Underrated and not much frequented, this museum is nevertheless charming. It is like stepping back in time as it provides a glimpse of what train travel was during the times of the kings. Established in 1979, it houses several decommissioned steam locomotives and coaches from the train that was once run for the Maharaja of Mysore, including a saloon that dates from 1899. The railway theme continues throughout and even the ticket office has a railway-related theme; it’s an adapted goods carriage that was built in England during 1923. It is a relatively small museum and the main attraction of the museum is the Sri Ranga Pavillion, which houses the Maharani’s kitchen and dining carriages, plus her saloon. The saloon has an interesting capability, it could be adjusted to run on both, broad and metre gauge tracks. Various railways related artefacts, salvaged from around Karnataka are on display in the Pavillion. Among them is the clock that once kept time in Mysore station (made in New York in 1881), and carved wooden pillars from the old Srirangapatna station. There are also some unusual exhibits such as a chloroform inhaler and a telephone dating from the early 1930s (the personal phone of Maharaja Krishnaraja Wadiyar). The Chamundi Gallery, a small round gallery, holds an eclectic collection of pictures and documents which relate to the development of the railways. A favourite with the children is a mini train that offers visitors joy rides around a track that loops through the museum grounds.