Journey into the past: Kids enjoy fascinating ride at Rail Museum

Being a holiday, there was a steady flow of visitors to the Railway Museum on October 12. With children in tow, many families had made a beeline to the facility. Even before they neared the entrance, the children were squealing in delight and anticipation. They are excited by the live exhibit of a steam locomotive, and  the ticket counter which is designed like a railway coach. 

As you walk in, freshly painted murals on the walls welcome you to the new galleries – rail heritage and arts. Inaugurated on October 2 by danseuse Padma Subrahmanyam, it chronicles the milestones of ICF, visits by dignitaries to the factory and narrates the origin, growth and development of the Indian Railways through more than 500 photographs. 

In the heritage gallery, while parents had a close look at the photos, children enjoyed themselves by sitting on the vintage, first class seats, station 

benches (made of teak wood with cast iron frame) and climbing in and out of the prototype of the Kolkata Metro Motor coach. “Look at the large panoramic windows. You can have a wonderful view through it and wish our landscape was still picturesque instead of being a concrete jungle,” said a parent. A few little ones, like Surenkumar, student of Velammal Vidyashram, Surapet, wanted to be caught on camera by sitting in the prototype coach of Mumbai rail that was on display at the gallery. “I am bowled over by this coach,” he beamed.     

The photos on the panels are priceless record of dignitaries who visited ICF. One panel was of Denmark’s Prime Minister, Viggo Kampmann in 1962; another was of Archbishop Makarios, President of Cyprus in 1962. The visits of Queen Elizabeth in 1961 and Australian Parliamentary delegation 

in 1978 are also on display. Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru inspecting some of the models in ICF in the 1950s is another highlight. A panel on a Swiss technical team inspecting the construction of the ICF factory in the 1950s also stands out. Also on display are models of some coaches that were exported to Sri Lanka, Uganda and Angola. Balaguruvaiya, Senior Section Engineer, Chennai Rail Museum said, “We used to export coaches even till 2008 to some of these countries as they did not have manufacturing units. We no longer take export orders.” The Rail Technical gallery on the first-floor houses numerous exhibits such as parts of different kinds of engines, bogies, bogie parts and coaches. “One can learn a lot of technical aspects from the exhibits. ITI, B. Tech and M. Tech students regularly come to visit this gallery,” says Balaguruvaiya.

Children watched a 30-minute film on social responsibilities and initiation, and thoroughly enjoyed the cartoon show about engines. 

The indoor gallery has a working scale model of trains in addition to a number of other artefacts relating to the colonial era. Indigenous models of Shatabdhi, Rajdhani, Kolkata Metro coaches and Jan Shakthi are also displayed here. There is also an ART (Accident Relief Train). 

Exhibits of different train coaches 

kept in the open ground is another star attraction at the museum. “I learnt a lot about different kinds of trains that have been in existence for more than a century.  I am glad I came here,” said Divya Darshini, a Class 5 student.  

“More engaging was the toy train ride which covered the history of Southern India as it chugged on its tracks, till it stopped at a small railway station. My children learnt about trains that run on different kinds of tracks in different kinds of terrain. I am really glad that I brought them here for the holiday,” said Shivapriya, mother of two. 

Apart from the displays, the museum also has three play areas for children and of course, a food court. If this museum can set the pulse racing of train buffs, there is no doubt it is emerging as a popular weekend destination for the little ones in Chennai.