In the Kothrud area of Pune, India, is located a small factory: Soudamini Instruments, where a special hall 26′ x 26′ has been built to house the Joshi’s Museum of Miniature Railways.
Mr. B. S. Joshi, known to all as Bhau Joshi, is the originator and founder of the Museum. Collecting train models has been his hobby, or rather his obsession, from childhood.
What is the purpose of exhibiting this layout?
Even though the factory, Soudamini Instruments, has been in existence from 1962, the fact is that the concept of the factory has arisen from the dream of the museum. Before Soudamini was started Bhau Joshi was considering the manufacture of model trains, but he realised that the market was non-existent in India. So he started Soudamini. It was his interest in model trains that led him to become an expert in all things mechanical, which was the base of the factory.
It is this concept that he wishes to emphasize, through the propagation of railway modelling as a hobby, among the budding engineers and scientists of the new generation. This is the only hobby which spans varied branches of science. Architecture, civil engineering, electrical engineering, computer engineering, physics, chemistry, mathematics, statistics even accounting and photography find some link with this hobby. Thus cultivating this hobby brings about an understanding of all these subjects, creating a multidisciplinary personality.
This is not a hobby for children, but is in fact an adult hobby
At the Museum we would like to see children accompanied by adults, rather than children coming alone. It is the new generation of college going adults who should cultivate this hobby, which will be immensely useful to them in real life.
The Future Generations
After the demise of Mr. Bhau Joshi, his son Dr. Ravi Joshi has been running the museum. Dr Ravi has done his Doctorate in Computer Aided Learning from University of Pune, with most of the work being done at the Audio Visual Department of London University. He has carried on his father’s hobby and extended it into a business as was his father’s dream. Now Ravi’s son Devavrat has also joined the business to ensure continuity in the third generation.
Train Model and Training Simulator Manufacture
Soudamini Instruments now manufactures various Train models, Industrial models and layouts. They supply to Indian Railways and the Indian Hobby market. Models have also been supplied to Swiss Rail (Jungfrau Railways) and to the Australian hobby market.
Recently they have branched out into training models for Railway staff. They have made 2 interactive Traffic Model Rooms at Madgoan, Goa, and Dharwad, Karnatak, for use in training of Indian Railway operating staff. Here the operation of RRI panels, Block Instruments etc. can be demonstrated without having to go out into the field. The full size panel and control equipment operates the model trains. Thus new staff can actually see what happens on the field in terms of signals and points operating, trains passing over track circuits, train position reflecting on the panel etc. The entire logic behind any station control is precisely replicated here using electronics and software instead of relays.
One of the biggest achievements has been the construction of a new Museum in the premises of Mapro Food Court at Shendurjane, Wai. This is a more modern version of the Museum at Pune, and has been designed by Dr Ravi Joshi.
Now Dr Ravi’s son Devavrat has also joined Soudamini. He has completed his BE degree, and also undergone a yearlong internship with PIKO GmbH, a German manufacturer of model trains. Soudamini is now the authorised service center for PIKO in India. With this influx of new talent plans are underway to manufacture Indian Railway models for sale in the Indian market. Devavrat is experienced in design, development and manufacture of parts using the latest 3D printing Technology. Future technical collaborations with PIKO are also in the pipeline.
For more details visit us at: www.minirailways.com
Article Source: Joshi’s Museum | This Product Expertise is a part of our Magazine: Subscribe to our Magazine Today!
