Museo Nacional Ferroviario Pablo Neruda

The Museo Nacional Ferroviario Pablo Neruda is both a salute to native son and Nobel-winning poet Pablo Neruda and a museum preserving the railroad history of the nation. On the grounds are several old train cars, the coal storage tower, a native garden and an art gallery, all interspersed with copper plaques with Nerudian verses about the Iron Horse. The real treasure, however, is in the old locomotive shed. Here, in the garages around the round table, are over two dozen US, British and German steam engines (the oldest from 1908), a 1935 Linke Hofmann Werke sleeping car and the Presidential Car, used until 1992.

Location:
Avenida Barros Arana 0565
Temuco, Chile

Museum Types:
Railroad

Getting There
The museum is about a kilometer (half-mile) from the center; walk or take microbus number 1, 4B or 9, or colectivo taxi 20.

Travel Tips: Plants in the native garden are identified by taxonomic, Spanish and Mapudungun (Mapuche) names. The grounds and art gallery are free; the art gallery has a model train. Entry is paid only to enter the locomotive shed. English- and French-speaking guides are on hand.

Price Description: Children and students $0.60, senior citizens $1, adults $2.

Relative price: Budget

Open Hours from:Tuesday-Sunday 9 a.m.

Open Hours to:Tuesday-Sunday 6 p.m.

Days Closed:Closed Monday

Travel Skills: None

Hop the Tren de la Araucanía steam train. Browse the Museo Regional de la Araucanía and the several art galleries in the city; hike through Monumento Nacional Cerro Ñielol.

Currencies accepted
Chilean Peso

Contact Information:
Phone: 56-45-97-3940 / 97-3941
E-mail: museoferroviario(at)remove-this.temucochile.com
URL: www.museoferroviariotemuco.cl

By Lorraine Caputo

Upon re-declaring her independence at age 29, Lorraine Caputo packed her trusty Rocinante (so her knapsack's called) and began traipsing throughout...

Created: 16 Dec 2008

Updated: 06 Jul 2009

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