Çamlık Steam Locomotive Museum

The Çamlık Steam Locomotive Museum was opened on September 28, 1991, in the Çamlık neighborhood of İzmir with the aim of preserving steam locomotives, iconic symbols of the railway era, and passing them on to future generations. The museum exhibits steam locomotives, which are becoming increasingly rare worldwide. Çamlık is located 88 km from İzmir city center and 85 km by road.

The museum is situated on a former section of the İzmir-Aydın Railway line, built in 1866, and it stands on Turkey’s oldest railway route. The museum houses 30 steam locomotives manufactured in Germany, the United Kingdom, France, the United States, Sweden, and Czechoslovakia. Among these is a wood-fired British locomotive, of which only two remain in the world. In addition to the locomotives, the museum also displays a variety of railway vehicles and equipment, including cranes, water towers, passenger coaches, and freight wagons.

^{Çamlık Steam Locomotive Museum (Source:}

The station located within the museum grounds was constructed in 1890, and the museum is situated quite close to the ancient city of Ephesus. Vehicles used by Atatürk during his train journeys are also exhibited at the museum. One of the main attractions is the wagon used by Atatürk during his visit to Çamlık in 1937 to observe the “Aegean Maneuvers,” presented with all its original furnishings. The museum is open seven days a week.

Çamlık Steam Locomotive Museum is not only one of Turkey’s largest train museums but also one of the largest in Europe. The museum features 33 locomotives built between 1887 and 1952, many of which are rare and historically significant. It also includes firefighting motorized water pumps, cranes, locomotive repair tools, open freight wagons, enclosed passenger cars, and snowplow locomotives. Additionally, the museum houses a toilet dating back to 1850 and a 900-meter-long historic tunnel.