Rail Museum Howrah | Timings, Entry Fee, How to Reach

Is your train late, or does it arrive early at Howrah Station? Instead of spending time on the platform, walk for 5 minutes and visit this place in Kolkata and Howrah: Howrah Rail Museum, close to Howrah station.

Rail Museum Howrah

It’s the first Eastern India railway museum and India’s second railway museum after the National Rail Museum (NRM) in New Delhi, Chanakyapuri. The Rail Museum, Howrah, preserved an old and rare steam engine, the first electric locomotive built in India, various railway-related handmade replicas and models, and the evolution of signals, electrification, track, etc.

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Inside the museum, a miniature of Howrah railway station has been built, which looks good and is a perfect place for taking Selfies. Come here, buy the toy train’s ticket, and get on the toy train. It’s a 360-degree tour of the museum, with a well-maintained garden. You can also picnic with your Bestie and kids in the green grass.

Why do you visit the railway museum in Howrah, West Bengal?

The Rail Museum, Howrah, is the best educational museum of Indian rail history. On the right side of the entrance gate, the museum preserves tracks of various vintage trains, engines, and locomotive express models, including the famous Kobiguru Express. Here, you can find the full collection of vintage trains and machines that belonged before independence.

There is an area called ‘The Hall of Fame’ where open tracks are displayed. It is shaped like a railway car, shaded by two engines and three luxury saloons.

Many statues are made of discarded rail spare parts. The displayed models, handmade replicas of trains and tracks, rare photographs, and unique obsolete train equipment are precious and rare.

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What is the special attraction of the Regional Rail Museum in Howrah?

1. Hall of Heritage

The Rail Museum has a unique collection of rare photographs and a rich history of the East Indian Railway and Howrah Station. This hall is housed in a building that serves as a prototype of Howrah Station.

The two huts inside the building capture the history of the EIR and Howrah Station through photographs. The walls take you on a journey through the various themes of Eastern Railway heritage.

Working models, rare oil lamps, token instruments, telephones, and crests were used earlier. Two glass almirahs contain various items from the Eastern Railway.

2. Black Beauty Engine (EAST INDIAN RAILWAY)

The bullet-nosed WP Locomotives were the mainstay of Broad Gauge Passenger Trains operations for a very long time and finally retired in 1995. This show is one of the 16 prototypes received from the USA.

3. Model of WDM-2 class locomotive (engine)

4. East Indian Railway BESA, O & RR standard design locomotive of 4-6-O wheel arrangement HP class.

5. Silver Arrow (Passenger Trains)

6. NG FIRST-CLASS COACH NG 75 FC DLX—Built for Darjeeling Himalayan Railways, it operated on a 2’gauge picturesque Darjeeling—Siliguri section.

7. A double-decker coach from the 19th century ran over the East Indian Railways. This four-wheeler coach was discontinued in service towards the end of the 19th century.

8. Crests—Crests, beautifully painted on wooden plaques, signify the pride and motto of various railways. They depict organisational respect for immense heritage value.

9. Vidyut (information booth)—Train travel has been comfortable all these years because of the electrical items used, whether gadgets or equipment. Lamps to provide light, fans to provide a breeze, bells to call attendants, and many other electrical devices used in locomotives and coaches, all aimed at a comfortable journey, can be seen in this kiosk.

These items have evolved, making train travel more enjoyable. As a result, all the items displayed here are of immense heritage value.

10. Smritiyan (information booth)—Show rare railway stamps and special Covers for various occasions in Railway history. These stamps are about steam, diesel, and electric locomotives. The collection is rare. Vintage documents and pamphlets bear witness to the rich and deep history of railways in Eastern India.

11. Virasat (information booth) – This information booth has several railway uniforms which Drivers use, guards, TTE and even coolies use. As they wear different uniforms to distinguish their roles, they become icons in the eyes of railway passengers.

12. Doorsanchar (information booth)—This booth shows the railway’s communication service. It also shows the future of Indian railway signalling and how it improves. Here, you can see a replica of the signalling system and signal leavers, including Neale’s Ball Token and machine.

13. The first AC electric locomotive, which was built in 1960, and various renowned trains, including the Howrah to Delhi Kalka Mail, Deluxe Express (now renamed Poorva Express), Black Diamond Express, Coalfield Express, etc., have been preserved in the rail museum in Howrah.

14. The Rail Museum, Howrah, preserves a railway engine from the East Pakistan Railway. During the Indo-Pak War of 1971, this Pakistani engine entered Indian territory, and the Indian army captured it.

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Rail museum entry fee

The entry ticket costs 10 rupees per person, and children under 3 years are free.

Railway Museum, Howrah, West Bengal: Toy Train ticket fees and timing

• The toy train ticket fee is 10 rupees per person.
• The Eastern Railway Museum, Howrah, is open from 10.30 am to 5.30 pm.
• The Eastern Railway Museum in Howrah is closed on Monday.

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How to reach the Rail Museum, Howrah

The location is a 5-minute walk from Howrah Station. Howrah Rail Museum in Kolkata has a parking facility around 100 meters from the museum, opposite the South Eastern Railway Complex.

Howrah Rail Museum’s contact number is (033) 2641 3709