PATIALA STATE MONO RAIL TRAMWAYS

February 3, 2013

Audio Guide:-

The foundation of the first Transport Museum (Now National Rail Museum) in India was laid on 7th October, 1971 by then President of India, Shri V.V. Giri, with the objective to explain to the public at large the historical development of the Railways, their achievements in a clear, lucid and scientific manner so that the public in general evince interest in the Railways. The NRM was inaugurated by then Rail Minister Sh. Kamlapati Tripathi on 1st February, 1977. The museum is located in over 10 acres of land & has both indoor and outdoor exhibits. In all there are 88 outdoor exhibits, some of them are about 150 years old namely “Ram Gooty Steam Engine”. Museum boasts of having Steam Engines of the various gauges, fireless Steam Engine, mono rail train, working Fire Engine of Nizam (Morris Fire Engine), Various, saloon, belonging to erstwhile rulers & British viceroys, coaches & Vans plying on different gauges for transporting public & animals, self-propelled Rail cars, Break down Cranes, Military Vans etc. All these exhibits has a story to be told.

NRM alongwith RITES Ltd. has taken a step in this direction by procuring Audio Guide System in which the historical significance of these exhibits has been recorded in a story telling format. The equipment alongwith story for this project has been supplied by M/s Integrated Digital Solutions Pvt. Ltd.

On implementation of Audio Guide system, it will overtake the role of a Human Guide. It will enhance the overall experience of visiting and learning about collections of the museum. This will also ease the overcrowding of visitors at a particular place of exhibit as the peak Footfall per day registered is as high as 5500 and average Footfall is 1700-1800 visitors. The system has been designed in both English & Hindi languages and also for the children separately to suit the interest of public of all generations.

Patiala State Mono Rail TRAMWAYS (PSMT):-

PSMT was a unique rail guided, partially road-borne railways systems running in Patiala in the state of Punjab from 1907 to 1927. It is the only operational locomotive – hauled Railway system built using the Ewing system in the world i.e. monorails using a balancing wheel for balancing the train. Maharaja Sir Bhupinder Singh ji of Patiala got this unique railway system constructed under supervision of Col Bowles to facilitate movement of people and goods in his state. Four locomotives for PSMT were built and delivered by Orenstein & Koppel of Germany (O&K) in 1909 at a cost of £500 to £600 (about Rs. 7,000/-) each. Out of these 4 locos:-

a) Loco no. O&K 3359 is preserved at Amritsar workshop.
b) Two other locos now does not exist.
c) Loco O&K 3358 and the saloon are preserved at NRM, New Delhi.

The coach under frame at NRM belongs to inspection coach of Col Bowles, on which the present coach body had been reproduced.

National Rail Museum, New Delhi took the initiative to get the PSMT loco and saloon revived & restored. With the help of Amritsar workshop, Rewari Steam Shed staff and NRM staff the loco has been brought back into operational condition.

The saloon has been revived and restored with the help of M/s Heritage Conservators, Chandigarh. Now both loco & coach are in fully operational condition.

On the occasion of 37th Museum Foundation Day Chairman Railway Board, Sh. Vinay Mittal will inaugurate PSMT after restoration, Audio Guide System and dedicate it to public.