The Art of Rail Modelling - Recreating Rail Models
T.R. Raghunandan, of Museum of Movement, takes us through the process of creating a cardboard model of Darjeeling Himalayan Railway's B Class locomotive.
By Museum of Movement
T.R. Raghunandan
Darjeeling Himalayan Railway's B Class Locomotive
"Loco no. 794, (earlier DHR number – ‘Darjeeling 30), was manufactured in 1916 - 1917 by the Baldwin Locomotive Works, Philadelphia. Sadly, this locomotive does not run in Darjeeling anymore. It was transported to the Neral Matheran Line, where it was renamed the ‘Neral Queen’. However, while the Neral Matheran line is also of a two feet wide narrow gauge, like the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway (DHR), B class locomotives cannot negotiate the much sharper curves of the latter line. Therefore, the locomotive languishes there, far away from its home up in the Himalayas."
Cardboards and elephant dung handmade paper were used for the locomotiveMuseum of Movement
"My fascination with DHR started with the song ‘Mere Sapnon Ki Rani’ from a hit Bollywood film from 1969,
called 'Aaradhana'.
"I started the making the model in November 2007 and finished it in March 2009, clocking around 1000 hours in the process. I spent about Rs. 300 (a little over $4) overall."
The Construction
"I have used corrugated sheets and other stiff cardboards (notebooks and files) to reinforce the handmade paper. The paper can be stiff enough if laminated and allowed to dry into the correct shape. I have also used toothpaste caps, pen caps, shampoo bottle caps, paper clips and pins, and a lot of other bits of paper, plastic and metal to get some of the shapes right."
The cutaway for fitting the furnaceMuseum of Movement
"The surface is laminated with handmade paper, made from elephant dung. I thought I could make an interesting statement about recycling by using this paper."
The coal scuttle test-fitted onto the boilerMuseum of Movement
"The coal scuttle test is fitted onto the boiler."
Chimney of the locomotiveMuseum of Movement
"The chimney is created from a ball point pen, and laminated over with elephant poo paper."
Water saddle-tank made from cardboardMuseum of Movement
"The water saddle-tank is made out of corrugated cardboard and then laminated together."
Elephant dung handmade paper to cover the water-saddle tankMuseum of Movement
"The water saddle-tank is layered and covered with elephant dung paper."
Construction of a locomotiveMuseum of Movement
"The shampoo bottle has now been laminated over with elephant poo paper to make the steam dome."
"The picture also shows the rivets on the coal scuttle. The rivets are made from paper pins. Their number matches exactly with those on the full scale locomotive."
Locomotive in constructionMuseum of Movement
"The front cross member fitted, along with the swivelling linkage for linking with carriages."
A print of the steam pressure gaugeMuseum of Movement
"The steam pressure gauge proved to be a challenge. All engines in India had converted to kilograms per square centimetre and had hand painted faces."
"After getting in touch with Mr. Adrian Shooter, who owns a B Class engine in the UK, I was able to obtain pictures of the dial on his locomotive from the former director of the DHR Mr. Subrato Nath."
"Some heightening of the contrast through a simple photo editing software and a contact print gave me the right size of dial – 13 mm in diameter, which can be read with a magnifying glass."
Finished steam pressure gaugeMuseum of Movement
"This is what a finished steam pressure gauge looks like."
The 'do-it-yourself' process of making tiny valve cocksMuseum of Movement
"To make tiny valve cocks, I first made a jig on which I wound sewing thread to create six radiating spokes, each consisting of a pair of tightly stretched cords."
The 'do-it-yourself' process of making tiny valve cocksMuseum of Movement
"The outer ring of each gate valve, fabricated from metal wire, was slipped underneath the crossed threads on the jig and the whole thing glued together using super glue. Paper was carefully pasted over the string spokes, to create the six spokes of the valve cocks."
The 'do-it-yourself' process of making tiny valve cocksMuseum of Movement
"The final product."
The Finished Model
"I would not have been able to make the model if it were not for the help that I received from Mayank Tiwari, the Director of the National Museum and Mahima Mehra, owner of Haathi Chaap. Mr. Subrato Nath, the former director of the DHR, provided me a lot of help in researching the interior of the cab. Mr. Adrian Shooter, who owns a DHR locomotive in the United Kingdom, gave me a lot of useful advice. I am also indebted to several enthusiasts who have posted pictures of DHR locomotives on the internet."
Finishing the model within Rs. 300Museum of Movement
"The cab roof has been fitted, with all the pillars that support it. On the off side, one can see the brackets carrying the stout wooden rod, used to move the locomotive back onto the track in the event of a derailment."
"The front end shows the myriad plumbing arrangements for leading lubricants, water and steam into the pistons and valves. The chains for securing the carriages to the locomotive were made from paper clips."
Tap to explore
A cardboard model of DHR's B Class Locomotive at the workshop.
The Details
"The picture shows the detail of the front end. The sand box has been fitted on top of the front cross member. The lid of the sand box is latched but can be opened."
Detailling of the wheels of DHR B ClassMuseum of Movement
"The wheels on the DHR B Class are in-boarded, that means, they are mounted within the chassis frame. As welding was hardly used on the locomotive when manufactured, the chassis and its bracings are held together by a complex pattern of rivets."
Loco no. 794, (earlier DHR number – ‘Darjeeling 30)Museum of Movement
"The levers are created for the reverse arrangements. The steam operated electricity generator is fitted on the near side."
Metal scraper attached, to clean the ashMuseum of Movement
"Suspended below the derailment lever rod, is the metal scraper to clean the ash out of the firebox."
Detailing of the water saddle-tankMuseum of Movement
"The rivets are on the leading edge of the saddle-tank. A cardboard template with the markings for the rivets can be seen. The template enables one to line up the rivets and ensure their correct number."
Detail of the leaf springMuseum of Movement
"The leaf springs form a part of the suspension system for the wheels."
The running gear and lever arrangements on the off-sideMuseum of Movement
"A close-up of the running gear and lever arrangements on the off-side."
The whistleMuseum of Movement
"The whistle pokes through the leading edge of the roof of the cab."
The minute details of the interiors of Loco no. 794Museum of Movement
"The interior of the cab came along nicely. Here too, utmost care has been taken to ensure the accuracy of the riveting and other fittings."
Ball pen refills used as 'glass tubes'Museum of Movement
"The glass observation tubes for checking the water level in the boiler, were made from ball point pen refills."
Finishing the model within Rs. 300Museum of Movement
"I achieved the target of finishing the model within Rs. 300 (a little over $4); only that it took me more than 1000 hours and nearly two and a half years to get here."
