Israel Railway Museum facts for kids
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| Museum | |
| Industry | Museum |
| Founded | 1983 |
| Headquarters | Haifa, Israel |
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Area served
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Israel |
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Key people
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Paul Cotterell (Curator) |
| Parent | Israel Railways |
The Israel Railway Museum (in Hebrew: מוזיאון רכבת ישראל) is the main railway museum for the country of Israel. It is located in the city of Haifa at the old Haifa East Railway Station, a historic station that no longer serves passengers.
The museum is owned by Israel Railways and tells the exciting story of trains in the region, going all the way back to 1892. It's a great place to see how train travel has changed over more than a century.
Contents
What Can You See at the Museum?
The museum is located in a special place: the old train shed for the Jezreel Valley line. This was once part of the famous Hejaz Railway. The museum has both indoor and outdoor areas where you can explore the history of trains.
Inside, you can see a collection of old train signs, tickets, and other cool railway items. The indoor part was updated in the year 2000. Outside, you can see the real stars of the show: the historic trains and railway cars.
Amazing Trains and Carriages
The museum has many unique trains and carriages, each with its own story. Here are some of the most interesting ones:
The VIP Coach
- Palestine Railways Saloon Coach No. 98: This fancy coach was built in England in 1922. It was like a private jet on rails, used for carrying very important people. Famous passengers included Emperor Haile Selassie of Ethiopia, Queen Elizabeth of Belgium, and the British Prime Minister, Sir Winston Churchill.
The Ambulance Coach
- Coach No. 4720: This car started its life in Belgium around 1893 for Egypt's railway. During World War I, it was turned into a hospital on wheels, serving as an ambulance coach for soldiers. After the Suez conflict in 1956, it was brought to Israel and used to help with train breakdowns.
Historic Locomotives
- Hejaz Railway Steam Engine: This is a smaller steam engine, called a "shunter," built in Germany in 1902. It was used for moving train cars around in the rail yard. It runs on a special narrow track.
- Tender for Locomotive No. 62: This is the car that carried fuel and water for a powerful steam locomotive. The engine it belonged to was built in Scotland in 1935. It pulled passenger trains from Haifa all the way to the Suez Canal in Egypt. By 1960, diesel trains had replaced steam, and most old steam engines in Israel were taken apart.
- Diesel-Electric Locomotives: The museum has two powerful diesel engines that were once used by Egyptian Railways. They were brought to Israel after the conflicts of 1956 and 1967. One of them, No. 163, was used to pull heavy freight trains in the Negev desert.
Giant Railway Cranes
- Steam Crane No. C-25-1: This huge crane was built in England in 1918 for the British Army's Royal Engineers during World War I. It was used to lift heavy railway equipment.
- Steam Crane No. C-30-1: Built in 1950 for Egypt, this crane was brought to Israel after the 1956 conflict.
Visiting the Museum
The museum is open from Sunday to Thursday, between 8:30 AM and 3:30 PM. You can pay for your ticket with cash or a credit card when you arrive.
Although regular passenger trains don't stop at the museum's station anymore, there is a special option for large groups. If you have a group of 25 or more people, you can contact the museum manager in advance. They can arrange for your intercity train to make a special stop right at the museum.
See also
In Spanish: Museo de Ferrocarriles de Israel para niños
- List of railway museums
- List of transport museums
