Železniški muzej Slovenskih železnic

About the museum

The Železniški muzej Slovenskih železnic was founded in 1981 as the Odsek za muzejsko dejavnost (Museum Activities Department) of the Železniško gospodarstvo Ljubljana. The idea of documenting Slovenian railway history came alive in the 1960s, when it became clear that the era of steam locomotives was coming to an end. The former engine shed Ljubljana Šiška at Parmova ulica 35 was chosen for the museum. In 1988 the locomotives and wagons were given a temporary parking area beside the former engine shed.

In 1996, on the 150th anniversary of the railways in Slovenia, the museum presented itself to the public with an exhibition at a temporary location in the former railway school on Kurilniška ulica. In 1999 the roundhouse, a new permanent home for steam locomotives, was renovated, and in 2004 a permanent exhibition on the main areas of the railway was set up in new premises near the roundhouse.

The collection comprises sixty historical locomotives and more than fifty other vehicles; the depots also hold about five thousand historical railway objects. In the roundhouse, a semicircular engine shed with a turntable, part of the steam locomotive collection is on display; in the adjoining building the permanent exhibition shows the traffic office, the development of the network, track maintenance, telecommunication and signalling equipment, and uniforms.

Highlights

• Roundhouse with steam locomotives and a turntable
• Sixty historical locomotives and more than fifty other vehicles in the collection
• Traffic office of a small railway station from the last years of the Austro-Hungarian monarchy
• Draisines, telegraphs, telephones and signalling equipment
• Art gallery devoted to the painter Stane Kumar

Permanent exhibitions

• Stalna razstava železniških strok – In the building beside the roundhouse are shown the traffic office, the development and maintenance of tracks, network development, telecommunication and signalling equipment, uniforms and a small art gallery.
• Rotunda s parnimi lokomotivami – In the roundhouse part of the collection of steam locomotives and other historical vehicles, including draisines, is on display.

Founded

1981

Operated by

Slovenske železnice

Admission & discounts

Free admission is also granted to unemployed persons and to holders of the SMD and ICOM cards and the Urbana tourist card.

Accessibility

• Partially wheelchair accessible
• Elevator: no information
• Accessible restroom: no information
• Accessible parking: no information
• Service dogs welcome
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

Most exhibition rooms are also accessible by wheelchair. The exception is the exhibition of paintings by Stane Kumar, which is not accessible by wheelchair because of the oval stairs. Guide dogs are permitted.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Activity booklet, scavenger hunt or kids’ audio guide

Activities are adapted to each age group; worksheets are available. At selected museum events a garden railway train runs.

Getting there & parking

Amenities & dining

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit