Mani's heritage corner (Part II)

The National Rail Museum in New Delhi has been described as the ‘only place in India where trains take you back in time.’ At another place, an advertisement appearing in a magazine has described it as a place that offers the visitor 'entertainment, education, history, nostalgia, romance . . . all-in-one, all at one place', and prompts him to ‘experience the joy of heritage’
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Royston Ellis, the famed British travel writer and author of India by Rail had been there many years ago, and spoke of the museum in these words: “For those fascinated by the sight of old locomotives, the museum is delightful. When I was there off-season in July it looked a bit neglected with bored attendants and overgrown gardens but nothing could detract from the majesty of the engines on view” (India by Rail, Royston Ellis; Bradt Publications, UK, p. 124).
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The museum is spread over a 10-acre space where dozens of heritage locomotives and carriages painted brilliantly in their original livery stand on tracks, each proudly whispering secrets of its own past while it served on India’s vast railway network during the days of the Raj.
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It would be pointless to indulge here in a full catalogue of description. Besides over 100 life-size exhibits, princely saloons and steam locomotives the museum has an indoor gallery containing such rare articles as a railway Time Table dating back to 1854, and Lord Dalhousie’s original letter to the British Government to open a rail network in India. A recent addition to the museum is a library containing over 8000 old books and records making archival material available to the student of rail history.
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The pictures which appear here have been kindly provided by Abhimanyu Shaunik. With the exception of brief details at a few places we have refrained from giving a full description of each locomotive, the idea underlying this being that where there is a genuine and deep rooted interest in railway heritage, the absence of supporting technical details offers no great impediment to the enjoyment of the pictorial matter presented. Stand gazing in wonder and amazement at a North Western Railway locomotive, or again, study the crisp detail in a Niligiri Mountain Railway engine . . . this gallery of colourful pictures is a feast to the eye and should urge you on to visit the National Rail Museum yourself !

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National Rail Museum
Shantipath
Chanakyapuri
New Delhi - 110021

Mani's heritage corner (Part III)

Here are some more pictures of the National Rail Museum, New Delhi.
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Pictures Courtesy of Abhimanyu Shaunik.

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A letter from a legendary railwayman

My association with Shri K R Vaidyanathan dates back to 1973 when I first came across his article, reproduced on this site, titled “The Chuk Chuk Men”. Beginning his career in 1947 as a Signaller, Vaidyanathan went on to join the Railway Training School in Bina as Instructor, and later rose to become a Senior Commercial Officer of the Indian Railway Traffic Service.

Last year I casually wrote to Mr. Vaidyanathan telling him about my adventures in railway stations and yards, and asked him if he would explain to me the working of a passenger train yard in earlier times. My questions were specific – I wanted to know the precise procedures involved in dealing with a train once it has arrived on the platform at the destination. Vaidyanathan’s reply did come, but proved to be a bit disappointing – he didn’t provide a clear cut picture of how it is all done. Here is the transcript of his reply:

April 6, 2009

Dear Shri Bhalerao,

Your letter was a pleasant surprise coming as it did after a long interval.

In a recent Bhavan’s Journal issue I came across a rare piece of news with a nice illustration. I take this opportunity to enclose that cutting which may amuse you and educate you on railway matters.

As regards your query regarding parking of spare coaches in a yard, on-duty ASM, or AYM (Asst. Yard Master who are employed in big yards like VT) decide, depending on the capacity of the yard, i.e., number of sidings which are occupied/vacant, etc. There is no set rule – it all depends on the exigencies which are always there in railway operation.

About your second query, it is imperative that any train which arrives on a busy platform, the rake should be removed as soon as the passengers are detrained and parcels/luggage are unloaded. Then only the line becomes available for another train to be received there. This means perfect coordination between ASM/Shunting Master and other yard staff on one hand, and concerned cabin staff who actually set the points for the track and gives signals for the movement of the rake. Over a period these operations become routine for station staff, but in railway operation there are always exigencies which the on-the-spot staff resolve.

I hope this is of help.

With kind regards,
Yours sincerely,

K. R. Vaidyanathan

Mani's heritage corner (Part IV)

And here are some more fascinating pictures of the National Rail Museum, New Delhi, from Abhimanyu Shaunik's collection. Note the Hand Operated Crane which appears in the fourth picture.