Museo Vasco del Ferrocarril
Railway museum in the former station of the Urola Railway, with locomotives, original workshops and steam trains at weekends.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
The Ferrocarril del Urola, one of the first electric railways in Spain, opened in 1926 and stopped carrying passengers in 1986; it closed for good in 1988. The museum was founded in 1992 in the station, depot and workshops of Azpeitia. It also gathered rolling stock from other Basque lines that had already closed, and opened to the public in 1994.
The collection includes steam, diesel and electric locomotives, railcars and wagons of all kinds. The old Urola mechanical workshop has been kept as it was when it opened in 1925, with an electric motor that drives its 16 machines through pulleys and belts, and the transformer substation with its original mercury-vapour rectifier equipment. In the station building, railway uniforms and a collection of railway timepieces are on display.
The museum is run by Euskotren, the Basque Government's public railway company. At weekends and on public holidays, steam trains run with historic coaches.
Highlights
- Collection of steam, diesel and electric locomotives, railcars and wagons
- Mechanical workshop of the Urola Railway, preserved as it was opened in 1925
- Electrical substation with original mercury-vapour rectifiers
- Railway uniforms and collection of railway timepieces in the station
- Steam train rides at weekends
Permanent exhibitions
- Colección ferroviaria – One of the most complete railway collections in Europe, with steam, diesel and electric locomotives, railcars and several classes of wagon.
- Taller mecánico y subcentral eléctrica del Urola – Machine-tool workshop preserved since 1925, driven by an electric motor through pulleys and belts, and the transformer substation with its original rectifiers.
- Uniformes y relojería ferroviaria – The old Azpeitia station displays railway uniforms from the late 19th century to the AVE high-speed train, and a collection of railway clocks.
- Founded
- 1992
- Operated by
- Euskotren (Eusko Trenbideak – Ferrocarriles Vascos)
Admission & discounts
| Adults | €3 |
|---|---|
| Groups (26+ people) | €2 per personGroups of more than 25 people: €2 per person (museum visit). |
| Museum visit and steam train ride | €6 |
Museum visit: €3. Museum visit with a ride on the steam train: €6.
Accessibility
- Wheelchair accessible: no information
- 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 museum states that it is adapted for people with disabilities.
Kids & families
Great for kids & families
- Family tours & workshops
- Activity booklet, scavenger hunt or kids’ audio guide
The “Tren txikia” section offers activity booklets, goose-game boards, dominoes and quizzes for children and schoolchildren, and at weekends there are dramatised performances.
Getting there & parking
By public transit
From Bilbao: Euskotren trains to Eibar and Lurraldebus buses to Azpeitia. From Donostia-San Sebastián: Euskotren trains to Zumaia and Lurraldebus buses to Azpeitia. From Vitoria-Gasteiz: Renfe train to Zumarraga and Lurraldebus buses to Azpeitia.
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
| Guided tours | yes |
|---|---|
| Good to know | On working days, guided visits are arranged by prior appointment. At weekends there are dramatised performances in the workshop and on the tram. The museum offers a 360° virtual tour. The steam train can be hired on working days (€500, maximum 100 people). |
