All aboard: the Danish Railway Museum celebrates 50 years of fun

You do not have to be a child or a train fanatic to visit the Danish railway Museum – but chances are that exploring the towering steam engines, riding the popular mini train, and stepping aboard vintage carriages will make you feel like both. This year, the museum celebrates its 50th anniversary, inviting visitors of all ages to join the fun.

Conveniently located just steps from Odense’s central station, the Danish Railway Museum is housed in a striking historical roundhouse – once a locomotive workshop, complete with a massive turntable still visible in the main hall. Since opening its doors on 17 April, 1975, the museum has grown from a modest two-track display to a 21-track treasure trove of Danish railway history.

As the country’s official railway museum, it boasts an impressive collection of locomotives, carriages, railcars, buses, and countless railway artefacts. “What makes us unique is that you don’t just look at the trains from a distance,” says Maria Vallø Strauss, head of marketing and communications. “You can get up close, walk through many of the old carriages, sit on the hard wooden benches from third class, or peek inside a royal salon coach. For me, just the sheer scale of the locomotives when you stand up and close to them is breathtaking.”

The mini train is popular with visitors of all ages.

Full steam ahead for kids

While the museum has plenty to offer grown-up visitors looking to immerse themselves in the history and culture of the Danish railways, it is also a haven for children. The outdoor mini train is an undisputed favourite – not just with kids, but with visitors of all ages. Running year-round through highlights from the Danish railway routes, it is the kind of ride that inspires repeat visits. “Everyone loves the mini train. It’s often the reason families return,” says Strauss, adding. “I actually had to change the text on the website as so many adults came to ask if they could go to. And, yes, everyone can try.”

Visitors can also hop aboard a real veteran train or vintage bus that circles the museum’s private tracks, although not every day, but with increased frequency during the summer.

Inside, younger visitors can explore Lokomotivmester Busses Værksted, an imaginative play area themed around locomotive maintenance, and Børnebanegård, a child-sized train station complete with ticket counters, a control tower, and spaces to role-play conductors, passengers, or engineers.

Outside, the museum’s large playground features climbing structures, slides, and a full-size steam engine that invites children to climb and explore. Designed by the same team behind the acclaimed Odense Zoo playground, this space blends locomotive learning with active outdoor play. And there is more; hands-on activities, scavenger hunts, and interactive storytelling are regular parts of the museum’s programming, especially during school holidays.

Fuelling change: from coal to clean energy

A standout among the museum’s current offerings is the thought-provoking special exhibition Brændstof – The Long Journey from Black to Green Transport. This immersive experience invites visitors to reflect on how transportation shapes our lives and our climate.

The exhibition challenges guests to consider the impact of daily choices, whether commuting by car, biking to the bakery, or flying on holiday. Through historical artifacts, informative displays, and interactive comparisons, it explores how we moved from coal-fired locomotives to diesel, and now toward electric trains powered by green energy.

The railway’s pivotal role in Denmark’s industrial history is placed in sharp relief, alongside modern ambitions to decarbonize. “We want visitors to see the connection between the freedom that trains once symbolized, and the climate responsibility we carry today,” says Strauss.

More than just trains

A visit to the Danish Railway Museum is a full-day experience. The museum’s sprawling indoor and outdoor areas are easily navigated and fully accessible. Informational texts, films, and tactile exhibits ensure that visitors of all ages and backgrounds can enjoy and engage. On selected days, guests can even include a tour below the locomotives via the old maintenance pits.

The museum shop offers train-themed souvenirs, while a café provides refreshments in between adventures. Best of all: once admission is paid (children under 18 enter for free), all rides and activities are included – making it a surprisingly budget-friendly option for families.

Indeed, whether you are drawn by nostalgia, curiosity, or the excitement of stepping inside a 100-ton steam engine, the Danish Railway Museum promises a journey through time that resonates across generations.

Web: www.jernbanemuseet.dk
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