An Overview

 The National Rail Museum in the capital of the India is one the most great place to visit in India, especially for railway enthusiasts. If the thumping of a steam engine reverberates in your head and you still can't get enough of it. With a toy train taking rounds of the 10 acre wide spread museum, with both indoor and outdoor exhibits, this museum in India has something to offer to visitors of all ages. Among the most popular exhibits are the Fairy Queen, the oldest working steam locomotive and the saloons of various Maharajas of states of India. If the thudding of the tracks is what excites you, don't miss this one.

The National Rail Museum in Chanakyapuri, New Delhi, displays exhibits on the history of rail transport in India. The museum was inaugurated on 1 February 1977, and spans over 10 acres (40,000 m2). It is open every day except Mondays and national holidays. In addition to its vast galleries, the museum features simulations of coaches, diesel, electric and steam engines.

 

History

 The National Rail Museum was first proposed in 1962, under the advisement of rail enthusiast Michael Graham Satow. Construction began in 1970 and on 7 October 1971 the foundation stone was laid at the museum's present site in Chanakyapuri, New Delhi, by the then-President of India V. V. Giri. The museum was inaugurated as the Rail Transport Museum in 1977 by Kamalapati Tripathi, the minister for public transportation.

The National Rail Museum was originally intended to be a part of a larger museum that covered the history of railways, roadways, airways, and waterways in India; however, this never happened and it was officially renamed the National Rail Museum in 1995.

 

Collections

 Patiala State Monorail Trainways: 

This unique steam monorail was built in 1907. The train is based on the Ewing System and connected the town of Bassi with the city of Sirhind-Fatehgarh, approximately 9.7 km (6 mi) apart. This unique train system consists of a single-rail track on which the load-carrying wheel runs, while large iron wheels on either side keep the train upright. The train was built by Orenstein & Koppel of Berlin and ran until October 1927 when the line was closed. The engine and the chief engineer's inspection car remained in the railways' scrapyard where they were discovered by railroad historian Mike Satow in 1962. One of the engines was restored to full working order by the Northern Railway Workshops in Amritsar. The Chief Engineer's private inspection car was also reconstructed on an old underframe. The two are now in working condition and are on display at the museum. 

 

Fairy Queen: 

The world's oldest working steam locomotive in operational service. 

 

Morris Fire Engine: 

The Morris Fire Engine was built by the fire engineers John Morris and Sons Ltd of Salford, Lancashire, in 1914. The only other Morris-Belsize fire-engine known to exist is preserved by the Whitewebbs Museum of Transport, Clay Hill, London. It was converted to use pneumatic tires, while the fire engine at the National Rail Museum runs on solid rubber tires. 

 

Saloon of The Prince of Wales:

This saloon car was built for the Prince of Wales (later King Edward VII) for his visit to India. 

 

Electric locomotive 4502 Sir Leslie Wilson: 

This 1928 WCG-1 locomotive belonged to the Great Indian Peninsular Railway (presently Central Railway). It is one of India's first generation 1,500 V DC electric locomotives, which were known as khakis (English: crabs) since they make a curious moaning sound when at rest, and while in motion the linkage emits an unusual swishing sound. Its unusual features included an articulated body, which made it ideal for use in heavily curved sections of the Ghat mountains. The WCG-1 was in operation as a shunting locomotive until 1994 at Mumbai's Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus. 

Electric locomotive Sir Roger Lumley, Saloon of The Maharaja of Indore, Saloon of The Maharaja of Mysore, Steam Locomotive A-885 HASANG, Steam Locomotive X-37385, WDM2 18040 are other great collections of the National Rail Museum.

                                                             HPS2 Class 4-6-0 No. 24467 Locomotive

 

                                                                                          WP 7200

 

                                                          A Beyer Garratt 6594 Engine at the National Rail Museum

 

                                                                An indoor exhibit at National Rail Museum, New Delhi

 

                                                      

                                                                                 WAG1 20710 Bidhaan

 

                                

                                                                      1:8 Scale toy train at the museum