Rosny-Rail

About the museum

The museum grew out of the Club Ferroviaire Noiséen, a group of model railway enthusiasts who wanted to build a miniature layout operated with real controls. Lacking premises in Noisy-le-Sec, the SNCF Paris-Est management offered them the disused basement of Rosny-sous-Bois station. The scale of the work gave rise to the idea of a proper museum.

The town of Rosny-sous-Bois, the Île-de-France Region and the Musée français du Chemin de fer in Mulhouse joined the project, whose management was entrusted to the association Rosny-Rail. After a year and a half of work, the museum opened on July 2, 1997. Since 1998, the Club Ferroviaire Noiséen and Rosny-Rail have each operated independently, although they sometimes organize joint exhibitions.

The route has about a dozen areas, arranged by theme and period, from the late 19th century to the present: small stations of the past, steam, track, signaling and signal box, model trains, train driving, and high-speed rail. The museum also holds rolling stock, including a “Lorry” hand-pump trolley and a 1930 electric locotractor. Depending on availability and weather, its volunteers offer a short ride on the trolley.

Highlights

• Atmosphere of a small early-20th-century station, with period objects and posters
• Model railway layout that visitors can drive from a recreated driver’s cab
• Reproduction of a signal box and an area dedicated to signaling
• Models and objects from the steam era
• Room on the history of high-speed rail and the trains of tomorrow
• Rolling stock: “Lorry” trolley and a 1930 electric locotractor

Permanent exhibition

• Parcours du musée Rosny-Rail – About a dozen themed areas on railway history, from track to signaling, from rolling stock to high-speed rail, with a model railway layout that visitors can operate.

Founded

1997

Operated by

Association Rosny-Rail

Admission & discounts

Bank cards are not accepted.

Accessibility

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

The museum states that it is accessible to people with reduced mobility.

Kids & families

• Hands-on stations

Visitors can try driving a train on the model layout. Depending on availability and weather, a short ride on the trolley is possible.

Getting there & parking

By car: A86 motorway, exit “Rosny-sous-Bois centre”, then follow the signs for “Gare de Rosny-sous-Bois”.

Amenities & dining

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit