From smoky steam engines to the speedy bullet trains - the Pushpa Gujral Science City is all set to take you on a journey that will be etched in your mind.
For chugging on the fast track of excitement, the Science City is throwing open to public on Friday a new section dedicated to the railways - the Rail Gallery.
A state-of-the-art Rail Gallery has everything and anything you want to know about railways. It would give you the experience of the heritage Kalka-Shimla narrow gauge, mesmerising Jammu-Srinagar track, national capital’s lifeline Delhi Metro, matchless Japan’s bullet train, and much more in the form of working models.
Set up in collaboration with the Union Ministry of Railways, the gallery would be all-inclusive supported by the information kiosks, dioramas, working models, and simulators.
The much-awaited gallery not only depicts information on Indian Railways, but also on some of the world’s renowned railway lines, including magnetic levitation train of Shanghai, and Japan’s Bullet train.
The Rail Gallery, going well with the Science City’s previous sections which are the combination of entertainment and information, has been set up with the financial and technical assistance of the Railway Board.
“The Board has spent Rs 90 lakh for setting up this gallery, which is no doubt a very useful, informative, and entertaining addition to the Science City,” said PGSC director-general Dr RS Khandpur, who will inaugurate the gallery on Friday.
Giving details, Dr Khandpur said: “A series of pictures representing a continuous scene have been set up of those rail lines which are technologically challenging and visually inspiring like Kalka-Shimla railway track, Jammu-Srinagar railway link, Bullet Train of Japan, Delhi Metro and principle of levitation used in high-speed trains.”
Jammu-Srinagar rail link is a dynamic model which showcases Udampur-Baramulla 390-km railway project covering 11-kilometer long tunnel and the highest bridge over the river Chenab, he said. He added that the route covers major earthquake zones, and is subjected to extreme temperatures and inhospitable terrain, making it an extremely challenging engineering project.
On Kalka-Shimla railway line which has recently completed a centenary of its operations and has achieved a heritage status, Dr Khandpur said that the journey from Kalka to Shimla on 2’6” narrow gauge rail line that passes through 103 tunnels provide became more unforgettable extraordinary experience by rail motor or toy train.
He added that Delhi Metro’s model gives a clear picture of its journey above and under the crowded city. “Delhi Metro is the first railway project in the world to be certified for carbon credits for reducing greenhouse gas emissions by the United Nations,” he added.
The gallery also display a model of magnetic levitation train - a technology where a wheel-less train only requires a magnetic rail track on the ground and is increasingly used in high-speed trains, and also of Japan’s bullet train with operating speed of 320 km per hour with an interesting landscape in the background.
“There are separate dioramas showing the functioning of the station master, the guard, the ticket collector, and the pointsman - a policeman stationed at an intersection to direct traffic operating railroad switches,” said Dr Khandpur.
He said that the most interesting part of the gallery is the ‘Diesel Engine Simulator’. “This type of simulator is used to train engine drivers. And the visitors can feel and enjoy the movement of the train on the track by sitting on the driver’s seat in the simulator,” added he.
Besides, there is a driver cabin with duplicate control kiosk outside it where one can learn the operations of various controls of the engine.
The PGSC’s authorities took a few years to give the gallery its final shape after mulling the project before 2009. “Though the gallery was near completion in 2010, there were some aspects which need to be highlighted and included to make it across-the-board,” a PGSC official toldThe Pioneer.
Indian Railways is one of the world’s largest railway network comprising 1,15,000 km rail track and 7,000 stations, with as many as 14,000 trains running carrying 1.4 crore passengers and 16 lakh tonnes of goods every day.
“Rail system is quite complicated involving management of movement of trains, signaling and communication system and railway crossings spread throughout the length and breadth of the country. All these functions require highly trained and motivated staff for operations and maintenance of this gigantic task,” added Dr Khandpur.