When Museum Day is celebrated all over the world, with the theme of recovering and reimagining, from Camagüey and specifically with the love that characterizes the workers of the Historian’s Office, we celebrate the progress made in the Railway Museum project.

This will be the place where history, dedicated to the railway heritage of the region from its foundation in the 19th century to the present can be enjoyed through interpretive and interactive tools and communication technologies; that will establish relationships with the public with information, research and knowledge construction.

This rich and comprehensive museum constitutes a novel proposal for the management and interpretation of the railway industrial heritage. For those who have not visited Camagüey, I will tell you that its headquarters are located in one of the most significant buildings of the Camaguey railway architecture: the old Viajeros station; building that reveals particularities of the eclectic style and the trace of the local traditional architecture, to which historical and social values ​​are added.

According to the preparation and projection of the proposal in which we are working, on the first floor, a space that allows accessibility for all population groups and people with disabilities; the exhibition areas and interactive technological means related to the railway will be located to visualize elements of the daily life of the railway workers. While on the second floor, another exhibition area will be located that is complemented by the steam locomotive park.

´On the other hand, the museographic proposal allows integrating, within the property, its architectural and functional values ​​through the exhibition-interactive services, research and preservation of heritage with a unifying link: the railway activity.

 Touring our stations

The trip that includes the tour of the museum stations begins in the so-called “El Lugareño”, where it begins with the entrance to the Pullman car and panels with texts referring to the stations that existed in the colony are exposed, along with an atmosphere of the plan of the nineteenth century town railway.

The tour continues at the station “La Vigía”, with the entrance to the Budd car and the architecture is related, in particular to one of the districts of the city associated with the employees’ residence. Support material with a map is included to illustrate the urban growth of the city; Furthermore, its design recreates the Morón terminal, a property of great architectural value.

At the third stop we arrive at the “El Ferroviario” station, entering by the Fiat car. Here the daily life of workers in the sector is recreated; it contains the largest exhibition of museum objects, with display cases and pieces related to the railway.

Passing under a railway bridge we arrive at the “El Vapor” station. The purpose of this room is to offer the visitor information about electric steam and diesel engines, the railway signaling system; topics practically unknown to the general public.

At the “El Maquinista” station, a space is set aside for a technological application, the simulator, which will allow children and young people to become a machinist. Players will have the opportunity to implement the general knowledge acquired through the museum tour.

The front part of an electric diesel locomotive is reproduced for the exterior and in the interior everything that contains the board of the diesel locomotive and other necessary accessories of the cabin.

We arrived at the last station “El Tranvía”, this exhibition area reflects the history of the Tram or urban train in Camagüey. In it, panels with images and texts, an area dedicated to the exhibition of museum objects on the subject, which are complemented by technological tools for a tactile experience; they will allow the public to learn about subject through a didactic game.

It is important to note that for this stop, rest areas with furniture were provided, based on the presence of children with their companions.

Before we get off

Get on the train of the history of the railway in Camagüey and dream at each station with the details of a project that still feeds to grow; it is a unique experience.

Throughout the tour, we were accompanied virtually by María Cristina Portuondo Méndez, the main specialist at the Railway Museum, who informed us of what is taking place in this minute.

“At the moment she is working on the interior design of the stations, specifically in El Lugareño station, which is where the tour will begin; and also in the waiting room.”

The Museum is also complemented by its outdoor spaces, becoming a cultural plaza, she also told us:

 “A tribute is paid to the railway workers with the sculpture El Liniero by the plastic artist Tomas Lara, which will soon be placed; as a worthy tribute to those who anonymously strive to allow the safe arrival at our destinations, one of the most sacrificed and least recognized trades within the railway.

The steam area also has very old railway transport machines, where their imposing robustness causes admiration to all passersby. 5 machineries stand out that are of North American origin, from one of the most important construction companies, the Baldwin company and the Vulcan Iron from that country, most of them were handcrafted, which are more resistant and durable compared to modern diesel locomotives.

The Zeppelin stands out due to its power. It did not travel more than 30 km, because it was supplied with steam from the sugar mill and was used exclusively for the transfer of the cane from the wagons to the tipper.

The construction of the Diesel locomotive area will begin shortly, which will be located in the area surrounding the Central Railroad building and the railway terminal. “

With the flavor of a trip to which we will return to enjoy each of its charms in person, we say goodbye for the moment to the Camagüey Railway Museum, a magical place where a dream materializes.

Translated by: Aileen Álvarez García