Shanghai Railway Museum

　　In August 2004, on the occasion of the 55th anniversary of the founding of the Shanghai Railway Bureau, the Shanghai Railway Museum was established and opened to the public, becoming a science education base in Shanghai. The museum building has four floors: the ground floor is the exhibition area, covering approximately 1,000 square meters; the second floor houses a sandbox room reflecting the development of railways under the jurisdiction of the Shanghai Railway Bureau, a flexible exhibition area, and a science and technology information reading room; the third floor contains a multi-functional lecture hall. The total floor area of the building is over 3,000 square meters, with an outdoor exhibition area of about 1,300 square meters. Guided by the concept of scientific development and using historical materials and physical objects as the main mediums, the Shanghai Railway Museum showcases the journey of Shanghai and East China railways over the past hundred years since railways entered China in the 1860s and 1870s, highlighting the changes and development of railway productivity. The museum is divided into six sections, featuring more than 50 exhibits and nearly a thousand items on display.

　　As soon as you enter the gate of the railway museum, you will see a spacious square. On the left side of the square, next to the platform, stands a majestic locomotive and vintage carriages that seem ready to depart at any moment. The locomotive on the left, weighing over 100 tons, is a KD7 Type 641 steam locomotive, which is now extremely rare, with only a few remaining in existence. It was manufactured by an American locomotive factory in the 1940s and donated to China by the United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Administration in 1947. The dark green carriage behind the steam locomotive is a high-end official vehicle used by government officials during the Republic of China period, reportedly once serving as Soong Mei-ling’s personal car. At the end of the platform is a small SN Type 26 narrow-gauge steam locomotive, whose track gauge is less than half that of a standard train. Despite its small size, it can reach a top speed of 45 kilometers per hour and pull over 200 tons of cargo at a time. This compact locomotive is also very agile in turning and once played a significant role in the rugged mountainous regions of Yunnan. Next to the locomotive stands an iron structure resembling a standing crane, called a water crane, which is used to supply water to steam locomotives.

　　Upon entering the museum hall, there are two exhibition areas on the left: one dedicated to railway construction and the other to railway transportation. In the railway construction section, the most distinctive exhibit is a full-scale replica model of the “Pioneer” locomotive. It was the first locomotive used on the Woosung Railway, the first commercial railway to appear on Chinese soil in 1876. The section of rail displayed in the showcase to the right of the locomotive was dismantled from the Songhu Railway and has been in use for over a hundred years. Visitors to the exhibition hall can also see the train timetables from the late Qing Dynasty, railway boundary markers nearly a hundred years old, the “Industrial Plan Map” drawn by Dr. Sun Yat-sen, as well as historical photos of the Qiantang River Bridge—the first large-scale dual-use highway-railway bridge in China. Another set of exhibits showcases the achievements of railway construction after the founding of New China. Among them is a brass helmet used by workers who dived into the Yangtze River to build the Nanjing Yangtze River Bridge. Adjacent to this set is a multimedia ferry operation demonstration console, where visitors can manually control the screen to operate a ferry transporting trains across the river.

　　In the railway transportation section, there is a large-scale locomotive driving wheel model that reveals the secret behind the high speed of steam locomotives. In addition to the driving wheel model, the section also displays parts related to steam locomotives and maintenance tools. Particular attention is drawn to the two bronze bells in the center of the hall, which resemble temple bells. Hung on steam locomotives, these bells were used to alert passengers to make way when the train was moving within the station. The exhibition hall also features various railway maintenance tools, signal communication equipment, and exhibits related to the Shanghai Railway Bureau’s flagship train, the “Dongfang” (East Wind) train, which operates between Shanghai and Beijing. The name of the train was personally inscribed by Comrade [2002-] in 2002. At the end of the hall is the operation room of a 1950s-era small train station. The wooden desk, telephone, thermos, and specialized railway operation equipment are all original artifacts from that time. The old-fashioned thermometer on the wall still accurately displays the temperature today.

　　In the Railway World section, you can see railway uniforms from different eras. However, the most interesting attraction is the simulated cab of a locomotive marked with the word “Kuayue” (Crossing). Its control panel setup is almost identical to that of a real locomotive. The cab is fully equipped with driver and assistant seats, control levers, brake handles, instruments, and more. Boarding the locomotive allows you to experience the thrill of speeding along the tracks. Opposite the locomotive simulation cab is a sandbox model of the Shanghai South Station, which officially began operations on July 1, 2006. This station represents the most advanced level of railway construction in China. Looking at the miniature version of the South Station and then back at the old platform on the square outside the building, the tremendous changes over time are truly awe-inspiring.

　　Related Information

　　Ticket Prices: Individual ticket 10 RMB/person; primary and secondary school students, railway employees, and retirees 5 RMB/person; group ticket 8 RMB/person; primary and secondary school groups 4 RMB/person; free admission for retired cadres, active-duty military personnel, people with disabilities, and seniors over 70 years old with valid identification.

　　Opening Hours: Tuesday to Saturday, 9:00 AM – 11:30 AM; 2:30 PM – 4:30 PM. (For reference only; please follow local attraction announcements.)

　　Transportation Routes

　　Address: No. 200, Tianmu East Road, Zhabei District, Shanghai (near North Zhejiang Road)

　　Transportation Guide: Accessible via bus routes 18, 63, 302, 308, 318, 319, 329, 502, 537, 922, 948, 952.