The normal entrance to the museum is from Dannebrogsgade, just north of Odense Central Station. There is a large winged wheel next to the entrance.
As soon as you enter, you see the museum's shop with souvenirs, books, videotapes, toys, model trains, posters and much more besides. The shop also sells ice cream and various refreshments.
Inside the museum hall there are two sections for our visitors:
The floor area with railway tracks on which carriages, locomotives, etc., are exhibited. This area also includes public toilets and an area where visitors can eat packed lunches. The balcony area above the tracks with a historical exhibition, play areas, a café and much more.
Our outdoor area has space for various activities such as mini-train and vintage train rides - in addition to an exhibition of carriages, etc.
The museum hall covers all of 5,000 m2 and was built in 1955 as an engine shop for locomotives. It was subsequently rebuilt on several occasions and now comprises a large, bright and interesting exhibition facility.
The mini-train rides are run indoors if the weather is bad, with departures from Track 1 next to the large glass wall.
During your visit, you will wander around among the impressive locomotives, interesting carriages and omnibuses, as well as the special exhibitions about ferries, royal saloon carriages, etc. Please note that during a construction period, some sections of the exhibition may be closed.
We begin with some of our oldest rolling stock: “Gamle Ole”, a small shunting engine from 1869. On special occasions, it has been possible to see the engine chugging around on the museum grounds.
Behind Gamle Ole are wooden freight wagons. They did the heavy work of transporting goods to and from the new factories that started appearing in the mid-1800s onwards. They played an essential part in ensuring the development of our modern industrial society.
Denmark's oldest preserved engine is the H40, also called “Jacob”, and was built at the renowned Stephenson factory in 1868.
A passenger carriage from 1868, fitted with second and third-class compartments, is exhibited together Jacob.
Up to the summer of 2010, a locomotive built in 1910 for the Stubbekøbing-Nykøbing-Nysted line will be exhibited on Track 3, together with a splendidly refurbished passenger carriage from the Ryumgaard-Gjerrild-Grenaa Railway (1911).
The trolleys were used by the people who built and maintained the railways. In summer, our visitors can test their strength by operating a hand-powered trolley.
The Slotsløkken Station environment dates from c. 1900, and carriages for third, second and first class are parked here.
The enormous snowplough, made in 1869, almost entirely of wood, was required to keep trains in operation during harsh snowy winters.
At one end of the track is a train from Copenhagen's suburban railway system - and you can see passengers who have been on a summer outing to the Dyrehavsbakken park north of Copenhagen. Take a seat with them in the compartment.
At the other end of the track is B45 (1869), yet another Stephenson-built engine.
The carriage dating from 1868 has third-class compartments. Try sitting on the wooden seats and take a look at the special ladies' saloon, which was off limits to bawdy, tobacco-chewing gentlemen.
Board the beautifully refurbished saloon carriage which was for hire by the wealthy elite. It was used by figures like Russia's Empress Dagmar during visits to her family in Denmark.
The dark-blue Wagons-Lits dining car from 1943 is one of the museum's finest treasures.
Look in the galley where the chef had only 6 m2 in which to cook meals for the many diners.
Or look in the restaurants where fine three-course menus or à la carte dishes were served on the way to destinations like France or Italy.
Next to the dining car is a special exhibit about Wagons-Lits and the Orient Express, featuring model trains, posters, etc.
The express locomotives P 931 (1910) and E 994 (1950) are the museum's biggest steam engines.
Visitors can access the driver's cabs of each of the two steam-powered giants. The locomotive driver's space was on the right side in the direction of travel. The engine fireman worked from the left.
See the elegantly restored Ford V8 from 1930 - a suitable vehicle for the railway's management staff.
A special exhibition describes the Danish State Railways omnibuses, together with the unique Triangel, built by De forenede Automobilfabrikker in Odense in 1935.
Normally the exhibition of royal saloon carriages is assembled on Tracks 13 to 15, where a total of four carriages are usually on display. During the construction period, the most important segments of the exhibition will be moved to Tracks 8 and 9.
Here it will be possible to see Christian IX's “tasselled” carriage, a Zealand saloon car from 1871 which was used when monarchs and aristocrats from all over Europe visited the king at Fredensborg Castle.
Or Christian IX's carriage from 1900, a palace on wheels, also used by Frederik VIII and Christian X. See a 360° panorama NB! approximately 3 MB
In this classic round-nosed diesel locomotive from 1956, it is possible to take a closer look at the engine, generator and other technical features.
It is also possible to sit up on the driver's seat and go for a “drive” across the island of Funen. See which trains you could encounter along the line in the mid-1960s.
It is possible to study the history of Danish ferries inside a large railway carriage. This exhibit includes posters with photographs and texts, as well as models and interesting items from the old ferries.
A special hall features most of the museum's many model ferries - comprising about one-third of the ferries operated by the Danish State Railways over the years. The quality of many of the models is unique, with lots of detail.
The ladies' saloon of the Prins Christian (1903), the flagship of the Baltic crossing, has been rebuilt and populated.
In 1934, electrically powered trains started to run in Copenhagen's suburban railway system. The motor carriage of one of the first electrically powered train units is on display at the Railway Museum.
A special exhibit uses models, films and pictures of S-trains to tell the story of the electrically powered trains in Copenhagen.
Området med sporene 13-19 er i byggeperioden lukket for publikum.
The area at Dronning Louises Station is often the starting point for holiday activities, such as rides on trolleys and vintage trains.
This is also where freight wagons, etc., are exhibited in the off-season.
During the construction period, Dronning Louises Station will also feature the small orange locomotive “Tractor 57” used in the Danish movie Olsen Banden på Sporet (The Olsen Gang on Track). Try out the driver's cab for yourself.
The model railway in the garden is usually operating during the summer school holidays and the autumn mid-term break.
A balcony has been constructed out over part of the museum's exhibition area overlooking the carriages and locomotives.
On 4 October 2006, Crown Prince Frederik opened an interesting new balcony exhibition dealing with Denmark's railways, with lots of films, models and environments.
The exhibition traces the development of the railways all the way back to the UK in the early 1800s.
Up to the modern trains of our era and the competition from cars.
Track building then and now with railway workers, original objects and lots of talking video screens. Visitors can operate a touch screen to explore the development of the railways on their own.
Learn about the conveyance of goods by rail through posters, video screens and atmospheres.
Take a seat in an intercity train compartment. Intercity trains revolutionised rail transport in the 1970s.
There are fine detailed models - also of the latest modern trains.
The other balcony section features operating H0 model railways.
The trains on one of the model railways can be voice-controlled by talking to them.
Computers with train games are also located on the balcony.
The balcony has a large area with lots of DUPLO blocks, trains and rails - unrestricted play is the order of the day here.
There is also a Cafe on the balcony. The café affords a view of the exhibitions and of the busy comings and goings at Odense Central Station. The café shop is open in the peak season. Otherwise, it is possible to eat packed lunches in this area.
In summer, picnic benches are placed on the museum forecourt for free use by our visitors.
Weather permitting, the mini-train provides rides for children and adults from the forecourt.
