10 Popular Railway Museums In India: A Journey Through Time & Innovation

An Image of the historic Delhi Railway Museum, one of the popular railway museums in India

Railways have played an important role in India’s history. They have helped connect cities and bring people closer. If you love trains or want to learn how Indian railways have changed over time, visiting Railway Museums In India is a great idea. These museums have old steam engines, historic train coaches, and interactive exhibits. You can see how trains worked in the past and how they have improved. Some museums even have toy train rides and working models. A visit to these museums is fun and educational for all ages. Let’s explore some of the best railway museums.

Top 10 Best Railway Museums In India

Here are some of the best Railway museum where you can learn about the rich history of Indian Railways:

1. National Rail Museum, New Delhi

A wide-angle image of the National Rail Museum in New Delhi, one of the most famous Railway Museums in India

Photo: Carlton Browne / Wikimedia Commons

The National Rail Museum in New Delhi is a popular Railway Museum In India. It is spread over 10 acres and has more than 100 real trains, coaches, and railway items. The museum tells the story of Indian Railways in a fun and interesting way. Visitors can enjoy a toy train ride and try exciting train simulation experiences. One of the main attractions is the Fairy Queen, one of the oldest working steam engines in the world. The museum is a great place for train lovers, history fans, and families looking for an enjoyable and educational outing.

Timings: 10 AM – 5 PM (Closed on Mondays)
Entry Fee: ₹50 for adults, ₹10 for children
How To Reach: Easily accessible from New Delhi railway station; nearest metro station: Lok Kalyan Marg

2. Rail Museum, Mysuru

 A beautiful image of the Mysuru Rail Museum, one of the oldest railway museums in the country

Photo: Cleanrailwaymysuru / Wikimedia Commons

The railway museum in Mysuru, India, is one of the oldest railway museums in the country. It was built to show how railways grew in South India. The museum has old trains, wooden coaches from the 19th century, and a special train used by the Maharaja of Mysore. Visitors can see steam engines in an open area and even enjoy a fun mini toy train ride. This museum is a great place to learn about the history of Indian railways in a simple and exciting way, making it perfect for both kids and adults.

Timings: 10 AM – 5:30 PM (Closed on Mondays)
Entry Fee: ₹20 for adults, ₹10 for children
How To Reach: 2 km from Mysuru Junction railway station; accessible by auto or taxi

3. Howrah Rail Museum, Kolkata

A vintage railway engine at the Howrah Rail Museum, one of the must-visit railway museums in India

Photo: Indrajit Das / Wikimedia Commons

The Howrah Rail Museum is a great place to learn about the history of Eastern Railways. It is located near the famous Howrah Station. The museum has old train engines, small working models of trains, and many old photos. One of the most special exhibits is the Electric Locomotive Sir Leslie Wilson, which was built in 1925. This train used to run between Howrah and Burdwan. Visitors can also see other railway items like old signals and coaches. If you love trains, this is a must-visit Railway Museums In India that you can explore and enjoy.

Timings: 10:30 AM – 5:30 PM (Closed on Mondays)
Entry Fee: ₹10 for adults, ₹5 for children
How To Reach: Walking distance from Howrah railway station

4. Chennai Rail Museum, Tamil Nadu

A colourful image of the Chennai Rail Museum featuring locomotives, train bogies, and industrial rail equipment

Photo: RealinRear / Wikimedia Commons

The railway museum in Chennai, India, is a great place for people who love trains. It has old trains, small model trains, and railway tools. The museum also has beautiful artwork made from old train parts. A small toy train runs inside the museum, making it fun for kids and families. Visitors can learn about the history of trains and see how they have changed over time. The museum is a wonderful place to explore and enjoy. If you like trains, this is a must-visit spot in Chennai.

Timings: 10 AM – 5 PM (Closed on Mondays)
Entry Fee: ₹40 for adults, ₹20 for children
How To Reach: 5 km from Chennai Central railway station; accessible by bus, auto, or taxi

5. Ghum Railway Museum, Darjeeling

 The Ghum Railway Museum in Darjeeling showcasing old steam locomotives and toy train models

Photo: Pinakpani / Wikimedia Commons / Image For Representation Only

The Ghum Railway Museum is a small but important museum at Ghum station, the highest railway station in India. It tells the story of the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway, which is famous for its toy train. The museum has old steam engines, photos, and things from the past that show how the railway was built. Visitors can see how trains worked in the old days. It is a great place for people who love trains and history. A visit to this popular Railway Museums In India feels like stepping back in time to explore India’s hill railways.

Timings: 10 AM – 4 PM
Entry Fee: ₹20
How To Reach: Accessible via Darjeeling Himalayan Railway or taxi from Darjeeling town

6. Rewari Steam Locomotive Shed & Museum, Haryana

A black steam engine at the Rewari Steam Loco Shed, with smoke coming from its chimney

Photo: Sudhirkbhargava / Wikimedia Commons

The Rewari Steam Locomotive Shed is a special place where old steam engines are kept and maintained. It is one of the last steam engine sheds in India. The shed has working steam engines like “Akbar” and “Fairy Queen.” Visitors can see how these huge locomotives were used in the past. Sometimes, the engines are started and run for special events, making it a great experience for train lovers. This famous Railway Museum In India is a must-visit for those who want to see real steam engines in action and learn about India’s railway history.

