>GreenC bot at 16:04, 16 April 2021

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{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2018}}
{{Use Indian English|date=November 2018}}
{{Infobox museum
| name = Joshi's Museum of Miniature Railway
| native_name =
| native_name_lang =
| image =
| imagesize = 200
| caption =
| alt =
| pushpin_map = Maharashtra
| map_caption =
| map_alt =
| coordinates = {{coord|18.50163|73.822213|display=inline}}
| established = 1998 (present building)
| dissolved =
| location = Erandwane, [[Pune]], [[Maharashtra]], India
| type = [[Transport museum]]
| collection =
| visitors =
| director =
| president =
| curator =
| publictransit =
| car_park =
| network =
| website = http://www.minirailways.com/
}}

'''Joshi's Museum of Miniature Railway''' is a miniature railway museum located in the [[Erandwane]] locality of [[Pune]], a city in the state of [[Maharashtra]], India. The museum hosts working models of various types of trains. It was started by Bhausaheb Joshi.

==History==
The museum was conceptualized and started by B. S. Joshi, popularly known as Bhausaheb Joshi.<ref name="Gunaji2010">{{cite book|author=Milind Gunaji|author-link=Milind Gunaji|title=Offbeat Tracks in Maharashtra|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=KHA9SzLMj3EC&pg=PA236|accessdate=22 May 2012|year=2010|publisher=Popular Prakashan|isbn=978-81-7991-578-3|pages=236}}</ref> Through his childhood hobby of collecting and making models, he started working on this concept in the 1960s. He initially made mobile working models, which he would set up in various cities for the public to view. His first exhibition took place in Pune at the Gokhale Hall in 1982. In 1984 the layout was displayed in [[Mumbai]] (then Bombay) and again in 1986, in Pune's Dastur High School. It was then that Joshi decided to have a permanent exhibition to avoid the inconveniences of mobile models. The present layout of the museum was fabricated in 1991 and the museum opened on 1 April 1998.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.minirailways.com/about.html |title=Joshi's Museum of Miniature Railways: The Only Miniature City In India |accessdate=25 May 2012}}</ref> Over time the layout was enlarged with many additions of digital controls and multiple models. The museum's present proprietor is Dr. Ravi Joshi, Bhausaheb's son.

==On exhibit==
The model trains on exhibition run through a miniature city and are presented with a [[Son et lumière (show)|son et lumière]] show. The layout includes 65 signals, fences, lamp posts, flyovers, etc. and can be controlled manually as well as through a computer. In 2011 it has working models of "10 - 15" types of trains, including steam engines, the [[Shinkansen|bullet train]] and a mini sky-train.<ref name=DNA>{{cite web|url=http://www.dnaindia.com/mumbai/report_joshi-museum-of-miniature-railways-included-in-pune-darshan-trip_1545516|title=Joshi museum of Miniature Railways included in Pune Darshan trip|date=20 May 2011|work=[[DNA (newspaper)|DNA]]|publisher=2 Diligent Media Corporation Ltd.|accessdate=22 May 2012|location=Mumbai}}</ref>

In 2003, the museum developed a miniature railway that interacts with other equipment and simulates train movements. This project, the first of its kind in India, was executed for HBLnife, a company that manufactures and supplies batteries, high-frequency track circuit [[data loggers]], [[Counter (digital)|digital axle counters]] and electronic interlocking systems to the Indian Railways. The model is the first ever scale model in India that is digitally controlled and can [[Simulation|simulate]] movements of trains.<ref name=FE>{{cite web|url=http://www.financialexpress.com/news/joshis-museum-develops-minitrain-for-simulations/83676/0 |title=Joshi’s Museum Develops Mini-train For Simulations |date=20 May 2003 |work=financialexpress.com |publisher=The Indian Express Limited |accessdate=22 May 2012 |location=New Delhi}}</ref>

Since 2003, the museum is an India distributor for international brands such as [[Fleischmann (model railroads)|Fleischmann]], [[Roco]] and [[Hornby Railways]] that make scale models of railways. "Trainz", the hobby centre of the museum intends, according to Ravi Joshi, to popularize train modelling and impart basic knowledge about it. Currently the charges for the individual consist of Rs 90 for an individual, kids below 3 years are not charged.<ref name="TOI-20030520">{{cite web|url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2003-05-20/pune/27265701_1_modelling-indian-railways-hobby|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130103074023/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2003-05-20/pune/27265701_1_modelling-indian-railways-hobby|url-status=dead|archive-date=3 January 2013|title=A giant leap towards train modelling|date=20 May 2003|accessdate=22 May 2012|work=[[The Times of India]]|location=Mumbai}}</ref> The museum also has its own manufacturing unit. The museum sells miniature railway kits on site and also supplies models to Switzerland, Australia and the [[Indian Railways]].<ref name="TOI-20090403">{{cite web|url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2009-04-03/pune/28019414_1_museum-displays-miniature-version-indian-railways|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130103160435/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2009-04-03/pune/28019414_1_museum-displays-miniature-version-indian-railways|url-status=dead|archive-date=3 January 2013|title=Miniature train museum chugs into 11th year |date=3 Apr 2009 |accessdate=22 May 2012 |work=[[The Times of India]]|location=Mumbai}}</ref> In 2007 it manufactured a scale model of the [[Jungfrau Railway]], Europe's highest railway, and received an order for 2000 sets, which will be sold at the stations of the railway. The models are made by the [[injection moulding]] process.<ref name="Hindu-20070824">{{cite web|url=http://www.thehindubusinessline.in/life/2007/08/24/stories/2007082450120200.htm |title=Joshi's museum of miniature railways |date=24 Aug 2007 |author=R. Savitha |work=Hindu epaper |publisher=[[The Hindu Business Line]] |accessdate=22 May 2012 |location=Chennai}}</ref>

The museum is included in the attractions covered by the Pune Municipal Corporation's one-day city tour bus.<ref name=DNA/> The road on which the museum is located has been named after Bhau Joshi .<ref name="IE-20080507">{{cite web|url=http://www.expressindia.com/latest-news/road-named-after-founder-of-museum-of-miniature-railways/332375/|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130122134133/http://www.expressindia.com/latest-news/road-named-after-founder-of-museum-of-miniature-railways/332375/|url-status=dead|archive-date=22 January 2013|title=Road named after founder of Museum of Miniature Railways|date=7 Jul 2008|work=expressindia.com|publisher=The Indian Express Limited|accessdate=22 May 2012|location=New Delhi}}</ref>

==See also==

{{colbegin}}
* [[National Rail Museum, New Delhi]]
* [[Rewari Railway Heritage Museum]]
* [[Regional Railway Museum, Chennai]]
* [[Railway Museum Mysore]]
* [[Railway Heritage Centre, Tiruchirappalli]]
{{colend}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* {{Official website|http://www.minirailways.com/}}

{{Authority control}}


[[Category:Museums in Pune]]
[[Category:Railway museums in India]]
[[Category:Miniature railways in India]]
[[Category:Model railway shows and exhibitions]]

Joshi's Museum of Miniature Railway - Revision history

>GreenC bot at 16:04, 16 April 2021