Muzeum Kolei Wąskotorowej w Sochaczewie

About the museum

The Narrow-Gauge Railway Museum in Sochaczew is housed in the former seat of the Sochaczew County Railway (Powiatowa Kolej Sochaczewska), which began operating in 1922. The line went through several stages: until 1930 as the Sejmik Narrow-Gauge Railway (Sejmikowa Kolejka Wąskotorowa), in 1930–1939 as the Sochaczew County Railway, and after the war, from 1945, as the Sochaczew Local Railway (Sochaczewska Kolej Dojazdowa). The last regular train left Sochaczew on 30 November 1984 at 15:35; all the clocks on the museum grounds show exactly this time today.

After the railway closed, its property was taken over by the Railway Museum in Warsaw, and in 1984 the institution gained the status of a museum; the exhibition opened on 6 September 1986. The museum’s first director was Czesław Gwara, the last manager of the Sochaczew Local Railway. Today it is a branch of Stacja Muzeum, a cultural institution of the Mazovian Voivodeship Self-Government, cooperating with PKP S.A.

The collection includes steam, diesel and electric locomotives and wagons; in 2022 it numbered more than 200 objects, of which 163 were on display. The permanent exhibition “Dzieje sochaczewskiej kolei wąskotorowej 1922–1984” (History of the Sochaczew Narrow-Gauge Railway 1922–1984) tells, on panels and in display cases, of the successive periods of the line; the exhibits include, among others, a shuttle draisine, the black locomotive no. 353, a bench and an ashtray from a wagon, and souvenirs from railway stations. From April to September the museum organises trips on the historic Retro train to Wilcze Tułowskie and Tułowice on the edge of the Kampinos Forest (Puszcza Kampinoska).

Highlights

• Historic narrow-gauge rolling stock: steam, diesel and electric locomotives and wagons
• Exhibition “Dzieje sochaczewskiej kolei wąskotorowej 1922–1984”
• Clocks stopped at 15:35 – the departure of the last train in 1984
• Retro train to the Kampinos Forest (April–September)
• Open-air rolling-stock display accessible for wheelchairs and pushchairs

Permanent exhibition

• Dzieje sochaczewskiej kolei wąskotorowej 1922–1984 – Exhibition on the successive periods of the narrow-gauge railway in Sochaczew, with photographs, documents, tickets, clocks stopped at 15:35, a draisine and a locomotive.

Founded

1984

Operated by

Stacja Muzeum (instytucja kultury Samorządu Województwa Mazowieckiego)

Admission & discounts

Free admission: On Wednesdays admission is free for everyone.

Free admission is also granted to holders of the Karta Polaka and to members of the Association of Polish Museum Professionals (Stowarzyszenie Muzealników Polskich), ICOM and ICOMOS. Tickets can be bought online or at the ticket office (card payment). The Retro train trip costs the same on regular and conditional runs; the price is given on the online ticket page.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible
• Elevator: not available
• Accessible restroom
• Accessible parking
• Service dogs welcome
• Tactile models & exhibits: not available
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

The only entrance, from ul. Licealna, has no threshold, the doors are over 90 cm wide, and the approach is gentle. The exhibition in the building is on one level, and the exhibition halls and the open-air display are accessible for wheelchairs; the gradient of the paths between the platforms does not exceed 5%. The accessible toilet on the ground floor is reached via a ramp. Next to the entrance there is one parking space for people with disabilities, within 50 m of the entrance. Mobile induction loops and noise-reducing headphones are available, and guide dogs and assistance dogs are admitted to the building, the halls and the open-air display. There are no Braille signs or tactile plans. The Retro train is not adapted for wheelchair users.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Stroller-friendly

A family ticket is available (PLN 75 for 2 adults and up to 3 children), and children up to the age of 7 enter free of charge. Pushchairs can be left at the porter’s lodge; the exhibitions and the open-air display are accessible to parents with pushchairs.

Getting there & parking

Address: ul. Towarowa 7; entrance and ticket office from ul. Licealna 18 in Sochaczew.

Amenities & dining

• Museum shop
• Coat check

The cloakroom is free, self-service and unattended; the shop with souvenirs and books accepts payment cards and closes its sales 30 minutes before closing.

Events & venue rental

Hiring of space is handled by the administration of Stacja Muzeum (tel. +48 22 620 04 80, ext. 116, administracja@stacjamuzeum.pl).

Plan your visit