The miniature railroad museum – the first of its kind in the country – will be shifted from the city station to the premises of the Mysuru Rail Museum. The railroad model layout, located on platform number 1, depicts the entire Mysuru Railway Division complete with its geographical terrain and major architectural monuments. It also features working models of locomotives and rolling stock, hillocks, important bridges and tourist attractions in Mysuru and provides a bird’s eye view of the entire division.
Though inaugurated in 2012, the exhibition was rarely open to the public due to shortage of staff to oversee it. As a result, the museum remains virtually unknown to the residents of the city. Confirming the proposed shifting of the railwoad museum to the main museum, Rajkumar Lal, Divisional Railway Manager, told The Hindu that the shifting will commence in a few days’ time. “A railway station is not the place for a miniature model museum as passengers will be in a hurry to catch trains and reach their destinations,” he said.
Mr. Lal said that the Ministry of Culture has released Rs. 80 lakh for the expansion of the main museum and this amount will be utilised to shift the railroad model. “With the funds available, there is scope to showcase the entire railway operation, including the working of locomotives, signalling system, track switching … we are preparing a conceptual plan and will implement it soon,” Mr. Lal said.
