The Howrah Rail Museum, located in the heart of Howrah adjacent to the iconic Howrah Railway Station, offers a fascinating journey into the legacy and transformation of Indian Railways, particularly the Eastern Railway zone. Established in 2006, the museum is a treasure trove for railway enthusiasts, students, history lovers, and families looking for a blend of education and leisure.
As you step into the museum premises, you’re immediately struck by the well-maintained grounds and the open-air layout that displays several vintage locomotives and carriages. Among the most significant highlights is the full-scale replica of the historic EIR 21, the engine modeled after the first train that ran in India from Bombay to Thane in 1853. It stands as a tribute to the birth of railways in India. Several actual steam and diesel engines, some dating back to the British colonial era, are preserved in good condition. These machines once powered the extensive railway network that shaped the economic and cultural landscape of eastern India.
The museum does an excellent job of blending outdoor exhibits with indoor archival collections. Inside the museum building, visitors will find an extensive array of artifacts—original documents, old railway tickets, time tables, signaling equipment, models of railway stations, vintage communication devices, brass nameplates, and engineer uniforms from different eras. Detailed captions and write-ups offer insights into the functioning and development of the railway system, from steam to electric engines, and from colonial administration to modern Indian Railways.
A particularly impressive feature is the miniature railway models section, which showcases scaled-down versions of locomotives, coaches, and even full railway yards in operation. These are not only visually appealing but also highly educational, as they demonstrate the technical sophistication and organizational structure of the railways.
The museum also offers multimedia presentations and short documentaries that narrate the history of the Indian Railways, focusing on milestones such as the nationalization of the railways, the construction of major routes, and the socio-economic impact of trains on India’s development.
For younger visitors, the museum includes a toy train ride that circles the premises, offering a fun and interactive way to explore the space. The museum complex also includes landscaped gardens, seating areas, and a small refreshment kiosk, making it a pleasant spot for families to relax.
In conclusion, the Howrah Rail Museum is not just a static display of old engines; it is a living narrative of India’s rail heritage. It educates, entertains, and inspires appreciation for a system that continues to connect millions across the country. Whether you’re a railway aficionado or a casual visitor, a trip to this museum is both enlightening and enjoyable. It stands as a proud tribute to the railways’ contribution to India’s history and its journey toward...
Read moreThe Rail Museum is an open-air establishment that was set up in 2006 and is a window into the past to know more about the locomotives built over 100 years ago. The Hall of fame inside the museum gives insights into the history, the engineering and the evolution right from steam engines to diesel to electric railways. The heritage museum has models as well as actual decommissioned trains. One can check out the Garet Roller, ER’s 2-4-2 Steam Locomotive, Double Decker train Passenger coach belonging to the early 20th century, the YG, the WCM5 locomotives and the Passenger Carriage from the 1940s. The museum is a rich source of information about the trains and the history of the train system mainly of Eastern India.
The Howrah Rail Museum covers a vast space of land near Howrah Station. It consists of a huge gate and tracks laid out from the right side of the gate. There are huge sheds built at regular distances to each other which home the magnificent collections of locomotives. These include the electric locomotives, diesel locomotives, as well as the rare to find steam locomotives which are preserved or reconstructed. There is also a miniature model of the Howrah Railway Station created with immense details. There are signals constructed close to the tracks laid across the museum which help us understand their working. The museum is carefully constructed and designed to give the visitors a pleasant and enriching experience.
The Howrah Rail Museum has a very minimal entrance fee at which people can visit. The entry fee for the visitors is INR 30 per person ( for toy train extra inr 30 per person) and children below the age of 3 are can visit free of cost. The museum remains closed on Mondays.
The Howrah Rail Museum is located in Howrah, Kolkata. It has an excellent connection of roads built around it. It can be reached via road through private vehicles as well as public vehicles like buses and taxis. The Howrah Railway Station which has very good rail connections to major parts of the country is located at a walking distance of just 5 minutes from the museum. This makes, visiting via railways, the most convenient option for the people visiting the museum. The closest airport is the Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Airport located 18 KMS away from the museum.
The Rail Museum serves as an important medium to portray the history and evolution of Indian Railways. It has contributed to educating the tourists about the phases that the Indian Railways went through. At the same time, the museum has become an integral part of the...
Read moreThe railway museum is situated beside the Howrah Railway Station Goods Yard and just opposite the Riviera Auditorium. The entry fee is 30 rupees. They have nice exhibition of old railway wagons and engines. Also, there is a toy train ride which gives one round around this museum to show a surrounding view and it costs another 30 rupees. I visited this place on weekdays and it was not much crowded at that time. Also, there is a nicely maintained and decorated garden with varieties of plants inside this museum.Interesting places for kids and railway lovers. This place 8 to 10 minutes walking distance from Howrah Railway junction. Ticket price are cheap only ₹30 per person. Although it was ₹10 few years ago. I hope you can visit this place I know you will love it.The main attraction is TOY train. If possible than ride this toy train and you will enjoy it.
The place was easy to locate and the navigation was accurate. (Walking distance from the Howrah railway station). First up, there is no dedicated parking spot available, so it’s recommended to use the parking spaces opposite the Railway station. The entry fee is low and the place is well maintained overall. The museum is famous for its collection of old locomotive carriages and artifacts of Eastern railway services from the same time period. The toy train and scale models of locomotives are another attraction. This place also doubles up as a picnic spot as there is a lot of open space that’s well-maintained.
It is situated at Howrah। It is situated specifically nearby howrah railway station -new complex। You could go their by walking from howrah station । It would take 10 minutes walk। You could go their by car also. It is regional railway museum। Old age engine, train wheel etc are preserved over there। Histories of Indian railways are kept over there। But the proper maintenance is not shown। Proper security is also missing. There is toy train service। You could enjoy that ride and could roam around that museum without walking। But if there is voice over along with that ride, we could more enjoy that ride। Ride timing is very less। It is almost 3 minutes. A trampoline is there for kids। A train coach like restaurant is there। But the cost of the food is very high. Entry timing is from 11am to 10pm। Entry fare is RS. 30 for each। Toy train ride fare is Rs. 30 for each. If you want to spend one half of a day you may visit there to gather knowledge about...
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