Anandapur Rail Services Reopens

Tea has been an important export for the Kingdom of Anandapur for centuries, but it wasn't until the early-20th century, when Anandapur Rail Lines initiated a service route through the Forbidden Mountain, that the tea plantations saw their greatest success. The 1922 file photo above documents the arrival of the first train in 1922.

The line closed in the mid-30s, after a series of incidents some attributed to the legendary Yeti, but it has recently been reestablished by a pair of entrepreneurs. Here's the story, as it appeared in The Anandapur Reporter:

FORBIDDEN MOUNTAIN RAILWAY REOPENS

Locals Fear Wrath of Yeti

SERKA ZONG - Despite dire warning from irate local residents, the old Anandapur Rail Services route through Forbidden Mountain was reopened today. Closed since 1934 under mysterious circumstances, the railroad, formerly operated by the Royal Anandapur Tea Co., was refurbished by Himalayan Escapes Tours and Expeditions. The intent, say the operators, is to provide safe, efficient transport to base camp at Mount Everest and environs. Hundreds of western trekkers and climbers are expected to make the journey to Serka Zong to book passage on the new service.

In the heyday of the great tea plantations that flourished in the region, private rail lines were established to carry produce to distant markets. The Royal Anandapur Tea Company used the Forbidden Mountain route extensively in the 1920s and early 1930s. However, beginning in 1933, the railroad was plagued with accidents. Some drew a connection between the mishaps and increasing British expeditionary attempts to reach the summit of Mount Everest, invoking the spirit of the guardian of the sacred mountain. By 1934, continual equipment breakdowns and track breakages caused the tea company to shutter its facilities and pull up stakes. The legend of a sacred beast continued to loom large among locals, coming to a head in 1982 with the tragic disappearance of the Forbidden Mountain Expedition.

However, warnings and naysayers aside, the daring entrepreneurs behind Himalayan Escapes were determined to put on a loud, colorful show to celebrate their achievement. Local government officials in attendance trumpeted the event as a landmark enterprise, marking a new era of prosperity and opportunity for Serka Zong. It is indeed our hope that this is the case.