Mumbai: Historic railway relics neglected amid CSMT redevelopment

Covered in debris and mud Sir Leslie Wilson one of Indiarsquos first electric locomotives manufactured in the 1920s is lying in a neglected state at Mumbai CSMT which is being redeveloped And so are the other artefactsRare and historic relics of Indiarsquos first railway company the Great Indian Peninsula Railway including an 1858 inscription of a bridge one of the first electric locomotives iconic old steam engines mini rail buses and pieces of Indiarsquos industrial heritage like the old rail printing press and stone crushers are now lying in ruins gathering dust due to the neglect of Central Railway MumbaiRedevelopment work underway at CSMTThe openair museum known as heritage gully was inaugurated by CRs general manager in 2018 It is now filled with muck pits garbage and debris with important relics covered in dust because redevelopment work at Mumbai CSMT station has taken over the site without relocating the artefactsldquoWhat should we say about the Railways and their love of heritage Just look at Japanese and European rail museums where all locomotives and rolling stock are in perfect and almost working conditions and we cannot even maintain a static display heritage locomotiverdquo said railfan Devraj MalekarThe heritage gully was inaugurated on World Heritage Day April 18 2018 by former General Manager DK Sharma The railway heritage museum was established by teams of railway officials who meticulously gathered data and collected various relics and locomotives from different parts of the state and across the Central Railway These items were then transported to Mumbai CSMTThe present administration has completely ignored the museum and failed to shift it to a new location within the time There were tentative plans to shift the museum to Lonavala but the promise of a big museum at Lonavala is repeated every few years since 2008 without any actionThe 1858dated historic plaques of the demolished Carnac Bunder bridge had also been preserved by Central Railway at this site in 2022The bridge featured basalt stones at each end inscribed with its name and the year of construction Six stones bore these inscriptions which date back to 1858 presumably marking the beginning of the bridges construction Central Railway has preserved these six stones in the Heritage Gully though they are now under threatldquoThis work has been undertaken for the creation of office space so that the heritage buildings Ie the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus building and Annex building can be restored to its old Glory The work for the restoration of various buildings is being completed on priority Also the relocation of the heritage gully is planned Concerned authorities have also been advised for better maintenance of the historical and heritage locomotivesrdquo a CR spokesperson saidKey relicsSir Leslie Wilson EF1 Historic electric locomotive from the 1920s in service till 1998WRB1 Rail Bus Rare blue diesel rail bus for 76 passengers served Maharashtrarsquos JalambhKhamgaon sectionWCG2 Electric Loco 1500V DC electric locomotive vital for Igatpuri and Khandala ghatsHeritage Wagon 1920 Birmingham Railway Carriage Co wagon printing press 1880 fire engine and steam crane