Photo: VincentLR · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Spazio Espositivo Rotabili Storici

Exhibition on the Circumetnea Railway in the former depot of Bronte station, with a steam locomotive, railcars and historic photographs.

Opening hours unknown

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About the museum

The Spazio Espositivo Rotabili Storici is dedicated to the history of the Ferrovia Circumetnea and was created by converting the historic depot of Bronte station. Oak railway sleepers, worked in the Circumetnea’s own carpentry workshop, were used to clad the two entrance doors, while the handles are made from pieces of historic rail. The building was inaugurated on 4 July 2016, 121 years after the railway was built, and opened to the public on 11 July of the same year.

The former depot houses steam locomotive no. 10 “Mascali”, a flatcar with a guard’s box and a closed wagon, as well as the railcars ALn 56.01 and ALn 56.06, the so-called littorine built by Fiat Ferroviaria. The ALn 56.06 is in working order and used for tourist trips, especially on the Bronte–Randazzo line. Historic photographs from the Circumetnea archive are displayed on the walls.

Outside are the historic royal carriage in which Victor Emmanuel III and Elena of Montenegro travelled in 1911, seriously damaged and awaiting restoration, and, in the station forecourt, the old crane wagon and steam locomotives no. 1 and no. 2.

Highlights

Steam locomotive no. 10 “Mascali”
Fiat ALn 56 railcars (littorine), one still in tourist service
Historic photographs from the Circumetnea archive
Royal carriage of 1911 displayed outside