Dirty walls turn into a rail museum

Ajmer: Boundary walls towards divisional railway office that were mostly used by people for peeing on Tuesday sported a rail museaum in paintings. Students from different schools here painted the walls depicting the history of railways.

The initiative was undertaken by Ajmer division and an NGO United Ajmer. These painted walls cover GLO ground of railway premises and are expected to attract people passing through the area. Railways is the main stakeholder of the land in Ajmer and 'Railways Museum on Walls' is an initiative to help people know the history.

Speaking on the occasion divisional railway manager Puneet Chawla said railways has strong historical links. The Ajmer- Beawer railway line was started in 1876 and then in 1889 it became part of Rajputana Malwa railways. In 1896 it was Mewar state railways and then western railways in 1951 and finally in 2002 it became North Western railways. "It is an unique initiative which will make citizens here proud of their railways heritage through these pictures by freelance painters and students," said Chawla.

These paintings tell the history of locomotives, coaches and signals. DRM office is also a historical building whose foundation stone was laid on March 8, 1881 as Rajputana Malwa railways headquarters. British Governor General Agent of Rajputana Colonel ERC Bradford was founder of this building. "This is a heritage building and it was completed in 1884" added Chawla.

Similarly, Ajmer workshop was established in 1877. During the first and second world wars many engines, devices and war equipment in large numbers were produced in loco workshop here which were used by many countries such as Mesopotamia, Egypt and Africa. The Ajmer workshop made history by making 734 F1, the first MG locomotive in 1895. "The history of railways in Ajmer will certainly bring pride to the people here" added Kirti Pathak of Ajmer United. She said that this positive work of students will also bring beautification of the premises..