National Rail Museum

Address: Chanakyapuri, New Delhi.

Nearest Metro Station: AIIMS (You have to take an auto or bus from there)

Phone: 26881816, 26880939

Timings: 9:30 am to 5:30 pm.

Closed: Monday

Cost: INR 20 entry fee and INR 20 extra for the toy train ride.

Photography: Allowed

What’s inside?

The National Rail Museum is a tribute to the Railway Heritage of India. This is a fantastic place to visit and enhance your knowledge. This museum has a fascinating and exotic collection of exhibits of rails. You cannot ask for a better place to let the kids enjoy and also ‘touch-and-feel’ locomotives. (Flip-side – it is an open place, so it may be too draining on a hot summer day)

This unique museum has a fascinating and exotic collection of over 100 real size exhibits of Indian Railways. Static and working models, signalling equipment, antique furniture, historical photographs and related literature, etc.

The display inside is broadly divided into the actual display of railway coaches and engines displayed outside and the museum having miniature displays. The entrance ticket you buy gives you access to this. Sadly, some of the interactive displays may not work.

The collection of locomotives is good and the information placards are also good. Good place for history – to learn the evolution of Indian railways. Especially the facts about princely states before partition. The railway engines and bogies on display outside are very old vintages. Though the dates and historical vintage of the engines and bogies is not marked.

The entrance ticket you buy gives you an entry into the main building which throws light on the history of railways explained with help of various miniature models and interactive displays, manual as well as visual displays.

There is a toy train inside which costs INR 20 a ticket and is absolutely a must; you can buy the extra ticket at the entrance or at the beginning of the ride. Had a ride on the train which takes you to see the whole museum.

Picture Gallery is awesome depicting Indian railways history, present, and future. There is a small shop near picture gallery. Prices start from ₹20 to ₹2000. You can get Indian railways badges key rings, T-shirt, antique items etc.

Do not bring eatables inside as they are not allowed. However, snacks like packaged chips etc are ok. There is a snack cafe inside offering water, Pepsi, etc.

Service: Found the staff very positive and helpful.

Ambiance: Ample parking, good food-stalls, enough space for kids to run around.

Experience: ‘Awesome’ is the word for the experience.

Recommendations: A great place for Train Lovers. Good for those who are interested in knowing the evolution of rails. Entertaining, informative and a good educational place for children.

Ratings: 4/5

Sonam Rajput

Sonam Rajput is a student of Education at Central Institute of Education, University of Delhi. She is a foodie and enjoys going on historical walks and imagining the world that had been. She hopes to keep her love for history in tandem with her passion for travel and unravel cultures, and experiences while doing so.