Into the field of Rail Modelling - An enticing hobby
Ranjeev C. Dubey has transformed his life long passion of creating model railways into something quite extraordinary. Here is his re-creation of the gorgeous Ritu Valley Railway.
By Rail Enthusiasts' Society
Ranjeev C. Dubey
Rheasganj: A Darjeeling class B shunts the mechanical crane by Ranjeev C DubeyRail Enthusiasts' Society
In September 1984, I spotted a coffee table book on railways, on a pavement in Connaught Place, Delhi, costing a mere amount of Rs. 5. The book was on rail modelling, thus triggering off a lifelong passion.
I started to build and create with cardboards harvested from detergent boxes. And before the year was out, I had built a basic OO (1:76 or 4mm to the foot) scale building using free cardboard, toothpicks, soda straws, and ballpoint pens all put together with glue.
This Ritu Valley Railway model is a good example of what wonders could be done with the help of homemade techniques, in the early 1990s.
Tap to explore
Walk through and take a look at my rail modelling projects.
Rheasganj
My first attempt at HOe (1:87 or 3.5mm to the foot) rail modelling became Rheasganj, a book shelf railway inspired by Shimla station. The image shows a ZF Class locomotive on a turntable, in Rheasganj Railway Station.
Main station building by Ranjeev C DubeyRail Enthusiasts' Society
Main station building of Rheasganj.
Rheasganj Loco Shed by Ranjeev C DubeyRail Enthusiasts' Society
Rheasganj locomotive shed.
Railcar No. 2 passes the coach storage sidings at Rheasganj by Ranjeev C DubeyRail Enthusiasts' Society
Railcar No. 2 passes the coach storage slidings at Rheasganj.
An industrial diesel at Rheasganj by Ranjeev C DubeyRail Enthusiasts' Society
An industrial diesel loco at Rheasganj.
WT (originally Baroda State Railway) shunts wagons at Rheasganj by Ranjeev C DubeyRail Enthusiasts' Society
The WT (originally Baroda State Railway) shunts wagons at Rheasganj
Prakashpur
If you notice, the roofs of the buildings have various textures. Some are optical illusions, where printed paper sheets represent ceiling tiles, while others are genuine scale plastic moulded sheets of tiles, shingles, or corrugated tin. The background landscape is made by creating a collage of coloured photos from old calendars.
Sentinel at level crossing as the Railcar crosses a high viaduct by Ranjeev C DubeyRail Enthusiasts' Society
The picture portrays the sentinal at level crossing as a railcar crosses the high viaduct.
Sentinel under bridge with Railcar No.14 on top at Prakashpur by Ranjeev C DubeyRail Enthusiasts' Society
The sentinel is shown under bridge, while you can spot railcar No.14 on top, at Prakashpur.
Rohinpur
The Rheasganj rail models grew as it expanded its tracks into Rohinpur, a duel gauge mainline railway station. The layout was freelanced in the sense that it did not represent any one location. Rohinpur station was inspired by something you would likely find in the Himalayan foothills.
NWR Class TJ articulated narrow gauge locomotive at Rohinpur by Ranjeev C DubeyRail Enthusiasts' Society
The NWR Class TJ articulated narrow gauge locomotive at Rohinpur.
Narrow Gauge and Broad Gauge locos line-up at Rohinpur by Ranjeev C DubeyRail Enthusiasts' Society
NG locos lineup at Rohinpur.
The busy Rohinpur yard by Ranjeev C DubeyRail Enthusiasts' Society
A busy looking Rohinpur yard.
A Crane loco at Rohinpur with a class WT locomotive by Ranjeev C DubeyRail Enthusiasts' Society
Crane loco at Rohinpur with a WT class locomotive.
Broad Gauge WG class locomotive by Ranjeev C DubeyRail Enthusiasts' Society
A broad gauge WG class locomotive.
A Broad gauge WDS1 at Rohinpur by Ranjeev C DubeyRail Enthusiasts' Society
Broad gauge WDS1 at Rohinpur.
Shimla Railcar No. 14 passes a Nagpur ZD by Ranjeev C DubeyRail Enthusiasts' Society
Shimla railcar No. 14 passes a Nagpur ZD.
Snow plough and road vehicles by Ranjeev C DubeyRail Enthusiasts' Society
Snow-plough and road vehicles.
Snow-covered Ravi Nagar by Ranjeev C DubeyRail Enthusiasts' Society
The snow-covered station of Ravi Nagar.
Snow accumulated all over Ravi Nagar by Ranjeev C DubeyRail Enthusiasts' Society
Snow accumulated all over Ravi Nagar.
Author: Ranjeev C. Dubey
