Suomen Rautatiemuseo

About the museum

The Suomen Rautatiemuseo (Finnish Railway Museum) was founded on 16 March 1898, when railway officials combined their collections at a meeting of the Suomen Rautatiemiesyhdistys (Finnish Railwaymen’s Association) in Helsinki. The first exhibition space opened in 1905 in the basement at Kaivokatu 7, near Helsinki railway station. In 1922 the museum moved to the western wing of the new railway station designed by Eliel Saarinen. The building was damaged in the bombing of Helsinki in 1942; the museum was closed and reopened at the end of 1948. In 1959 the museum moved to the eastern wing of the station, where the space was about half of what it had been before.

In 1962 a larger home was needed, and the Rautatiehallitus (Railway Board) chose Hyvinkää as the location. The area was a station and depot site dating from the 1870s along the Hanko–Hyvinkää railway, almost in its original state and capable of being extended. The Rautatiemuseon Säätiö (Railway Museum Foundation) was set up to run the museum, and the museum opened in Hyvinkää in summer 1974. The first new exhibition hall was completed in 1987, and in the 1990s the old buildings were restored. The museum was named Suomen Rautatiemuseo in 1994 and became the national specialist museum for rail transport in 1997.

The collections include two operational diesel locomotives, Dr13 and Dv16, and Leena (Vk4 68), which is the oldest operational broad-gauge steam locomotive in Finland. The third exhibition hall houses the heritage train Valtteri.

Highlights

• Leena (Vk4 68), the oldest operational broad-gauge steam locomotive in Finland
• Engine shed from 1873, from the steam era
• The Emperor’s train (Keisarin juna)
• Heritage train Valtteri and changes in carriage interiors
• Restored station building with its original offices and waiting rooms

Permanent exhibitions

• Todellinen aikamatka – The exhibition halls take visitors from the imperial era towards the present day, alongside old locomotives and carriages.
• Veturitalli – Engine shed from 1873 from the steam era on the Hanko–Hyvinkää line; the shed also houses a children’s workshop.
• Asema – Restored 19th-century station building with its original station offices and waiting rooms, and an exhibition on station architecture.

Founded

1898

Operated by

Rautatiemuseon Säätiö

Director

Tiina Lehtinen

Admission & discounts

The Museokortti is accepted (not on museum days). Free admission for, among others, school classes and kindergarten groups from Hyvinkää, teachers and group leaders, holders of Interrail passes and friends of the Railway Museum. Payment methods: cash, bank and credit cards, Museokortti, ePassi and Edenred Virike.

Accessibility

• Partially wheelchair accessible
• Elevator: no information
• Accessible restroom
• Accessible parking
• Service dogs welcome
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

There is an accessible parking space close to the main entrance. The entrance hall has an accessible toilet and a changing room, and another toilet is at the end of the engine shed. The large exhibition halls and the engine shed are accessible, but the exhibition buildings in the park area have steps and no step-free route. Guide dogs and assistance dogs are welcome.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Baby changing facilities

A family ticket for €30 covers two adults and all children under 18; under-7s enter free of charge. The engine shed has a children’s workshop. The entrance hall has a baby-changing room.

Getting there & parking

Amenities & dining

• Café
• Museum shop
• Lockers

A café in the entrance hall in winter and the Pakarituvan summer café in warmer months. The museum shop in the entrance hall sells books, toys, souvenirs and cards. Lockable storage cabinets are in the hall.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit