18 May,2025 10:43 AM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
The CSMT heritage museum in Mumbai features a wide range of rare and historic items, CR said. Pic/Central Railway
On the occasion of International Museum Day 2025, Central Railway marked the celebration at its heritage museum located in the historic Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT), a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
According to an official statement, the theme for this year, "The Future of Museums in Rapidly Changing Communities", focuses on how museums help preserve history, start conversations, and inspire the next generation.
Reflecting the theme, CSMT heritage museum is highlighting the legacy, innovation, and transformation of the Great Indian Peninsula Railway (GIPR) -- the foundation of today's Central Railway, it said.
To mark the International Museum Day 2025, the Central Railway is running fun quizzes on its popular social media platforms, inviting the public to take part, officials said, adding that the winners will enjoy a free, guided tour of the museum -- a special opportunity to explore the grandeur of the CSMT building and learn about the journey of Indian Railways.
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The statement further said that the museum features a wide range of rare and historic items. It include scale models of the old GIP1 engine, the modern Vande Bharat Express, the Shinkansen E5 Bullet Train, and a working 1:4 scale model of a Barsi Light Railway steam engine.
"The visitors can also see heritage lamps, station bells, medical tools, and Mangalore tiles from early railway stations. QR codes next to the displays provide additional digital information to enhance the visitor experience," officials said.
They said that staying true to the day's theme of educating and empowering future generations, Central Railway often arranges special tours for underprivileged and special-needs children. Recently, 45 rural girls from villages between Asangaon and Kasara visited the museum, along with children undergoing cancer treatment from Tata Memorial Hospital.
The visits are meant to spark interest in India's railway history and inspire young minds, officials said.
Set in one of the most admired railway stations in the world, the museum is not just about trains and technology. It also tells the story of the people and vision behind Indian Railways -- pioneers who introduced train travel to India with imagination and determination, the official statement said.
