The Gaekwad Baroda State Railway ( GBSR )  commissioned under the Gaekwad rule, completely changed the face of Baroda State as it connected the hinterland with the cities and unified all the far-flung territories. Baroda State became one of the important centres of railways. This project takes us back to the early years of Narrow gauge Railways of Baroda State through a creative representation of the past. By juxtaposing the urban and rural context with the interior spaces of the railway carriage, the project wishes to bring to focus the impact of railways on the social and cultural fabric of the city and its nearby villages. The first narrow gauge railway line to be laid in India was in the 19th century - the 33km Dabhoi – Miyagam line. The line started with oxen pulling the carriages and then went on to be replaced by steam engines. It was then the part of the Gaekwad Baroda State Railway. Today, due to the lines been converted to broad gauge, the narrow gauge has become a part of the heritage of Baroda. 

This project was conceptualized as part of Studio project of B. Design (Interior) Program but later initiated under Center for Heritage Research. Studio project primarily examined the possibilities of converting the railway salon shed for adaptive re-use. This project under CHR is long drawn and has been divided into three phases. Phase 01 and Phase 02 have been completed. The team studied and documented the salon shed prior to reviewing complex layers of narrow-gauge railway heritage.

 

Phase 01:​ Documentation and detailed study of narrow-gauge railway coaches.

1. Passenger Coach

2. D.R.M.O (Divisional Railway Managers Office) Coach

3. Victorian Coach​

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Phase 02:​ Documentation and detailed study of other areas related to the narrow gauge - engine, turn table, maintenance shed, tracks, royal railway saloon shed of the Gaekwads.​

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Phase 03:​ Mapping and documentation of heritage lines of the narrow-gauge railways of Baroda and its nearby villages.