Norsk jernbanemuseum

About the museum

Norsk jernbanemuseum was started by railway people in 1896 and is to document the history of the railway in Norway and its role in social development. The collection was first housed on the first floor of Hamar station. In 1930 the museum was rebuilt as an open-air museum at Disen on the edge of town, and in 1956 it moved to its present location at Martodden by Mjøsa. A new building with administration, workshops and exhibitions opened in 2003. The museum is a state agency under the Norwegian Railway Directorate (Jernbanedirektoratet), and when NSB was split in 1996 it regained the name Norsk jernbanemuseum, which it had also used from 1896 to 1946.

The main exhibition, “På sporet av reisen” (On the Track of the Journey), is built as a town station with two trains and gives an insight into Norway's social development in the 19th and 20th centuries, linking railway history to technological development. The exhibition has interactive activities, a play corner for children, a model railway and the chance to try Morse code and train dispatching in the stationmaster's office.

Outside is a large museum park with historic tracks and signalling systems, station buildings from the earliest days of the railway, a gatekeeper's house, two halls with locomotives and carriages, and the steam locomotive “Dovregubben” (the Dovre Troll). In summer the narrow-gauge steam train “Tertittoget” and the mini train “Knertitten” run, and the museum's historic “Karéttoget” runs on some trips. The park is open to everyone all year round.

Highlights

• The main exhibition “På sporet av reisen” (On the Track of the Journey), built as a town station with two trains
• The steam locomotive “Dovregubben” in the carriage hall
• Museum park with historic station buildings, tracks and signalling systems
• The Tertittoget and the mini train Knertitten, which run in summer
• Karéttoget, one of the world's oldest and most complete veteran trains that can still run
• Play corner with a GeoTrax track and the play locomotive “Urskog”

Permanent exhibitions

• På sporet av reisen – Main exhibition built as a town station with two trains, on Norway's social development and the history of the railway in the 19th and 20th centuries.
• Museumsparken – Park with station buildings, a gatekeeper's house, locomotive and carriage halls, including the steam locomotive “Dovregubben”, and museum trains in summer.

Founded

1896

Operated by

Norsk jernbanemuseum (statlig etat under Jernbanedirektoratet)

Admission & discounts

The museum has two price levels. Winter price (2 January–7 June and 17 August–22 December): adults NOK 145, children aged 4–15: NOK 75, seniors/concessions (honnør), students and conscripts NOK 125. Summer price (8 June–16 August): adults NOK 175, children NOK 105, seniors/concessions, students and conscripts NOK 145, family with one adult NOK 335 and with two adults NOK 510, group NOK 145 per person. Children aged 0–3 and members of the friends' association have free admission. Tour operators receive net prices on request. Trips with the Tertittoget and the mini train Knertitten in summer are included in the admission price.

Accessibility

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Activity booklet, scavenger hunt or kids’ audio guide
• Hands-on stations
• Playground / play area

Play corner in the main exhibition with a GeoTrax track and books, the play locomotive “Urskog” and tasks for the family. In summer the Tertittoget runs, and the mini train Knertitten at Leikvangen station is included in the ticket. Children aged 0–3 have free admission.

Getting there & parking

The museum is located at Martodden by Mjøsa in Hamar, Strandvegen 161.

Amenities & dining

• Museum shop

Museum shop at the entrance. The restaurant carriage “Kari-Sofie” from 1911 is the museum's summer café, but it is currently not in operation.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit