A mixed feeling of pleasure and sadness swept over me as I stood in the middle of the Rail Museum run by the Eastern Railway in Howrah, West Bengal. In front of me stood railway engines, coaches and wagons that had once seen a lot of action but now stood as mute witnesses on their dead tracks.
A brisk walk from the busy Howrah Railway Station, located across the river to the west of Kolkata, took me to the museum, which required a paltry entry fee. Inaugurated in April 2006, it highlights the history of the Indian Railways operating in the eastern part of the country.
You may start from the Hall of Fame, where slices of history have been presented through display boards, coaches and engines, and models. A photographic display board will take you through the evolution of locomotives, carriages and wagons.
Mostly made in India, the wooden coaches displayed fine workmanship, be it a four-wheeler broad gauge inspection carriage made in the Liluah (West Bengal) workshop in 1911, or a metre gauge inspection carriage made by the Junagarh workshop in 1971.The metre gauge steam locomotive 3403 built by Tata Engineering and Locomotive Company Limited in 1960 had served on the North East Frontier Railway. On display is a B class narrow gauge steam locomotive &ndash likes of which are still serving the UNESCO World Heritage Darjeeling Himalayan Railways &ndash built by the UK-based Atlas Works of Sharp Stewart & Company Limited in 1889.
Located within a sprawling garden, the museum complex is divided into many parts.
A flight of stairs will take you to the base of the tower-like Kirti Stambh whose octagonal shape is representative of the East Indian Railway and seven other railways that served this region. Each wall depicts the crest and a brief history of the regional railways.
Did you know once upon a time there were calling bells in rail coaches to call the attendants
The kiosks scattered within the garden present a medley of interesting historical memorabilia. The kiosk named Vidyut contained electrical items, such as lamps, fans and bells, which made train travel comfortable. To know more about signalling and time-keeping, you have to visit the Doorsanchar kiosk. Virasat is about the various uniforms used by the railway personnel. Smritiyan displays vintage postage stamps as well as old timetables, documents and pamphlets.
The Hall of Heritage, designed like a mini Howrah Station, contains old photographs, displays highlighting historical and anecdotal references, old gadgets, etc. Next to it is the starting point of a toy train that takes visitors on a short circular ride through the complex.
However, to me, the most interesting corner was the open yard where locomotives, wagons and cranes that once served the railways were stationed. Some of them were active until a few years ago while others have been resurrected to life by various railway workshops. There is a narrow gauge steam locomotive BK-13, made by an England-based company in 1917, which was plying on the Katwa-Burdwan and Katwa-Ahmadpur section until 1992. It found a place in the museum after gauge conversion made it redundant. Here you will find the &lsquoIndraprastha&rsquo, said to be Indian Railways&rsquo oldest existing shunting locomotive. The Kanchrapara Workshop donated a covered wagon to the museum. The wagon was built in 1910 by Carriage and Wagon Company Limited, England, for Birmingham Railway. The yellow Goton Steam Crane built in 1923 in England for the Oudh & Rohilkhund Railway shone brightly under the November sun. You will also find here the first Broad Gauge Electric Locomotive built in India &ndash Lokmanya WCM-5 &ndash by Bengal&rsquos Chittaranjan Locomotive Works and dedicated to the nation in 1961. Do not miss the locomotive with the words East Pakistan Railway emblazoned on it in English and Urdu. The broad gauge steam locomotive HPS-32 had was captured during the 1971 war when it had stepped into Indian territory. The presence of these and other locos and machineries make this open yard an interesting browsing ground for any rail fan. You will find other old machineries across the complex.
Although not quite on the popular tourist map of Kolkata, the Rail Museum is worth a visit if you want to know about the evolution of the railways in eastern India.
Getting There The Rail Museum is located on Foreshore Road, just beyond the South-eastern Railway Complex of Howrah Station. The museum is about 10 minutes&rsquo walk from the railway station and the ferry terminal. Otherwise, you may take a cab from anywhere in Kolkata. The Rail Museum remains open from Tuesday to Sunday, 10.30am to 5.30pm. Entry fee &ndash Rs 10 per head. Generally, cell phone photography by tourists is not barred. But do check at the ticket counter. Toy train ride (minimum four people) charges &ndash Rs 10 per head. Toilet and drinking water facilities available. However, the food kiosk has shut down.