mechanical platform weighing scale

Mysore: A rare piece of late 19th century railway heritage has been restored and unveiled at the Mysuru Railway Museum. The restored exhibition, mechanical platform weighing scale with 2,000 kg capacity was inaugurated by Mysuru Divisional Railway Manager Mudit Mittal. It offers visitors a glimpse of the engineering excellence and operational practices of a bygone era.The heritage asset has now been dedicated to the public as part of the museum’s efforts to preserve and showcase the rich heritage of Indian Railways, a release on Saturday said.Built by the renowned British engineering firm Henry Pooley & Son of Liverpool in the late 1880s, the weighing machine was originally purchased by the South Indian Railways. Following the reorganization and merger of the railway network in 1951, which included the then Mysore State Railway, South Indian Railways and Madras and Southern Mahratta Railways, the equipment became part of it. Southern RailwayIt said. Its last known operational location was Bangarapet Junction, now under the South Western Railway zone.Designed to weigh passengers’ luggage, parcels and freight consignments, the scale is a remarkable example of Victorian era engineering. Constructed with durable cast iron components and a precision lever-and-beam mechanism, it was capable of accurately measuring loads of up to two tons, the release said.The release said that in the 19th and early 20th centuries, Henry Polley & Son earned a global reputation for manufacturing reliable weighing equipment used extensively in railways, ports, factories and commercial establishments.Railway officials said the restored exhibit highlights the evolution of railway operations and shows how goods and parcel traffic was managed before the introduction of modern electronic weighing systems. This scale also serves as an important link connecting the historical heritage of South Indian Railways with the present day South Western Railways.Visitors to the museum are invited to view and photograph the exhibits. However, officials have urged the public not to climb on the platform or handle its delicate mechanical components, to ensure that this valuable heritage asset is preserved for future generations.