Avinurme muuseumrong

About the museum

Avinurme was crossed from 1926 to 1972 by the narrow-gauge Sonda–Mustvee railway, which made freight transport possible for the region. Mainly wooden containers and timber were carried from the Alutaguse forests; later sugar, paraffin and salt were carried in the direction of Mustvee. Avinurme station was the largest on the 57-kilometre railway branch: it had three tracks, a dead-end siding and a branch track for loading sand. The station building, completed in 1928, was burned in 1941 together with a large part of Avinurme village.

At the end of the 1960s the less-used sections began to be closed. The last passenger train ran from Sonda to Avinurme on 31 May 1972, and the last freight train on 15 June of that year.

On the initiative of local people, about one kilometre of track with a railway bridge and a waiting platform has been restored. The rolling stock has also been restored; it consists of a locomotive, a café carriage, an animal wagon and a flatcar. The museum train stands at the Avinurme Puiduaid, and visitors can take a nostalgic ride on it. The ride runs only by prior booking.

Highlights

• Restored one-kilometre section of the Sonda–Mustvee narrow-gauge railway
• Nostalgic ride with museum rolling stock, including the locomotive and café carriage
• Restored railway bridge and waiting platform
• Avinurme Puiduaid: wooden crafts, café and workshops in the same place

Permanent exhibition

• Muuseumrong ja nostalgiasõidud – A restored section of railway, the railway bridge, the waiting platform and rolling stock presenting the history of the Sonda–Mustvee narrow-gauge railway.

Admission & discounts

The train ride costs €5 per person for groups of 13 or more; a ride for a group of up to 12 people costs €60 in total.

Accessibility

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Kids’ birthday parties

Workshops at Puiduaid (for example basket weaving, soap moulding, making wooden jewellery) and birthday packages are organised.

Getting there & parking

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Amenities & dining

• Café
• Museum shop

In the same building are the Avinurme Puiduaid café “Aida köök” and a wooden-crafts shop. The seminar room has WLAN as part of the seminar package.

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent
• Private parties
• Corporate events

At Avinurme Puiduaid there is a seminar room with presentation equipment for rent and a banquet hall where, for example, birthdays can be held. Catering for groups of up to 74 people is offered.

Plan your visit