National Rail Museum Delhi is situated on the Shanti Path in Chanakyapuri, New Delhi. The museum houses some of the rare models of train engines and coaches. The entire collection of the Delhi National Rail Museum, ranging over 150 years of the Indian railways, is exhibited in the open. The inside of the building is used as a storehouse of information on the Indian railways history. Spread over an area of approximately 10 acres, the museum has a special attraction for kids in the form of a toy train that takes them on a tour of the entire museum.
One of the prime attractions of the Rail Transport Museum of New Delhi is the first train that ran in India. A steam engine, it made its journey from Mumbai to Thane for the first time in 1853. The vintage section of the museum consists of the world's oldest locomotive in a working condition, Viceregal Dining Car (1889) and the Prince of Wales Saloon (1875), Maharaja of Mysore's Saloon (1899), Maharaja of Baroda's Saloon (1886) and so on. Last but not the least is the Fairy Queen (1855), said to be the best-preserved steam locomotive engines of its age.
History of National Rail Museum
The Transport Museum was conceptualised in the year 1962. However, it was only in 1970 that the concept took a concrete shape under the advisory of a rail enthusiast called Michael Graham Satow.
The concept starting becoming a reality on 7th October 1971, when the foundation stone was laid by the then President V. V. Giri at the site in Chanakyapuri, New Delhi.
It took about six years to complete the museum and it was finally inaugurated on 1st February 1977 by the then Minister of Railways Kamlapati Tripathi. The museum had a name change later and was called National Rail Museum after that.
How To Reach Rail Museum, Delhi
Delhi is a state well connected through metro and state-run buses. The nearest metro station to Rail Museum is Jor Bagh Metro, situated on the yellow line. The museum is just about 2 kms from the metro; you can either hire a local or a battery run rickshaw. You can also book a taxi cab for a more comfortable journey. Alternatively, you can travel in one of the buses which will be relatively economical.
