Historic steam locomotives – exhibition opens in Meiningen

With steam and whistle signals on the rails: When historic steam locomotives run, it’s not just little boys who get excited. In Meiningen, there is a museum dedicated to steam locomotive technology.

110 years after the founding of the Meiningen steam locomotive works, a new permanent exhibition on steam locomotives has opened in the southern Thuringian town. The steam locomotive experience world shows the history and functionality of the steam locomotive, which revolutionized transportation in the 19th century and was still used in rail traffic in some parts of East Germany until the 1970s. The main exhibit on 900 square meters of exhibition space is a historic steam locomotive as a cutaway model that conveys the basics of the technology.

According to the Thuringian Ministry of Economic Affairs, a good 17 million euros were invested in the exhibition. 9.4 million of this came from the state, which also hopes that the adventure world will boost tourism. “Nostalgic steam locomotives are a technological fascination and enjoy a huge fan base across Europe,” said Economics Minister Wolfgang Tiefensee (SPD), according to the statement.

In addition to the historic locomotive, photos are also on display, and interviews with contemporary witnesses bring the history of steam locomotives to life. A steam locomotive factory was opened in Meiningen in 1914. Today it is the only repair and maintenance facility for historic steam locomotives in Germany. The exhibition is located in the immediate vicinity of the factory.