REGIONAL RAIL MUSEUM, HOWRAH
The Regional Rail Museum at Howrah, among the first Railway Museums of its kind in India, was set up on the banks of the river Hooghly on 7th of April, 2006.
Its foundation stone was laid on 1st of September, 2005 and the museum infrastructure was developed and commissioned within a record time of seven months only.
The museum highlights the unique history and heritage of railway in the eastern part of the country. It showcases the rich heritage of Eastern Railway (erstwhile East Indian Railway), the iconic Howrah Railway Station as well as other Zonal Railways of Eastern India.
Also displayed are pictorial histories of erstwhile East Indian Railway and current zonal railways like Eastern Railway, East Central Railway, East Coast Railway, South Eastern Railway, North Frontier Railway as well as historical workshops like Chittaranjan Locomotive Workshop, Jamalpur Workshop, Kanchrapara Workshop and Metro Railway, Kolkata.
Century old drawings, forms, documents and philately collections, 150 year old steam locomotives, carriages, saloon cars, coaches etc. are major crowd pullers.
Century old drawings, forms, documents and philately collections, 150 year old steam locomotives, carriages, saloon cars, coaches etc. are major crowd pullers. With a toy train chugging around the extensive verdant grounds of the museum, children with their families can enjoy a memorable ride for a nominal fare. For gastronomic journeys down memory lane, old coaches had been converted into restaurant and dining cars.
The four and a half acres of the Rail Museum complex have been beautifully landscaped as a park with flowers, hedges and well decorated fountains. The museum aims to live up to its motto – ‘LEARN WHILE YOU HAVE FUN”.
Eastern Railway, which was earlier known as East Indian Railway, is one of the oldest railway systems in India. Set up in 1854, Eastern Railway has a rich history of 160 years of serving the nation. An attempt has been made to preserve and showcase this rich heritage through the Regional Rail Museum, Howrah
Regional Rail Museum also hosts several events, especially with school children such as rail thematic quizzes, debates and cultural programmes to encourage youngsters to appreciate the Indian Railways. Rail Enthusiasts' Society has been participating in many such events.
Text and Photos: SANJOY MOOKERJEE