he Wonderful World of Locomotives

It is only a stone’s throw away from Salzburg – the locomotive museum “Lokwelt Freilassing”, which was opened to the public in September 2006. Since then, the railway museum has attracted the interest of about 35,000 visitors.

Focusing on technology and transport, the “Lokwelt” is dedicated to a very specific topic – one that had a significant influence on the history of Freilassing.

The location is truly authentic - directly on the railway lines between Munich and Salzburg, in a former railway depot. This is the main source of the museum’s flair. People of all ages from all over the world have already found their way into the “Lokwelt”.

Countless enthusiastic entries in the visitors’ book testify this: “A unique museum created with great effort”, “An excellent museum for children and truly relaxing for adults” or “An excellent display, well presented. Much atmosphere of times past.”
The visitors are not only fascinated by the pathfinders of modern technology, but are equally attracted to the loving renovation of the industrial milestone that had been left to rot. The heart of the complex, the round locomotive shed with its turntable, was renovated in two years in compliance with specifications for listed buildings – the result is outstanding.

This round locomotive shed is now the new home of all the priceless exhibits that were formerly on display in the “Deutsches Museum” in Munich. The idea for the “Lokwelt” project was hatched during the planning of the new traffic centre for the “Deutsches Museum” on the “Theresienhöhe” in Munich. This concept envisaged presenting singular items and technologies in their systematic and cultural concepts - the old, mostly Bavarian locomotives simply did not fit into the exhibition concept anymore. A depot for these locomotives was badly needed and Freilassing could provide it.
But that is not all - the “Lokwelt” is designed especially to entertain children. The so-called “Little Lokwelt”, which focuses on children between 6 and 12, enables them to experience the railway and its technology with all their senses. Feeling and hearing, knowledge and experience, as well as the professional side of the railway industry - all this has been set up colourfully and graphically.

A new addition to the “Lokwelt” museum is a locomotive simulator, in which both young and old can slip into the role of an engine driver.

The “Lokwelt Freilassing” is growing gradually. Furthermore, it is in the process of building up a reputation as an event location too. Among these events are the regular jazz brunches in the warmer half of the year (on the first Sunday of the month from April to October), and the possibility of staging slightly “different” birthday parties for the kids. The wonderful atmosphere of the “Lokwelt” fascinates everyone.