Catalonia Railway Museum in Vilanova i la Geltrú
Steam locomotive & Diesel electric trains museum located next to railway station in the steam sheds of the Vilanova i la Geltrú train maintenance depot
About Catalonia Railway Museum in Vilanova i la Geltrú
The Catalonia Railway Museum, or Museo Del Ferrocarril de Cataluña, is located in the original steam locomotive depot of Vilanova i la Geltrú next to the train station.
Catalonia Railway Museum History
- 1967: The steam locomotive maintenance yard at Vilanova i la Geltrú closes. (Diesel locomotives replacing steam)
- 1972: September, the 19th Congress of European Railroad Modelers (MOROP) was held as an exhibition of steam locomotives in the Vilanova i la Geltrú depot having the advantage of a working track turnstile to drive the steam trains into the various bays of the yard as well as a water tower. Renfe moved trains from different places on the Spanish peninsula to the Vilanova i la Geltrú depot for exhibition in the city. After the International Congress, most of the trains would remain parked at the depot and beginning to form a museum.
- 1980: The various public institutions involved (RENFE, Generalitat de Catalunya and Vilanova i la Geltrú Town Council) were interested in the creation of a Railway Museum in Catalonia.
- 1990: Opened as a museum being run by railway enthusiasts from the railway industry. Vilanova i la Geltrú being the terminus of the R2 line to this day has a large train maintenance yard and in the heyday of steam, counted on over 900 workers to service the trains and carriages so with the railway being a large employer in the town, it was an obvious location for a railway museum.
- 1998; to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the Barcelona to Mataró railway line, the museum foundation is incorporated and added to the list of Museums in Catalonia being museum number 114.
- 1998 - 2008: Refurbishment and incorporation of several railway buildings into the museum such as the Steam railway shed, The water tanks, some maintenance buildings "gran nave". The museum also acquired the track switching interlock from Estacio de França. The Great mural by Josep Maria Subirachs from Sants Station was also donated to the museum.
- 2006:The museum increased its collection of trains with the addition of sixteen new vehicles, including some diesel and electric Talgo traction units. The FGC also donated some trains from the Nuria Cremallera Railway.
- 2010: Refurbishment of the track turntable, Rotunda.
- 2010 onwards: Growth of the museum visitor numbers and securing of financing from multiple partners.
Image Gallery for Catalonia Railway Museum in Vilanova i la Geltrú
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