TURQUOISE CHILL

  There are very few model railway enthusiasts in India, and among them, Ranjeev Dubey stands out as someone truly exceptional. Not only has he dedicated himself to modelling Indian Railways, but he has also painstakingly scratch-built most of his breathtaking model railway layout based on the iconic Kalka–Shimla Railway. So, you can imagine our excitement when, ahead of the Model Railway Open House that had brought many of us together in Gurgaon, we received an invitation to an exclusive pre-event gathering at Ranjeev's home. It was an opportunity none of us could have dreamed of missing. From the moment we stepped into the room, it was impossible not to be awestruck. Stretching across the space was an incredibly detailed recreation of the Kalka–Shimla Railway, complete with winding mountain tracks, tunnels, bridges, stations, lush scenery, and countless tiny details that reflected years of dedication, craftsmanship, and passion. Every inch of the layout had a story to tell. The ...

Every now and then an invitation comes along that is simply too good to refuse. When my friend Kaustav invited me to attend a Model Railroad Open House in Gurgaon, I knew I had to make the trip. It wasn't just about seeing an impressive model railway layout—we had a few other plans lined up for the visit, making it the perfect excuse for a short getaway. The day began with an early morning IndiGo flight from Kolkata to Delhi. Thankfully, the journey itself was completely uneventful, exactly how I like my flights. Before long, we were descending into Delhi, and the moment the aircraft doors opened, I was greeted by that familiar North Indian winter air. It brought back memories of previous visits, although it also seemed noticeably more polluted than I remembered. Stepping outside the terminal, I made what turned out to be the most expensive mistake of the day. Instead of booking an Uber—or better still, hopping onto Delhi's excellent Metro network—I opted for one of the ai...