Obliterating the Baroda State Railway

Initially, a pair of oxen used to haul trains composed of four to six vehicles.

In 1863, Khanderao purchased three steam locomotives, built by Neilson and Co., Glasgow. These 0-4-0 ST locomotives proved to be too heavy for the rails and there was no option other than replacing the rails with the heavier ones.

This was undertaken during the reign of Malharrao, in 1871.

Today, the part of the line from Miyagam to Choranda is the oldest narrow gauge line in the world still in use for commercial traffic.

The 32.3 kms. Miyagam-Dabhoi line, which had been closed, was reopened on the 8th of April, 1873.

In the picture: Narrow gauge rail manufactured by Barrow Steel, in 1878.

A number of narrow gauge lines were added to the original route and by 2003, five lines branched out from Dabhoi.

The rich heritage of the once extensive narrow gauge network has been well documented and preserved. Under the able stewardship of A. K. Srivastava, the then Divisional Railway Manager of the Vadodara division, heritage parks had been established at Dabhoi and Pratap Nagar.

In the picture: A panel at Dabhoi heritage shed depicts the early history of the Baroda State Railway.

The panels at the park give details regarding the financial performance of the lines. These panels show that since its time inception, the Dabhoi lines were generating surpluses. Old time tables are also displayed in some panels.

The park is a pioneering effort in popularising railway history by linking it with people and places where the railways evolved and attempts to weave an interesting story.

The panels at the Pratap Nagar Heritage Shed display information about the first railway run in India, the arrival of the first train in Baroda, in 1861 and organisation of the narrow gauge network over the years.

A narrow gauge coach SR 699 can be seen at the station modelled after the old Goya Gate station. People can have tea and snacks inside the narrow gauge coach, which is converted into a dining car.

The rolling stock park, at the Pratap Nagar Heritage Shed (near the Pratap Nagar Heritage Park), features the old narrow gauge rails and narrow gauge rolling stock.

Above: The logo of Gaekwar's Baroda State Railways.

While the advantages of the uni-gauge policy of the Indian Railways are understood, the erstwhile narrow gauge lines were the lifeline of innumerable small towns and villages. The lines may have closed down but the memories still remain.

This old photograph shows the Bombay, Baroda Central Railway (BB&CI) advertising its Christmas discounts on return tickets of the train, in English and Gujarati.

Besides displaying old photographs, the museum also has information panels on popular cartoon characters who had a railway connection, Bollywood films' connection with the railways and famous books with railway themes.