Narrow Guage Rail Musuem in Nagpur | 10 Rs Thali Lunch by Maha Govt | Ganesh Tekdi Mandir

Narrow Guage Rail Musuem in Nagpur | 10 Rs Thali Lunch by Maha Govt | Ganesh Tekdi Mandir
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The Narrow Gauge Rail Museum located on Nagpur - Jabalpur NH no.7 on Kamptee
Road near Kadbi Square, Motibagh was inaugurated on 14th December 2002 by Shri Nitish
Kumar, then Hon’ble Minister of Railways on the eve of 150th Anniversary of Indian
Railways.
The museum is set up in old Broad Gauge Steam Loco shed which is spread over
an area of 5.6 acres.Nagpur Division of South East Central Railway once had the unique distinction of maintaining the largest Narrow Gauge Railway system in Indian Railways with a network of more than 1005 km.
Over the years due to Gauge conversion, the narrow gauge has been
converted into Broad Gauge. The last remaining network of about 110 kms. in Itwari -
Nagbhir section was closed for gauge conversion on 25th November 2019. Thus the entire
Narrow Gauge system of Nagpur Division has now become a part of history.
Hence, as a foresight, to preserve and showcase the history of narrow gauge railway
system, this museum was set up.
The Main Museum building has various thematic galleries based on different
departments of Railways like Locomotives, Coaches & wagons, Signal & Telecom etc.
Information about these departments is displayed by means of photographs, models, parts
& components etc.
There is a beautiful 1916 Bagnall make steam locomotive, a 1899 built wooden bodied Royal
Carriage used by the Royalties of Paralakhemundi and a 1964 built diesel Locomotive of
ZDM2RA class. The ‘Heritage’ gallery displays beautiful german-silver cutlery items used in
Royal carriage, a coal fired oven, a unique foldable wash basin, a collection of Postage
stamps on Indian and foreign railways, old technical bulletins, Manuals, Reports &
correspondence letters, various aspects and unique features of narrow gauge system are
beautifully depicted by means of paintings.
An Auditorium having seating capacity of about 50 persons shows short films about Narrow
Gauge railway system and public awareness related interesting information.
The covered yard displays a Horse Van, First Class coach, a Postal van, Rail Bus and
different types of goods carrying wagons. A CC class steam Locomotive 1907 built by North
British Locomotive Co. Ltd. and 1956 Italian make Steam Crane are a centre of attraction.
The most unique and probably one of its kind in the country an air conditioned Revolving
Coaches having seating capacity of 24 persons converted by artistically refurbishing two
coaches mounted on a motorized turn table which revolves at the rate of one revolution per
15 minutes.
Apart from these there is a large play area with different types of play items like swings,
slides, etc. for the children in the beautifully landscaped garden. The star attraction of the
young and the old as well is a Toy Train with three coaches which takes them round the
periphery of the museum area.
In Nagpur there are number of oldest and ancient temples, Shri Ganesh Tekdi Temple is one of them. This temple is most popular and famous in Nagpur. Looking it's popularity, the number of devotees are increasing day by day. The atmosphere is very pleasing and pure beside the temple.
It's name is given as Tekdi Ganapati because it is constructed on a hill and in Marathi Language a hill is called as a Tekdi. It is believed to be approximately 250 years old. When first built, there was a ordinary tin shade and a small platform. It started improving after 1970, after the Military defense took its possession and in 1965 Late honorable then defense Minister Shri Yashwantrao Chavan arranged the possession of the temple and adjoining land to temple trust. In 1978 the big project of the construction of Ganesh temple started in full swing. All the devotees generously contributed heavy amounts for the construction and the resultant temple got present shape in 1984.
It is said that this idol is self existent. Originally this idol was very small in shape, but gradually it grew bigger and increased as per present situation. The idol is having golden decoration at forehead. Other silver ornaments are also available. In all these ornaments particularly Mukut (a diadem) is specially exhibited on Chaturthi and Ekadashi only.
It is said by devotees that this temple is a Jagruta (awake) devasthan, so it is crowded by devotees from early morning upto midnight. This temple is such a place where the whole mankind or devotees come together in one place and gather together with a goal of religions performance with purity, equality and with a pure mind.
In this temple a waving of a lamp (Arti) is done three times daily. It is done in early morning at 6:30 am, in afternoon at 12:30 pm and in evening at 6:30 pm. As a divine gift, a Modaka is distributed after these Artis. This is a specialty of this temple.