Museumsstellwerk Armsheim Nord
Completely preserved mechanical signal box from 1899 at Armsheim station – can be visited on selected open days with free guided tours.
About the museum
In 1899, the Prussian-Hessian Railway Community equipped Armsheim station with three mechanical signal boxes. The northern signalman's box "An" operated switches and signals at the exit where the lines to Mainz and Bingen divide, and secured a neighboring level crossing. The technology comes from the company C. Stahmer of Georgsmarienhütte, which equipped many signal boxes in Rheinhessen at the time.
In August 2007, an electronic signal box took over control, the old facilities were decommissioned, and the southern signal box was demolished. The northern building, by contrast, remained fully preserved with its lever frame, tensioning mechanism, and barrier crank, and is protected as a technical cultural monument. It is considered the only mechanical signal box in Rheinhessen whose technology can still be seen in full. Since 2016 it has opened regularly on Tag des offenen Denkmals (Open Monument Day).
A volunteer friends' association maintains the building and technology, procures and restores missing parts, and is gradually expanding the signal box into an experience museum on the railway history of Rheinhessen. On several open days a year, members explain the duties of the switchman in guided tours; visitors can operate levers and set signals themselves.
Highlights
- Fully preserved, functional signal box technology of the Stahmer design from 1899
- Only fully equipped mechanical signal box in Rheinhessen
- Lever frame and tensioning room to try out yourself
- Free guided tours by volunteers
- Family day with children's rally and switchman diploma
Permanent exhibitions
- Stellwerkstechnik von 1899 – The lever frame on the upper floor and the tensioning room on the ground floor show in their original condition how a switchman set switches, signals, and barriers mechanically.
- Operated by
- Förderverein Altes Stellwerk Armsheim (An) e.V.
Admission & discounts
Admission is free.
Tours free of charge; donations for the preservation of the signal box are welcome. Special events such as guided e-bike tours may be subject to a fee.
Accessibility
- Wheelchair accessible: not available
- 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 signal box is not accessible.
Kids & families
Great for kids & families
- Family tours & workshops
- Activity booklet, scavenger hunt or kids’ audio guide
- Hands-on stations
At the annual family day there are child-friendly tours, a rally with a switchman diploma, reading aloud, and a toy railway; children may "run trains" themselves on the switch model and at the lever frame and crank the barrier.
Getting there & parking
By car
Parking available · 5-min walk · 500 m to the entrance
Parking lot at Armsheim station (Bahnhofstraße); from there on foot through the street "Auf der Horst". Direct access to the signal box is open only to agricultural traffic.
Via the A 61, exit Wörrstadt, then via Rommersheim and Schimsheim to Armsheim and there onto Bahnhofstraße.
Get directionsAmenities & dining
The museum hasn’t published any information on this – please ask the museum directly.
Events & venue rental
The museum hasn’t published any information on this – please ask the museum directly.
Plan your visit
| Guided tours | yes |
|---|---|
| Good to know | Visits only with a guided tour; on open days tours start every full and half hour. Group tours and photo appointments by arrangement (tel. 0176 4564 2922, info@stellwerk-armsheim.de). |
