Järnvägsmuseet

About the museum

The Järnvägsmuseet's roots go back to the exhibition that Statens Järnvägar (the Swedish State Railways) showed at the Baltic Exhibition in Malmö in 1914. The collections from it became the basis for a museum that opened in 1915 in SJ's office building at Stockholm Central. Later, locomotives and carriages were given their own halls at Tomteboda in Stockholm.

In 1970 the museum moved to Gävle and took over the old engine shed complex on the line between Uppsala and Gävle. Responsibility changed over the years between Banverket, Trafikverket and finally the Statens maritima och transporthistoriska museer (Swedish National Maritime and Transport History Museums), which took over in 2018.

The museum was rebuilt over several years and reopened to the public in June 2024. The collection comprises a couple of hundred vehicles, among them the steam locomotive Prins August from 1856, one of Sweden's oldest surviving locomotives. The exhibitions follow the expansion of the railway, electrification, travellers and the people who worked on the line, and the museum park contains, among other things, historic station buildings.

Highlights

• The steam locomotive Prins August from 1856
• About 300 preserved railway vehicles in several halls
• The exhibition Järnvägens folk (The People of the Railway) about those who worked on the line
• A restored dining car from the 1930s in the exhibition Resenärerna (The Travellers)
• The railway park outdoors, with station buildings and engine sheds
• A rail bus between the museum and Gävle C in high season

Permanent exhibitions

• Järnvägens folk – The exhibition is about the people who worked on the railway when it was the country's largest employer.
• Resenärerna – Travel in first, second and third class in the early 20th century, with a restored dining car from the 1930s.
• Samtid och framtid – A look at the present and future of the railway, with, among other things, an Rc locomotive, the X2000 and railway music.

Founded

1915

Operated by

Statens maritima och transporthistoriska museer

Admission & discounts

The same price applies during school holidays. Visiting the shop only is free. The museum is cashless; tickets are bought on the website or at reception.

Accessibility

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

Lifts reach all floors, and the museum has handrails. Wheelchairs can be borrowed at reception. The historic vehicles are not accessible by wheelchair. Parking for visitors with parking permits is in front of the main entrance. Dogs may only be in the Järnvägsparken outdoors, except service dogs.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Stroller-friendly
• Baby changing facilities
• Playground / play area
• Kids’ birthday parties

Family quizzes, summer programmes and children's parties with different themes. A play area is included in the ticket. Prams may be brought; when it is crowded they are parked in the designated place outside the entrance.

Getting there & parking

From Gävle central station it is about a 20-minute walk or just under 10 minutes by bike. Tåghallen (the vehicle depot) is at Karlsborgsgatan 1 in north-western Gävle; paid street parking is available.

Amenities & dining

• Café
• Museum shop
• Lockers

Simple fika is sold during the visit, and a food cart stands at the entrance. Lockers are available for outer clothing and smaller bags; large bags cannot be stored. The shop sells books, toys, postcards and souvenirs, among other things.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit