All about Museo de los Ferrocarriles de Yucatán in Mérida

The Museo de los Ferrocarriles de Yucatán, located within Parque La Plancha, gives the whole place a special vibe for me – it’s one of the reasons it feels so meaningful.

For years, I’d meant to check out the old train station in Mérida, which officially functioned as a museum but felt more like a forgotten relic slowly being swallowed by nature. Before I finally made it there, the area was suddenly fenced off and heavy machinery rolled in.

That was the start of the major park redevelopment. The whole project sparked our interest so much that we started looking for a house nearby – and that’s how Casa Loltún came into our lives.

Today, Parque La Plancha is the largest and most impressive park in Mérida, and one of the biggest of its kind anywhere in Latin America. The museum is now a central part of the park, located between the artificial lake and the skate park.

Museum Opening Hours and Admission Prices

Entry to the park is free, and you’ll already find plenty of old locomotives on display as you walk around. If you want to check out the museum building inside the park, though, there’s a small admission fee.

The museum is open Tuesday to Saturday from 10 am to 8 pm, and on Sundays from 10 am to 6 pm. It’s closed on Mondays. Kids under 13 get in free – for everyone else, ticket prices vary depending on your status:

• 120 pesos for foreign visitors

• 80 pesos for Mexican citizens

• 60 pesos for military personnel

• 40 pesos for students, teachers, seniors, and Yucatán residents

A New Home for Old Trains

The whole site has deep roots – it used to be the main railyard for Ferrocarriles Unidos de Yucatán. When train service shut down in 1997, a small private museum popped up in 2000 to keep a piece of that history alive.

As part of the big park makeover, the original museum got a fresh new setup. Moving those massive locomotives was no small task – it took heavy-duty cranes and serious planning.

Today, some of the trains are housed in a beautifully restored warehouse with three old tracks running through it. Others are scattered around the park, giving the whole place a cool, open-air museum vibe.

From Rust to Restoration

Originally, 38 locomotives and carriages stood on the grounds of the old railway station.

Of these, 25 were meticulously restored under the supervision of Mexico's National Defense Secretariat. They are now displayed across the vast site, many of which were donated by Ferrocarriles Nacionales de México.

Before the redevelopment of the park, most locomotives and wagons were unfortunately in poor condition, affected by rust and corrosion, and partially reclaimed by nature.

There were neither the financial nor the personnel resources to maintain them properly. Now, the restored exhibits shine in new splendor.

Most of the trains on display date from the late 19th century to the 1980s. Notable pieces include two of the three surviving ALCO "Century" C-628 diesel locomotives and one of the last American-type 4-4-0 locomotives built by Baldwin Locomotive Works.

Historical Railroad Artifacts

During the renovation, several historical railroad artifacts were uncovered, including the remains of a turntable once used to change a locomotive’s direction. The turntable was restored and is now an integral part of the museum.

In the past, the museum saw very few visitors, with some weekdays passing without a single guest. Now, with its new location and revitalized collection, the museum is entering a new chapter.

Museo de la Luz

Museo de la Luz (the Museum of Light) is also located at Parque La Plancha. It was already there, got a full makeover, and reopened with a fresh look on November 2, 2023.

The museum is an institution of the National Autonomous University of Mexico and is located in a corner of the park at Calle 43 and Calle 50.

Museo de la Luz offers interactive exhibits exploring the physics of light, the evolution of optical instruments, and the significance of light in various cultures.