Eisenbahnmuseum Bochum

About the museum

The site in southern Bochum was built between 1916 and 1918 as the Dahlhausen locomotive depot. It mainly serviced the locomotives that hauled coal away from the collieries of the Ruhr valley. With the decline of mining, the depot lost its purpose and was closed in 1969.

In 1977 the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Eisenbahngeschichte (DGEG, German Society for Railway History) set up a museum on the site. Volunteer members gradually built up one of the largest collections of historic rail vehicles in Germany. At its heart, to this day, is the roundhouse with 14 stalls and a 20-meter turntable, surrounded by a water tower, coal bunkers and other operating facilities on around 46,000 square meters.

In 2011 operation passed to the newly founded Stiftung Eisenbahnmuseum Bochum, in which the City of Bochum and the Regionalverband Ruhr (Ruhr Regional Association) are involved alongside the DGEG. Since then the museum has been modernized; a new reception building was added in 2020. The museum is an anchor point of the Route der Industriekultur (Industrial Heritage Trail).

The collection comprises more than 120 vehicles from between 1853 and 1976 – steam, electric and diesel locomotives, passenger and freight cars. Around 100 volunteers maintain the vehicles. From spring to fall, museum trains of the Ruhrtalbahn run through the Ruhr valley toward Hagen.

Highlights

• Roundhouse with 14 stalls and a 20-meter turntable
• Prussian P 8 (38 2267) in operation
• The only surviving class 66 steam locomotive (66 002)
• More than 120 rail vehicles from 1853 to 1976
• Ruhrtalbahn museum trains

Permanent exhibitions

• Fahrzeugsammlung im Bahnbetriebswerk – Locomotives and cars from more than a hundred years of railway history in the roundhouse, the exhibition hall and on the outdoor grounds of the historic depot.

Founded

1977

Operated by

Stiftung Eisenbahnmuseum Bochum

Admission & discounts

Card payment (EC/debit card) for admission only. Ruhrtalbahn rides and special trips are separate; children under 15 ride free when accompanied by adults.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible: no information
• 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

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops

Annual children's days; a ride on the field railway is promoted as a special experience for families (currently not in operation).

Getting there & parking

GPS address: Dr.-C.-Otto-Straße 222.

Amenities & dining

• Museum shop

Leashed dogs are welcome. Museum shop.

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent
• Private parties
• Corporate events

Up to 199 guests.

Exhibition hall with four tracks (up to 199 guests, with locomotives as a backdrop) and the Vogelsang-Saal for conferences (up to 50 people, projector).

Plan your visit