The UNESCO-recognized Nilgiri Mountain Railway (NMR) conducted a special service today for foreign tourists.<br />”<br />”71 tourists from several countries, including the USA, the UK and France travelled by a special steam engine service from Coonoor to Ooty.<br />”<br />”They were presented with special mementoes and gift hampers as well as served with the replica of the original Edmonton type cardboard ticket.<br />”<br />”The routine services of the NMR had been cancelled till yesterday because of cascading rocks making the trip totally unsafe.<br />”<br />”The rocks were blasted out of the railway track, using controlled explosion tactics.<br />”<br />”The NMR is one of the few railways in the world that uses the unique rack and pinion system, with its special third rail to negotiate gradients en route from Mettupalayam in the foothills of the Western Ghats in Tamil Nadu to Ooty, the Queen of Western Ghats.<br />”<br />