As CSMT undergoes ‘world-class’ makeover, invaluable artefacts, once showcased at the museum on the premises, carted to Lonavala and dumped on open, muddy plot
Once a proud showcase of India’s railway legacy, now lying forgotten in the mud at the Lonavala museum site. Pics/Devraj Malekar
The Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT) heritage gully in Mumbai— an open-air museum featuring rare relics like India’s oldest electric and steam locomotives and parts of the original railway infrastructure — has been carelessly dismantled and relics relocated to Lonavla to make way for the CSMT’s redevelopment into a ‘world-class’ terminal.
The priceless artefacts, once showcased at the site, have now been transported to Lonavala, where they were reportedly damaged during transit and are currently lying abandoned on a muddy plot earmarked for a future museum.
“Most of the relics from the CSMT heritage gully have been dumped at the so-called Lonavala museum site. Who’s going to visit such an isolated place? It’s better to scrap them than insult such heritage. The condition is pathetic,” said an appalled rail enthusiast Devraj Malekar, who visited the site and shared photographs of the neglected relics.
The CSMT heritage gully was inaugurated in 2018 by former Central Railway General Manager DK Sharma on World Heritage Day. Now, rail enthusiasts are calling for urgent intervention from current GM DV Meena to safeguard what’s left. “You cannot neglect the heritage of India’s first railway to such an extent. Even relics from one of the oldest station buildings at Sion are set to be demolished soon,” another railfan said.
Rare locomotives and century-old relics await a proper home as redevelopment buries history under debris
Although the site still has a few relics strewn amid the muck and construction activity, Central Railway reportedly never planned a proper relocation strategy. Even trees from the Mumbai Metro 3 construction site, transplanted at the heritage gully on court orders, are now part of the chaos.
What were these relics?
Heritage gully at CSMT had several unique artefacts, including:
A 1928 vintage narrow-gauge steam locomotive that once ran on the Kurduwadi-Latur Barsi Light Railway.
One of India’s first electric locomotives, EF/1 “Sir Leslie Wilson”, split into three parts for transport, now abandoned in muck at CSMT.
A WCG-2 class electric loco, built by Chittaranjan Locomotive Works for 1500V DC power. It had previously run in Mumbai and was brought in 2019 by trailer from Kalyan Electric Loco Shed.
A heritage wagon built by Birmingham Railway Carriage and Wagon Company in 1920.
A manual fire engine from 1880, operated by 8–12 men.
An old printing press, stone crusher, and steam crane.
Among the highlights was a rare NDM1-class 700 HP diesel locomotive (No. 501), painted in its original blue-yellow livery. Built in 1955 by Arnold Jung GmbH, Germany, it had served the narrow-gauge Neral–Matheran Hill Railway and was rebuilt at Parel Workshop in 2002.
Another showpiece was the ZDM4A-class diesel loco (No. 212) from Murtijapur, built in 1975, refurbished and painted before being transported to CSMT via Parel Loco Works.
But today, most of these treasures lie neglected, covered in mud and construction debris — a jarring sight for what was once a proud display of India’s railway legacy.
“Utmost care has been taken while transporting these artefacts. If there is some damage during the transportation process, then scientific methods will be used for restoration. Also, the work for the preparation of heritage gully at Lonavala will be taken up shortly to ensure a pleasant experience for the passengers,” a CR spokesperson said.
2018
Year CSMT heritage gully in Mumbai was inaugurated
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