Situated near the Pratapnagar Railway Station, the Railway Heritage Park was established to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the arrival of railways in Vadodara. The park vividly depicts the evolution of railways and highlights the economic and political transformations associated with their development.
Attractions:
Garden Area: The park features a shaded garden with a model narrow-gauge station at its center, complete with tracks, signals, lamp-posts, and carriages. Panels in the garden trace the history of the Western Railway, from the early days of the Great Indian Peninsular Railways and its first passenger train pulled by the legendary engines Sindh, Sahib, and Sultan, to the present-day railway network.
Rolling Stock Yard section showcases several historical railway artifacts:
Diamond Crossing: Developed in 1925 at the Pratap Nagar workshop, the Diamond Crossing is a crucial device allowing trains to switch tracks, facilitating both narrow gauge and broad gauge train movements. Experiencing a train crossing at this junction was considered a great feat.
Turn Table: Installed in 1874 at the Jhagadiya Narrow Gauge Line, the turntable was used to manually rotate engines to change their direction of travel. This historical piece reflects the technological solutions used for train direction management in the past.
Hand Crane: Manufactured by Ms. Cowens Seldon & Co. in England in 1883, this hand crane was placed at Bharuch by BB&CI in 1915. Capable of lifting up to 5 tons, it was used for handling carriages and consignments of narrow and broad gauge trains.
Inspection Salon: Introduced in 1960, this inspection salon was used by railway officials to check narrow gauge lines. It was equipped with lights, a ceiling fan, water, a chair with a table, a restroom, kitchen, and additional facilities for personal assistants.
Tank Wagon: Built in 1951, this tank wagon was originally used for transferring petroleum products on narrow-gauge tracks. After the line was replaced by a broad gauge, it was repurposed to carry water in the Nagpur division.
Relief Train – Bogie Tool Van: Constructed in 1956, this tool van was essential for addressing railway accidents and emergencies. It was also used to transfer injured passengers to the main station.
Relief Train – Bogie Medical Van: This medical van was attached to relief trains during accidents, providing emergency medical care with facilities like water, medicines, stretchers, and other necessary equipment.
While the park previously offered delightful snacks at a cafeteria housed in a refurbished narrow-gauge coach, this facility is now closed.
Visiting Information:
The Railway Heritage Park is open 365 days a year, from 10 AM to 7 PM. Visit the park to delve into the fascinating history and development of railways in Vadodara and appreciate the region’s rich railway heritage.
It is a very good information what you shared with people . Its is always need to know about the history of city in which you are living….
Thank you for the information..