Vadodara division organised a heritage walk on 23rd February

Took the visitors towards the heritage value and glorious history of the railways.

Indian railways is celebrating February 2019 as heritage month and in view of that Vadodara division organised a heritage walk on 23rd February. The walk from rail academy to railway museum took the visitors towards the heritage value and glorious history of the railways.

The heritage walk started from Pratapnagar palace situated inside Indian Railway Nation Academy and moves towards railway museum. Starting from Pratapnagar Palace the heritage walk moves to heritage tunnel, model room and then people walked till heritage park at Pratapnagar, rolling stock park and ends at railway museum.

A exhibition is also put up at platform no. 6 at Vadodara railway station on the occasion of heritage month where old bells, token window, badges, seal, holograms, patromax, drawings are on display for the passengers and visitors.

NAIR DG Pradeep Kumar, DRM Devendra Kumar lead the walk along with other officials and family members, faculties and NTRI students.

Some of the glimpses of the heritage walk is shared by the railway department to the visitors.

Pratap Vilas Palace / Lalbaug palace

• This place was built up by Maharaja Sayajirao III for his eldest son Fatehsinhrao.
• This place was designed by Charles F Stevens son of famous F. W. Stevens the British architect who designed the famous V T Station of Bombay.
• Construction of this palace was started on February 15th 1908 and completed on July 30th 1914.
• Prince Fatehsinhrao died in 1908, but in the same year he was blessed with a son Pratapsinhrao and the palace was named after him.
• The entrance of the palace is adorned by exquisite carving and the palace is noted for its architectural grandeur highlighted with columns, arches, carving of creepers, flowers, leaves, birds and animals. The inspiration for the design of the columns and arches has been drawn from South India, Central India and North India.
• The Bombay Province had taken over this Premise on a lease on January 31st 1949.
• Subsequently it was given to the Indian Railways for its use. The Railways purchase this building on January 6th 1964 at a total value of Rs. 2438271/-
• This beautiful palace was converted into the Railway staff college in 1952. Indian Railways had declared it a heritage building.

• Palace Tunnel: A tunnel was built connecting the main palace building with kitchen (now Bungalow No. 2) to transport the food items from kitchen to palace with the help of trolleys.

GAEKWAR’s BARODA STATE RAILWAY (GBSR)

In 1860, the Maharaja Khanderao Gaekwar financed 2 feet 6 Inch gauge line from Dabhoi, an important centre on one of the old trade roots, some 29 miles southeast of Baroda, towards nearest part of the BB&CIR main line, at Miyagam, itself some 20 miles South of Baroda.

In order to preserve and showcase heritage of GBSR, Vadodara Division has developed Narrow gauge Heritage Park Rolling Stock Park, Rail Museum at Pratapnagar which offers an unique opportunity for the rail enthusiasts and lay public alike. It offers a vast array of artifacts which have served their purpose with elegance in the running of the great national enterprise.

The main draws

• The cut section of an XC class steam Locomotive.
• Working model of Hand Generator.
• Working model of the Walshaert valve gear mechanism.
• Antic block instruments, Telephone sets, Bell, Clocks, Lamps etc.
• Silver plated cutlery and borne china crockery from our heritage collection.
• Rare photographs of exotic Locomotives.
• Road Roller, Turn Table, Cowen’s Crane, N G Rolling Stocks.