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

A Car, A Locomotive & A Walk Through Central Kolkata

 

I was heading out to pick up my car, which had gone in for its regular servicing.

I am a bit of a creature of habit. Loyal to a fault, perhaps. But that’s just how I am.

I have been sending my cars to Dewar’s Garage in Central Kolkata for servicing ever since I bought my first car. There are some things you just don’t change. You find a garage you trust, and you stick with it. End of story.

So, instead of taking the car out, I decided to take the Metro into town.

I hopped onto the Metro at Kavi Subhash Metro Station at New Garia, the terminal station of the Blue Line. The station is quite an interesting piece of Kolkata’s ever-expanding transport jigsaw, with the suburban railway station adjoining it and the Orange Line Metro also being integrated into the complex.

As the Metro pulled out of the station, something caught my eye.

There, trundling along the suburban railway tracks, was an Indian Railways WDS-6 shunting locomotive — No. 36088.

Now, most people probably wouldn't give a second glance to an old railway locomotive passing by.

I am not most people.

A locomotive is a locomotive.

And an Indian Railways shunter quietly doing its job is enough to make me forget, for a moment, that I was actually on my way to pick up my car.

By the time I alighted from the Metro, I managed to click a picture of the train. The rake was one of the older ones, although interestingly, it had been fitted with air-conditioning. Indian Railways does have a rather wonderful way of combining the old with the new.

From there, I walked towards Central.

And this is where I was reminded once again why walking through Kolkata is such a wonderful thing to do.

When you are driving, your attention is on the road, the traffic, the pedestrians, the buses, the potholes and the occasional person who seems to have obtained his driving licence through divine intervention.

On foot, you see things differently.

You notice buildings. You notice people. You notice little corners and details that you would otherwise simply whizz past.

Walking from Central Station, I came across the Lalbazar Fire Station.

And suddenly, what had started as a rather mundane trip to collect a serviced car had turned into one of those little Kolkata journeys where the city keeps throwing things at you to look at.

A Metro ride.

An old Indian Railways locomotive.

An air-conditioned rake.

A historic fire station.

And a walk through the streets of Central Kolkata.

All because I had to go and pick up my car.

Perhaps that's the real charm of Kolkata.

Sometimes you don't really need a plan.

You just need to get off the Metro and walk.

And keep your eyes open.

You never know what you'll discover.

And yes, eventually I did get to Dewar's Garage and pick up the car.

But by then, the car was almost secondary.

The journey had already done its job.

to see more Train Pictures visit my blog IndianTrainSpotter

Chennai: A Walk Around Town, Day 2

My second day in Chennai and after seeing some of the Churches and sights yesterday, I've got a serious agenda of seeing the rest of the sights in the city by foot. I've always felt that one gets a true sense of a City when one walks through the streets.

So my first destination was the Chennai Eggmore Station. I had heard that the Station Building was a sight to see and sure enough after a half hour or so walk when I arrived at the point where I got my first glimpse, I understood exactly why.

After seeing the platform and inquiring whether they still had the Narrow Gauge Railway line at this station, I decided it was time to walk onto the next destination.

Like I said, if you walk around you get to see so much more, and while my next destination was the Chennai Municipal Corporation Building, I came across the Entrance of the Government College of Fine Arts. This is just one wall, the other was quite damaged. I wish they maintained these better.

I finally came to center of heritage Buildings and the first one to come into sight was the Ripon Building which houses the Chennai Municipal Corporation. I actually climbed up a Railway Foot-Over-bridge upon the Railway tracks running parallel to this road. In the background you can also see the Victoria Public Hall which is now the Town Hall. and behind that the blue building which is the modern part of the Chennai Central Railway Station. Of course like most of the big cities in India, the Chennai Metro Railway construction work in full swing on this main road.

A marvel of a building the Victoria Public Hall.

Opposite the Victoria Public Hall, on this side of the road is a Building that most people will not notice, but is probably older; Siddique Sarai which used to be a rest house for travellers in olden days. Now visibly obscured by the piles of construction debris and equipment.

I have no idea what this Building is, but it seems to be another Heritage Building opposite the Chennai Central Railway Station. It is actually hidden from view due to all the Metro Railway construction, unless you take the Temporary Foot-Over-bridge over the road towards the Station.

Chennai Central Railway Station, very much along the lines of British Architecture while they built the Railways in India.

As I walked away from the majestic Chennai Central Railway Station, I couldn't help but look back for one last look at this spectacular piece of Architecture.

As I came out of the Chennai Central, before me was this gigantic building. Walking a bit further I could read the name and it read Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital. I was quite impressed, not only by it's size, but the fact that a Government Building was so well maintained.

Walking along, on my left I came upon another spectacular heritage building, the Southern Railway Head Quarters.

Steam Engine at the first entrance of Southern Railway HQ

Southern Railway HQ from the front.

Steam Locomotive at the other entrance.

It was a bit of a walk but I finally got to Fort St. George, or so I thought. I had to take the Foot Over-bridge and cross the Chennai Fort Station. As I did a Local Train pulled in.

I had to walk another few kms on the outside of the Fort as the entrance (for tourists) was actually on the opposite side from the Station. The Fort is actually an Army cantonment. at this juncture I came upon the Entrance to the Chennai Port.

Fort St. George. This also houses the Chennai Assembly.

I finally made it to the Fort St. George Museum and for all my trouble, I didn't have to pay an entrance fee. OK, it's not for my troubles, just that today was World Heritage Day and the Museum did away with the entrance fee for the day.

A pair of Canons at the entrance of the Museum. There were lots more of these and others in and around the Museum.

Walking further into Fort St. George; the church I had wanted to see. St. Mary's Church. It is the oldest Church in Chennai dating back to 1680 A.D.

A walk inside the over 300 years old St. Mary's Church was quite a calming experience.

Having walked 15 or more kilometres, I decided to get an UBER to head back home and as we passed the Madras University Building, I got a quick glimpse of another piece of Chennai's Colonial Heritage.

A Visit to The National Rail Museum, New Delhi

The National Rail Museum is a museum in Chanakyapuri, New Delhi which focuses on the rail heritage of India it opened on the 1 February 1977. It is located in over 10 acres (40,000 m2) of land with both indoor and outdoor exhibits. A toy train offers rides around that site on regular days.Museum remains open from 10.00 am to 5.00 pm (Last entry 4.30 pm, last 1:8 toy train and joy train round at 4:45pm) Tuesday to Sunday. Museum remains closed on every Monday and National Holidays. Apart from vast outdoor and state of the art Indoor Gallery. It is now equipped with 1:8 scale train, Diesel simulator, Steam Simulator, Coach Simulator and many more.

The idea for a transport museum was initially thought of in 1962. However, it first took concrete shape in 1970, under the advisory of Michael Graham Satow, a rail enthusiast. On 7 October 1971, the foundation stone was laid by then President V. V. Giri at the present site in Chanakyapuri, New Delhi. The museum was inaugurated as the Rail Transport Museum on 1 February 1977 by Kamalapati Tripathi, the Minister for Railways. Its name was later changed to National Rail Museum in 1995.

I'll try to do as much research and list down the names of all the Exhibits in the photographs below. So keep coming back.

For more info visit: www.nrmindia.com