Timeline

Key figures

Origin and history

The living railway museum, run by the Youth Association for the Maintenance and Conservation of Trains (AJECTA), is located in the former Longueville locomotive depot in Seine-et-Marne. Located near the SNCF station, this industrial site of the early twentieth century has been transformed into a museum thanks to the efforts of the association, which has exhibited and restored historical railway equipment since 1971. The rotunda, the central element of the depot, was the subject of restoration work supported by the Heritage Foundation, with a partial inauguration in 2008.

From the very beginning, AJECTA organizes events to introduce the public to its heritage. The "Vapour Days", created in 1980, allow each year to visit the rotunda and admire steam locomotives in operation, especially during European Heritage Days. In 1984, a first "Vapeur Festival" was organised in collaboration with railway clubs, marking the beginning of a tradition of spectacular entertainment, such as dual-traffic traffic or special trains linking Longueville to Provins.

The museum also celebrates notable anniversaries, such as the centenary of the locomotive "Rimaucourt" in 1987, with demonstrations and exceptional rides from Paris. In 1991, for the 20 years of AJECTA and the 80 years of the depot, iconic locomotives such as 231 K 8 and 230 G 353 were put into service for special trains. The events are increasing, as in 2011, when eight steam locomotives were assembled for the 100 years of the rotunda, or in 2023, with the "Vapeur Festival" gathering ten locomotives in heating and diesel and electrical equipment.

The museum now houses the largest French collection of normal steam locomotives owned by an amateur association. In addition to locomotives, it maintains passenger cars, freight cars and various equipment, some still used for tourist traffic. The site also serves as a setting for film shoots, strengthening its anchor in the railway and heritage culture.

AJECTA continues to enrich its collections, as with the arrival of the 241 P 30 in 2019, while organizing events to share its passion. The guided tours, open all year round (except Mondays and Tuesdays), allow you to discover the technical and human history of the French railways, through a living and preserved heritage.

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