Mini wunderland of State on the track

The model will be on the lines of Hamburg’s Miniature Wunderland.

The model will introduce tourists to operation of trains and popular tourist places such as Mysore Palace, St Philomena’s Church, Chamundi Hills, Krishnaraja Sagar Dam, Mysore Zoo and Abbey Falls - all in miniature forms.

Ramji, an industrialist who creates miniature models has come forward to create a model railway layout with special focus on Mysore.

The model will be created on 10 ft X 15 ft space inside the Mysore Heritage Gallery set up by railways at the Mysore Railway Station.

There will be working models of six to seven trains in Mysore, Mandya and Kodagu districts. Although, Kodagu district is not connected by
rail, it is being included in view of its natural beauty.

The miniature model of the historic Mysore Railway Station is ready and works on other models are on. Some of the items are handmade and others are imported. Efforts are being made to customise them to local needs.

Dr Anup Dayanand Sadhu, senior divisional commercial manager, Mysore Division of South Western Railway, told Deccan Herald that there will be miniature models of tunnels, Mysore Palace, KRS Dam, roads, bridges, houses, St Philomena’s Church, Chamundi Hills, loading of iron ore at mines, Abbey Falls, imaginary narrow gauge railway track in Kodagu district passing through beautiful hills and coffee estates, Coorg Railway Station and Sri Chamarajendra Zoological Gardens.  

A miniature model of the Golden Chariot train will also run on the track. Just like real railway stations, there will be models of track, signalling equipment, signal stations, petrol pump, platforms, signal cabins and parking lot.

The miniature train will start from Mysore Railway Station and cover all the places within 10 to 15 minutes. The model is fitted with LED lights so it can be operated even during night.

The working model of a  steam engine (which is presently phased out in most of the railway zones after the introduction of diesel locomotives) will be an added attraction.

Sadhu said the total cost of the project is around Rs 30 lakh and the Karnataka State Tourism Development Corporation, Mineral Enterprises and Karnataka Milk Federation had come forward to sponsor. Once Ramji is ready with the working model, it will be displayed at the Mysore Heritage Gallery.

Dr Sadhu said the working miniature model is expected to be ready by July and then it will be thrown open for tourists.