Musée du Chemin de Fer

About the museum

The Amicale des Anciens et Amis de la Traction Vapeur, the A.A.A.T.V., was founded to bring together enthusiasts of steam locomotives, which were nearing the end of their service in the 1960s and 1970s. It became a federation with several sections in France. Its Nîmes section created the Musée du Chemin de Fer de Nîmes in the south rotunda of the town's railway depot.

At first the museum had only two rooms: one for the archives, which later became the bar, and one for displaying objects in the former tool room of the depot. New rooms were later set up with the help of depot managers. The museum hosted concerts, exhibitions and heritage days, and a steam locomotive even ran around the Arena of Nîmes during the 1997 Téléthon. Since 2020 a team of young volunteers has been involved.

The visit begins in the indoor rooms, which show railway objects, speed recorders, scale models, lamps and the firefighting equipment of the former companies. It continues in the rotunda, rebuilt in 1947, where rare vehicles can be seen on the old maintenance walkways, and then in the former lifting workshop, which houses steam locomotive 141 R 1298.

Highlights

• Volunteer-led tour in the south rotunda of the Nîmes depot
• Steam locomotive 141 R 1298 in the former lifting workshop
• Steam locomotive 140 C 27, listed as a historic monument and housed by the museum
• Historic electric locomotives, including the BB 4677 and the BB 9411
• Eight collection rooms: scale models, lamp room, firefighting equipment

Permanent exhibitions

• Collection de véhicules ferroviaires – Steam and electric locomotives, railcars and other vehicles, displayed in the rotunda and the lifting workshop.
• Salles d’objets ferroviaires – Eight rooms devoted to railway objects: speed recorders, scale models, lamp room, history of the railways in the Gard and firefighting equipment.

Founded

1988

Operated by

Amicale des Anciens et Amis de la Traction Vapeur SNCF (AAATV-SNCF, section de Nîmes)

Admission & discounts

Payment in cash, by bank card or by check. The prices do not apply to special-price events. Special rates for schools and associations are possible on request.

Accessibility

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

The museum is accessible to people with disabilities, particularly wheelchair users, under certain conditions: some rooms may be inaccessible or may require extra time. It is recommended to contact the museum before the visit. Assistance dogs and guide dogs are admitted; other animals are not.

Kids & families

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Getting there & parking

To reach the museum, follow the slope opposite the boulevard, then the sign pointing to the museum.

Amenities & dining

• Café
• Museum shop

Bar serving non-alcoholic drinks, sale of railway books and souvenirs, waiting area, air conditioning and heating, plenty of seating during the visit. The museum is entirely smoke-free.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit