Built in 1893, the Rewari Steam Locomotive Shed was the only locomotive shed in North India for many years, and part of the railroad track connecting Delhi with Peshawar.[2] After steam engines were phased out by the 1990s and steam traction on meter gauge tracks was discontinued in January, 1994,[3] the loco shed remained in neglect for many years before it was rehabilitated. The steam shed reopened in May, 2002.[4]
The Rewari Steam Locomotive Shed was refurbished as a heritage tourism destination, its edifice restored, and a museum added by the Indian Railways in December 2002.[4] The shed exhibited Victorian era artifacts used on the Indian rail network, along with the old signalling system, gramophones, and seats. The refurbished heritage museum was opened in October 2010. The engines are still available for live demonstrations.[2][5][6]
The shed and compound has 11 (of 16 functional in India)[7] of the world's oldest steam locomotives,[citation needed] restored and still functional, including the following:[8]
Akbar WP1761, was named after the Mughal Emperor, Akbar, built in 1963 at Chittaranjan Locomotive Works was inducted into active service in 1965. It has a 4-6-2 wheel arrangement, 5 ft 6 in (1,676 mm) gauge and 110 km/h (68 mph) maximum speed now-restricted to 45 km/h (28 mph) The locomotive was based at Saharanpur railway shed after being retired from active service and it has been restored and housed at Rewari shed.[10][11][12] It is now used to power the 150UP Delhi Cantt – Alwar Steam Express heritage train.[13]
Shahanshah WP/P, is one of the original bullet-nosed American Baldwin prototype number 7200 Shahanshah, which was at the Charbagh workshopsinLucknow division. It was restored for use in steam specials by the Northern Railway. It has also run several steam specials, including one between Royapuram and Tambaram on 26 January 2009, to commemorate the 153rd anniversary of Royapuram railway station (built 1856), the oldest railway station in India. It ran the Steam Express on 14 January 2012. The engine is considered a lucky mascot for the film shoots and is rented out at INR4 lakhs (INR400,000 or US$6,150) a day.[8][14]
In January 2018, Indian Railway prepared a proposal to develop an 8.8 Hectare railway heritage theme park adjacent to the Rewari Rail Museum. It will be built in collaboration with the Government of Haryana and India's Ministry of Tourism based on a concept similar to the Devon Railway Centre in UK, the Edaville Railroad Theme Park in the USA and the Ferrymead Heritage ParkinNew Zealand. The Railway has asked the Haryana Government to include this heritage museum in the state subsidised "Swadesh Darshan scheme" under the under-development Madhogarh-Mahendragarh-Narnaul-Rewari heritage circuit of the Tourism Ministry being implemented at the cost of INR1.47 billion (INR147 crore or US$23 million).[15]
The museum is open daily.[17] It has a 3-D steam loco simulator simulating Darjeeling Himalayan Railway steam locomotive ride, 3-D virtual reality coach simulator, a toy train, educational yard model train system, an indoor exhibition gallery, a 35-seater conference room with projector, a century-old dining car, cafeteria and souvenir shop. In the museum, there are exhibit halls showing models of small engines, old railway equipment, hand-held brass signal lamps, and old photos. The facilities at the museum include 30 minute long documentaries and films shows, once or twice a day in museum's conference hall with a seating capacity of 50, about the history and present operations of railways in India.[16]
Fairy Queen steam-locomotive ferries tourists from Delhi to Rewari every second Saturday from October to April.[15]
