Tindharia (Kurseong) Dec. 26: He lives next to the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway track at Tindharia. Therefore, it is not surprising that a passion for the wonder-on-wheels has led him to come up with the idea of establishing the first model toy train museum in the hills.

Miraj Biswakarma, 16, has achieved the feat without help from the government or DGHC. For Tindharia, a small hamlet and toy train station between Siliguri and Kurseong, the museum will be a major achievement.

Miraj, a passionate toy-train-model maker, has decided to set up the small museum at his own residence.

?The old toy train engine disappeared with the advent of the modern diesel engine. People have forgotten the steam engines that will always remain synonymous with the toy train. This is what led me to the idea of building a museum of toy train models,? said Miraj who has supplied toy train models to Royal National Museum earlier.

The smallest models on display will measure half-a-centimetre while the biggest model will be three-foot long.

Apart from models, posters of the older toy train models will also be displayed at the museum.

?I am now getting everything ready because I intend to open the museum in February,? said Miraj.

Lovers of the toy train have taken note of Miraj?s pioneering effort and will be at hand for the opening of the museum. The chairman of the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway Heritage Society, David Bery has agreed to inaugurate the museum.

?He (Bery) has sent me a fax recently stating that he is very supportive of the idea. They have also sent me posters of earlier train engines from London,? said Miraj.

Support for his venture has also come from his own family members.

?Miraj is very passionate about making models and he intends to establish a museum to house all his works. To keep his interest alive we are funding his project,? said his mother Neera Biswarkarma.

The model train museum is also expected to put Tindharia on the tourist map.