Rail Museum to shut for 3-month renovation

One of the oldest Rail Museums of the nation in Mysuru, run by the Mysuru division of South Western Railways is being revamped in order to promote tourism and to preserve a significant part of the history of Indian Railways.

The Rail Museum, on Krishnaraja Sagar (KRS) Road, in front of CFTRI main gate, was established in the year 1979. The museum would get a facelift. It will be upgraded at an approximate cost of Rs 4 crore. Thus, it will be closed for three months, to undertake development works.

According to sources in the department, the railways would carry out the works like construction of pathway, landscaping, renovation of Sri-Ranga pavilion, construction of cafeteria, and beautification of the entrance. An audio-visual centre and a children’s play park would be part of the development.

The Rail Museum has a rare collection of ancient steam locomotives, carriages, special purpose vehicles, wagons, telecommunication equipment and several things related to the railway operations, dating back to over a century.

The Railway Museum’s prized possessions are a collection of the first generation steam locomotives and carriages that belongs to the erstwhile Wadiyar kings of Mysore. The coaches used by them are the main attractions of the museum. There is a collection of photographs, paintings, signalling sings, old lights, machines used for ticketing and other things, which depict the journey of the railways in the country. The mini toy train, operated with batteries, is also a main attraction in the museum.

Speaking to DH, Mysuru Divisional Manager Aparna Garg said, “We have started the work on Sri Ranga pavilion and we want to finish it before the onset of the monsoon.

“We will replace the tracks, for the proper functioning of the toy train. They would come up with a small cafeteria, toilet facilities and audiovisual centre, facilitating the audience to listen to the history of the railways. The exhibits of the colonial, pre-colonial, pre-independence and post-independence eras will be displayed in a systematic fashion.”

The Rail Museum, set up at Mysore in 1979 by the Indian Railways, is the second such one after the National Railway Museum in New Delhi. It has a footfall of around 300 to 400 visitors per day.