The heritage train, which left Mettupalayam in the district at 7.10 am, stopped some half a km from Coonoor, its destination, as its piston rod got stuck, railway officials said.
The 173 passengers on board were stranded due to the problem, they said.
A majority of the passengers walked towards the Coonoor railway station, they said, adding, efforts were on to bring the train to Coonoor by pulling it with another engine.