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Rail Museum, Mysore
The Mysore Rail Museum, beside the railway station on KRS Road, is open 9:30–17:30 according to the Mysuru district administration, with tickets at ₹20 for adults and ₹10 for children aged 5–10. Set up by Indian Railways in 1979, it is an open-air yard of steam locomotives and royal carriages under old trees, with a battery mini train for children.
An open-air yard of retired trains beside the railway station, set up by Indian Railways in 1979 and among the oldest museums of its kind in the country. The prize exhibits are the maharani's saloon carriages from the Mysore State Railway, along with steam locomotives standing out in the sun and a 1922 Austin motor car rebuilt to run on rails. The Chamundi Gallery holds railway photographs, and a battery-powered mini train circles the grounds for children. Open roughly 10 to 6; sources disagree on the weekly closing day, so check before setting out.
Royal saloon carriages, steam engines and a 1922 car that ran on rails, in one yard
Timings and entry fee
The Mysuru district administration lists:
- Open: 9:30–17:30.
- Tickets: ₹20 for adults, ₹10 for children aged 5–10.
Other listings give roughly 10:00–18:00 and disagree on the weekly closing day; the district page names none. If you are coming on a Monday, phone the museum first (0821 286 6955).
The locomotives stand in the open yard, so on a hot day the morning is the more comfortable time.
What to see
The museum was the second of its kind in India, after the National Rail Museum in Delhi. Its centre of gravity is royal.
- The Maharani's saloon. A carriage of 1899 from the Mysore State Railway with its own kitchen, dining unit and royal toilet. Two more royal coaches of the Maharaja of Mysore stand with it.
- Steam locomotives. Among them E-506, a narrow-gauge 4-6-2 built by Kerr, Stuart in England in 1922 for the Mysore State Railway; TS 37338, a metre-gauge tank engine built by W. G. Bagnall in 1932, also for the Mysore State Railway; YP 2511, built by Telco in 1963; and the North Western Railway narrow-gauge tank engine No. 119 E, built by W. G. Bagnall in 1900, which burned firewood instead of coal.
- The Austin rail car. An Austin motor car fitted with rail wheels and its steering removed, used to carry inspection officials along the track; it could seat six.
- The galleries. Photographs and paintings of the growth of Indian railways, old signals and lamps, and in the Sriranga Mantapa section a royal compartment and a pillar from the old Srirangapatna station.
- For children: a battery-operated mini train circles the grounds.
A South Western Railway photo brochure also shows a turntable, a model railway layout, a souvenir shop and a cafe fitted out inside a coach.
👣 How to get there
The museum is on KRS Road (Princess Road), opposite the main gate of the Central Food Technological Research Institute (CFTRI).
- From the railway station
240 m: walk out of Mysuru station and you are there.
- From the bus stand
2.5 km from the suburban bus stand; take an auto.
- From the airport
13.5 km from Mysore airport.
A tip
The museum works well as the first or last stop of a Mysore day: it is next to the station, so it fits around a train to or from Bengaluru. With children, start with the mini train and then walk the engines.
❓ FAQ
What is the entry fee for the Mysore Railway Museum?
₹20 for adults and ₹10 for children aged 5–10, according to the Mysuru district administration.
What are the Railway Museum Mysore timings?
9:30–17:30 per the district administration. Sources disagree on a weekly closing day, so call before a Monday visit.
Where is the Mysore Rail Museum?
On KRS Road, opposite CFTRI, 240 m from Mysuru railway station.
Is the Mysore Railway Museum good for children?
Yes: there is a battery-operated mini train, and the steam engines stand out in the open yard.
When was the Mysore Railway Museum set up?
In 1979, by Indian Railways; it was the second rail museum in India after Delhi's.