Çamlık Steam Locomotive Museum

The Çamlık Steam Locomotive Museum was opened on 28 September 1991 in the Çamlık neighborhood of İzmir to preserve steam locomotives, symbols of railways, and to pass them on to future generations. The museum displays steam locomotives whose numbers are steadily decreasing worldwide. Çamlık is located 88 km from İzmir’s city center and 85 km by road.

Museum is situated on a section of the historic İzmir-Aydın Railway line, constructed in 1866, and also occupies the site of Türkiye’s oldest railway line. The museum houses 30 steam locomotives manufactured in Germany, Britain, France, the United States, Sweden, and Czechoslovakia, as well as a rare British-built locomotive that runs on wood, of which only two examples remain in the world. In addition, various railway vehicles and equipment are exhibited, including cranes, water presses, passenger and load freight cars, and other related items.

^{Çamlık Steam Locomotive Museum (Source:} Turkish Museum⁾

The station within the museum complex was built in 1890, and the museum is located in a highly significant position. Vehicles used by Atatürk during his train journeys are also on display. Additionally, the carriage used by Atatürk when he visited Çamlık in 1937 to observe the “Aegean Maneuvers” is presented to visitors in its complete original condition. The museum is open seven days a week.

The Çamlık Steam Locomotive Museum is one of the largest railway museums not only in Türkiye but also in Europe. The museum displays 33 locomotives built between 1887 and 1952, many of which feature rare components. It also exhibits numerous interesting railway artifacts, including motorized water pumps used for fire suppression, cranes, materials used in locomotive repair, open freight cars, enclosed passenger cars, and snow cleaning locomotives. The museum also contains a toilet dating back to 1850 and a 900-meter-long section of old tunnel.