by Holcim Cement freight trains.

Length of 163kms.

Important sites en route: Wilpattu National park St. Anne’s Church Thalawila

Coastal Line This was the second railway line to be built in Sri Lanka and so has a history that dates back to the late 1890s. The Coastal Line runs south from Colombo, following the edge of Indian Ocean. It offers passengers delightfully quaint views of tropical beaches and coconut palms; thus truly delivering on the island charm factor. This is a busy major railway line running between Colombo Fort & Matara via Galle – Length of 162 km.

Important sites en route: Old Town of Galle and its Fortifications, Galle Fort Light House, Dutch reformed Church, Beach hot spots: Bentota, Ahungalla, Mirissa, Unawatuna, Hikkaduwa, Jungle beach, Turtle Hatcheries in Kosgoda, Rekawa & Hikkaduwa, The Brief Garden, Madu river Safari, Mulkirigala Rock Monetary ,Weherahena Buddhist temple & Kataluwa temple & Moon stone mines.

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ROUND TOURS For groups of serious rail enthusiasts, or those intrigued by all that Sri Lanka has to offer with the time to experience this magnificence, the Round Tours on offer would be the perfect choice. What better way to experience a country that to travel on board the Viceroy train, supported right through the journey by JF Tours that takes charge of arranging coaches for hotel transfers and sightseeing, in addition to arranging accommodation, guide services and any other related ground services that will take logistics off your mind - and the only thing left for the traveller is to enjoy this journey of discovery.

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EXCURSIONS The excursions on offer, afford the holiday-maker the excitement of the train journey, and still deliver the promise of this beautiful country, while taking into consideration the limits of a short holiday, or a special focus-oriented travel.

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THE HILL COUNTRY ODYSSEY This tour takes you to Nuwara Eliya, the main city of the tea country, which is located at an altitude of 1889m. The passage from Kandy to Nuwara Eliya is considered to be one of the most picturesque train journeys in the world.

Colombo/ Nuwara Eliya One-way Transfer: Approximately 7 hours train ride

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TO THE ‘KINGDOM’ IN THE HILLS This excursion will allow you to travel in the memory of the past; the golden age of rail travels that JF Tours has preserved for you. The heritage city and hill capital has a lot to offer – i.e. history, culture and forested hills.

The Temple of the sacred tooth relic, the beautiful lake that surrounds the city, and the Royal Botanical Garden are a few showpieces of this last stronghold of Sinhala Kings. A stopover at Elephant Orphanage in Pinnawala is also included in the tour.

Colombo / Kandy One-way direct transfer: Approximately 4 hours train ride Optional excursion to Pinnawela Elephant orphanage en-route

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ON GOLDEN BEACHES The Viceroy will take you to the Southern Harbour City of Galle, where the enchanting Dutch Fort (a world heritage site) is located. There are also many other interesting places in the area waiting to be explored. The Colombo to Galle and return Viceroy Special train journey will offer visitors a mile-after-mile view of extending beaches, lagoons and coconut cultivations, in addition to passing views of charming villages full of smiling faces and waving children.

Colombo / Galle One-way Transfer: Approximately 3.5 hour train ride

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SOMETHING SPECIAL Embark on a journey in romance. The Viceroy Special has been a popular venue for wedding parties that travel to the location of honeymoon or the wedding reception due to its unique atmosphere. It can accommodate 64 passengers in two luxurious compartments with dining, a well stocked bar and lively music. This could be a day to remember, not just for a happy couple embarking on a life of their own, but one for everyone who is a part of this special journey.

There’s something about the sound of a train that’s very romantic and nostalgic and hopeful.

- Paul Simon -

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A TALE OF LIVING HISTORY The Running Shed at Dematagoda (in Colombo, Sri Lanka), which was the original home for steam locomotives from its very inception, attended to all operational needs of the day-to-day running of trains. It had 7 broad gauge and 2 narrow gauge rail tracks inside the maintenance shed with a drop-pit for changing loco wheels and axles. (…) Out of all these fascinating engines in the eyes of a railway enthusiast, there was the 100-year-old narrow gauge steam railcar built by “Sentinel Cammell” Co. of UK. It was certainly a masterpiece of old railway technology. (…) As we were leaving the Dematagoda Running Shed, we were both hopeful that sooner or later we would realize the wonderful dream of operating a vintage tourist train hauled by a steam locomotive.

(Hemasiri Fernando in “The Viceroy Special”) JF Tours and Travels is a tale of living history, not just in train travel and the special memories attached to it. But also, in the business of travel and the creation of memories for all those who venture out and place their trust in the hands of not just experts, but also a kind of ‘family’ in a multitude of journeys.

Be a part of this long and special history.

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JFTOURS & TRAVELS (CEY) LTD. No. 189, Bauddhaloka Mawatha, Colombo 04. Sri Lanka.

Tel: +94-11-2587996, 2589402 I Fax: +94-11-2580507 E- mail: inquiries@jftours.com Web: www.jftours.com