Mysuru, 6 June

A rare, 2,000kg weighing scale dating back to the late 1880s has been restored and was unveiled at the Mysuru Railway Museum on Saturday.

The exhibit was inaugurated by Divisional Railway Manager, Mysuru Division, Mudit Mittal, by cutting the ribbon and dedicating the restored heritage asset to visitors at the Museum in Mysuru.

The restored exhibit highlights the evolution of railway operations and showcases how passenger baggage and parcel traffic were managed before the advent of electronic weighing systems. It also serves as an important link connecting the legacy of the South Indian Railway with the present-day South Western Railway.

Manufactured by the renowned British firm Henry Pooley & Son of Liverpool, the machine was originally procured by the South Indian Railway and later became part of the Southern Railway following the reorganisation of railway networks in 1951. Its last known operational location was Bangarpet Junction, now under South Western Railway.

Built with heavy cast-iron components and a precision lever-and-beam mechanism, the scale was used to weigh passengers’ luggage, parcels and freight consignments. The machine is an example of Victorian-era engineering and reflects the technological sophistication that supported railway operations in the pre-digital age.

The restoration forms part of efforts to preserve railway heritage and showcase the evolution of railway logistics. Officials noted that Henry Pooley & Son was among the most respected manufacturers of weighing equipment in the British Empire, with its products widely used across railways, ports and industries.

Railway authorities have requested visitors not to climb onto the platform or tamper with its delicate mechanical parts to ensure the preservation of the historic artefact.