Eisenbahnmuseum Dresden

About the museum

The Dresden-Altstadt locomotive depot (Bahnbetriebswerk) was built from 1872 onward next to the Böhmischer Bahnhof, initially with one engine shed and a coal store. By the 1920s it had grown to four engine houses and its own locomotive workshop; at its peak, up to 120 steam locomotives were stationed here, including Saxon and later standard German express locomotives for the major long-distance trains.

Most of the facility was destroyed in the air raid of April 17, 1945. Today's roundhouse, Haus 1, was rebuilt on a smaller scale in 1953. After scheduled steam operations ended in 1977, the site still served for servicing turnaround locomotives and as a base for heritage locomotives; from 1989 the railway gradually withdrew.

In 1999, railway enthusiasts founded the association IG Bw Dresden-Altstadt. In 2002, the DB Museum Nürnberg set up a branch at Haus 1 but soon gave it up for cost reasons; since 2005 the association has run the museum on its own. DB Regio built a new maintenance depot on the rest of the site.

The roundhouse is home to the steam locomotives 01 137, 03 001, 19 017 and 89 6009, several diesel locomotives and the electric locomotive E 77 10, among others; many of the vehicles belong to the DB Museum or the Verkehrsmuseum Dresden and are cared for by association members. A model railway exhibition with dioramas of the Leipzig–Dresden Railway complements the collection, and since 2009 the Dresdner Dampfloktreffen (Dresden Steam Locomotive Festival) has drawn guest locomotives and special trains every spring.

Highlights

• Roundhouse Haus 1 with a working 23-meter turntable
• Express steam locomotives 01 137, 03 001 and the Saxon 19 017
• Historic electric locomotive E 77 10 (“Stangen-Elli”)
• Model railway exhibition with three dioramas of the Leipzig–Dresden line
• Dresdner Dampfloktreffen every spring with a night photo parade

Permanent exhibitions

• Lokschuppen Haus 1 – Museumsfahrzeuge – The roundhouse holds steam, diesel and electric locomotives from the collections of the DB Museum, the Verkehrsmuseum Dresden and the association, including express locomotives of the 01 and 03 classes.
• Modellbahnausstellung – On the upper floor of the staff building, three restored dioramas show scenes from the Leipzig–Dresden Railway, complemented by display cases with model locomotives.

Operated by

Interessengemeinschaft Bw Dresden-Altstadt e. V.

Admission & discounts

Free admission: Free admission on the Tag des offenen Denkmals (Heritage Open Day; roundhouse only) and during the Advent opening

Prices for museum days in 2026. During the Dresdner Museumsnacht, the citywide Museum Night ticket applies. Special trains for the steam locomotive festival can be booked separately.

Accessibility

The museum hasn’t published any information on this – please ask the museum directly.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops

Annual children's festival in June; bouncy castle, crafts and face painting at the steam locomotive festival. The model railway exhibition is open on most museum days. Children up to age 13 free (only with adults).

Getting there & parking

Entrance through the green gate at Zwickauer Str. 86 (coordinates 51.036966, 13.711226); access from Nossener Brücke is closed until further notice.

Amenities & dining

• Café

Bistro with snacks and drinks on museum days; occasionally closed due to staff shortages.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this – please ask the museum directly.

Plan your visit