Location: Rewari, Haryana
Timings: 9 AM – 5 PM
Entry Fee: ₹10
How To Reach: 1 km from Rewari railway station; accessible by auto or taxi

7. Diesel Loco Shed & Rail Museum, Pune

The Diesel Loco Shed in Pune displays vintage diesel locomotives and railway artefacts

Photo: shankar s. / Wikimedia Commons / Image For Representation Only

The Diesel Loco Shed & Rail Museum in Pune is a place where you can learn about the history of diesel trains in India. It has old diesel engines, rare railway parts, and models that explain how trains work. The museum shows how Indian Railways changed from using steam engines to diesel engines. Visitors can see different types of locomotives and learn about their work. It is a great place for train lovers and students. If you are interested in railways, this popular Railway Museums In India is worth a visit to explore and enjoy the world of trains.

Location: Ghorpadi, Pune, Maharashtra
Timings: 10 AM – 5 PM (Closed on Sundays)
Entry Fee: Free entry
How To Reach: 5 km from Pune Junction railway station; accessible by bus, auto, or taxi

8. Joshi’s Museum Of Miniature Railways, Pune

A detailed miniature railway setup at Joshi's Museum, showing small trains running on tracks.

Photo: Thomas Hermes / Wikimedia Commons / Image For Representation Only

This popular Railway Museum in India is different because it does not have real trains. Instead, it has small models of trains that move on tiny tracks. Joshi’s Museum of Miniature Railways shows how trains travel through tunnels, bridges, and stations in a fun way. The trains run on a beautiful setup that looks like a real railway. It is a great place for kids and train lovers who enjoy watching tiny trains move. The museum is exciting and teaches visitors how railways work. It is a must-visit for anyone who loves trains and miniatures.

Timings: 9 AM – 5 PM
Entry Fee: ₹90 for adults, ₹60 for children
How To Reach: 6 km from Pune Junction; accessible by bus or taxi

9. Regional Rail Museum, Hubballi

The Regional Rail Museum in Hubballi features old train engines and railway signals

Photo: dharam veer / Pexels / Image For Representation Only

The Regional Rail Museum in Hubballi is a great place to learn about the South Western Railway zone. It has old train coaches, vintage engines, and railway signals used in the past. There is also a small railway track model showing how trains run. Visitors can see how railways have changed over time. It is a wonderful place for people who love trains and want to know more about their history. If you enjoy learning about trains, this is a must-visit Railway Museum In India where you can explore many interesting things about Indian Railways.

Timings: 10 AM – 5 PM
Entry Fee: ₹10
How To Reach: 3 km from Hubballi Junction railway station

10. Northern Railway Heritage Museum, Moradabad

An old steam locomotive on display at the Northern Railway Heritage Museum in Moradabad, a popular Railway Museums In India

Photo: 4-RAZOR 01 / Wikimedia Commons / Image For Representation Only

The Northern Railway Heritage Museum in Moradabad is a wonderful place to learn about old trains and how railways worked in the past. This popular Railway Museum in India has many interesting things, like old steam engines, railway signals, and clocks used at stations. One of the special attractions is a railway saloon that British officers used long ago. Visitors can see how trains looked and how they worked many years ago. It is a great place for train lovers and anyone interested in history. If you enjoy learning about Indian Railways, this museum is worth a visit.

Timings: 10 AM – 5 PM
Entry Fee: Free
How To Reach: 2 km from Moradabad Junction

Railway museums in India showcase the country’s rich railway history, from the grand National Rail Museum in Delhi to the charming Ghum Railway Museum in Darjeeling. These museums offer a fun and educational experience for all ages. If you love trains or history, plan a visit soon. Book your trip easily with TripXL and explore India’s amazing railway heritage with just a few clicks.

Cover Photo: Slyronit / Wikimedia Commons

Frequently Asked Questions

The National Rail Museum in New Delhi is the largest Railway Museums In India, covering 10 acres and showcasing over 100 locomotives, train carriages, and railway artefacts.
The Rewari Steam Locomotive Shed is the only working steam loco shed in India. It maintains vintage steam engines like the famous "Fairy Queen," one of the oldest working steam locomotives in the world.
Yes! Most railway museums have toy train rides, interactive exhibits, and miniature train models, making them fun and educational for kids.
Joshi's Museum of Miniature Railways in Pune is famous for its detailed model train setups, featuring small trains running on landscapes with tunnels, bridges, and stations.
Railway museums can be visited throughout the year, but it's best to avoid peak summer months (May–June) in cities like Delhi and Chennai due to high temperatures.

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