Railway Museum, Guatemala City Travel Guide

The Railway Museum, officially known as Museo del Ferrocarril FEGUA, is located in the former main railway station in Guatemala City's Zone 1. Opened in January 2004, the museum preserves Guatemala's rich rail heritage, showcasing steam locomotives from the late 19th century to mid-20th-century diesels.Visitors can climb aboard restored steam engines such as No. 34 and the iconic 1948 locomotive 205, along with vintage passenger and freight cars displayed along old tracks. The exhibits include historic photographs, telegraph equipment, models, and interactive displays that vividly recount the railway's rise and eventual decline due to competing road transport in the late 20th century.Guatemala once had a relatively extensive railway system, which spanned from the border of Mexico to Guatemala City and onto Puerto Barrios, on the Atlantic Coast. Built in the late 1800s, the railway system provided a vital link between Guatemala's crop-producing regions and its commercial ports. The first railway link connected Escuintla, a major commercial hub, and Puerto San Jose, on the Pacific Coast. The whole 3ft gauge network was eventually acquired by United Fruit, and then in 1912 it was renamed the International Railways of Central America (IRCA). It prospered until the coming of the highways in the 1950s. In 1968, the network became state owned and was rebranded as Ferrocarriles de Guatemala (FEGUA). This did not stave off decline however and the system closed to all traffic in 1996.The museum is designed to be both educational and engaging, making it an ideal stop for tourists of all ages. The knowledgeable staff are on hand to answer questions and share insights about the exhibits.