A Day at RAIL UTSAV 2025

 

PMW's IR WAG9 & WAP7 Models in HO Scale.

I recently had the opportunity to attend RAIL UTSAV 2025, organised by the Rail Enthusiasts’ Society in association with the Calcutta University Institute. It turned out to be a wonderful day dedicated to all things railways, model trains, and enthusiasts who share the same passion.

The main reason for my visit was to assist my oldest and first model railroad friend, Kaustav, at his stall. Some longtime readers may remember him from his impressive Wrightsville Port Layout, which I had featured years ago on my blog. You can revisit that memory here: link. He was representing his venture, Precision Model Works with a stall showcasing a compact layout alongside an impressive collection of Indian Railways model trains.

On display were several beautifully crafted HO Scale models, including the WAG9, WAP7, WDM2, and the charming NMD6 from the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway. Also featured was a detailed Kolkata Tram model, along with a prototype of the Kolkata Tram in O Gauge, which drew considerable attention.

The event itself was packed with engaging discussions, informative lectures, and plenty of opportunities to interact with fellow railway enthusiasts. The Precision Model Works stall was especially well received throughout the day. There was always a steady crowd gathered around—some mesmerised by the locomotives moving back and forth on the tracks, while others eagerly asked how they could get their hands on these precision-crafted Indian models.

Although it was a long and tiring day, it ended on a very positive note for Precision Model Works, with a healthy number of orders and encouraging appreciation for an Indian venture dedicated to quality railway modelling.

As for me, most of you already know my long-standing love for trains—both real and miniature. If you share the same passion, do drop by my other blog, Indian Train Spotter, where I share my photographs of trains from across India.

For a railway enthusiast, it was a day very well spent.

Kaustav checking if everything is working fine.

Kaustav, Aritrim & Myself taking a closer look at the fine details of the WDM2 Model

An Evening on the Kalka–Shimla Railway... in Miniature

 

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 evening wasn't just about admiring the layout—it was about enjoying it.

Before long, a room full of adults had transformed into a room full of children. There was laughter, excitement, and the unmistakable sound of tiny locomotives making their way up and down the mountain slopes. It was coordinated chaos at its finest. Choo Choo!

Ranjeev began by demonstrating how the railway operated, expertly guiding trains across the length and breadth of the layout while explaining the various sections, signalling, and operations. Once everyone had a basic understanding, he handed over the controls.

Working in pairs, we took charge of the Up and Down lines, carefully coordinating movements to ensure trains reached their destinations safely. What initially looked simple quickly proved to be surprisingly challenging. Managing multiple trains, observing signals, timing crossings, and communicating with fellow operators gave us a newfound appreciation for just how complex operating a real railway network must be. It was an immersive experience that was as educational as it was entertaining.

The hours seemed to disappear in no time.

As the evening drew to a close, we reluctantly packed up and headed back to our respective accommodations. We left with huge smiles on our faces, completely satisfied after an unforgettable evening and even more excited for the main Model Railway Open House that awaited us the following morning.

Photographs can certainly capture the beauty of the layout, but they simply don't do it justice. The true magic lies in seeing the miniature world come alive before your eyes—watching the trains weave through mountains, disappear into tunnels, emerge onto bridges, and operate just like their full-sized counterparts.

For every railway enthusiast, experiences like these are priceless. They remind us that model railways are far more than miniature trains—they are living works of art, engineering, history, and imagination, lovingly brought together by passionate people like Ranjeev Dubey.

It was an evening that none of us will forget anytime soon.

A Close Call on VIP Road

I had gone over to Kaustav's place to spend the evening doing what I quite enjoy — Model Railroading!

This time, it was his wonderful Wrightsville Port N-Gauge layout. There’s something strangely therapeutic about sitting around, running trains, watching them disappear into tunnels, emerge from stations and generally behaving far better than real trains ever do!

After what turned out to be a thoroughly enjoyable evening of running trains, we finally said our goodbyes and headed home.

And then came the slightly less enjoyable part of the evening.

As we approached the VIP Road Flyover, we were diverted onto the old road bridge below. Nothing particularly unusual about that — Kolkata traffic has a way of sending you on unexpected sightseeing tours.

But then we saw why we had been diverted.

A section of the flyover we were supposed to be driving on had collapsed.

And just to make the scene a little more dramatic, there was a trailer truck wedged at one end, apparently having come down with the collapsed section.

We stopped and looked at it, and suddenly the thought hit us...

Had we been there a little earlier, we could have been on that very stretch of road.

A few minutes' difference. That's all.

We had spent the evening happily running little trains around a miniature world, completely oblivious to the fact that, on the way home, the real world had just thrown us a rather serious curveball.

Talk about being saved by a whisker!

That evening, the trains may have been miniature, but the reminder of how quickly things can change on the real road was very, very real.

Finally meet the N-Gauge Railroad Modeller

Yesterday we finally met Kaustav, the prolific N-Gauge Railroad Modeller, and his wife who is equally involved in the project. For those who don’t know, N-Gauge is modelling in ratio of 1:160. We had to brave rain and floods, but were undeterred in our mission to see the Harbour layout he was building. Seeing pictures was one thing, but being a Railroad Modeller (I model in OO Gauge i.e. 1:76) myself, I had to see it in its entirety; scenery and trains above and the electrical wiring below. Oh and it was so worth it. What I had told my wife would be a brief visit turned out to be a long evening spent at his place.

Long discussions on whys and how’s and then running the trains on the layout was such an enriching experience. Finally before we left, I had to capture some photographs and so I did. I could have spent an eternity there shooting away. Well I’m not going to say much more and let you’ll have a look at what got me all excited.

Believe me, the photographs don't do justice to the actual layout being built.