Electrical Railway Museum

While visiting Piraeus , my wife suggested we visit the museum, knowing my interest in railways. It had alot of interesting displays and models, including a wooden restored wooden electric driving carriage. It is a small private museum and is free to enter. Some of limitations of the museum are understable. Most of the signage is in Greek, Google translate does help in understanding the display captions, and I understood given the nature of the small museum. However I was most disappointed that we were not able to photograph the wooden electric driving carriage and when we sat down in the beautifully restored carriage to admire the exhibit we shouted at... We explained that the exhibit was similar to the overhead railway carriage in the Liverpool museum and that the much busier museum encouraged visitors to sit down and admire their exhibit. In the 40 minutes we visited the museum we were the only visitors. We went to support the small museum, but felt that more could have been done to be welcoming... The rules about no photos etc devalue the story the museum is trying to tell. If you are interested in railways visit it but be aware of the petty rules.

While entrance is free, there are no English translation of any of the items on display. The attendant only speaks Greek and will provide you no assistance to any non Greek visitor. Only one of the 3 floors is wheelchair accessible. No photos allowed either.

Like others have said, the rudest man in Greece, he met us on our first attempt saying can’t go in as he’d washed the floor, came back 2 hours later and floor was dry but now said was closed!! That was at 1pm. So please don’t make a special trip as he obviously doesn’t like visitors.

Great museum the owner is very chatty and nice he even gave me a map of the Athens metro it's also completely free sadly no photos though

Entrance to this enchanting little museum is hidden inside the main Piraeus train station. The museum is privately owned but charges no entrance fee. It is run by enthusiast and ex-employes of the electric railway company. It is a shame that the museum forbids photographs as I think they might help tempt people to take a look. I found the museum fascinating, and despite being small, you can easily spend a an hour or two there. The museum charts the development of the Athens Piraeus public transport system from horse drawn tram through to the electric train. There are over 6000 exhibits, everything from tickets, to switch gear, signalling equipment, rail laying and cutting equipment, photographs and models. There is even a loving restored wooden carriage. One of the best little museums I have stumbled upon!

Gentlemen that was there was very friendly and helpful. Throught a translator we learned a lot of other things. Private museum , very nice. Photos not allowed.

Closing time 2pm, we arrive at 1:20pm and they tell us it's closed. The man at the entrance was chatting with someone else in the dark and the other man also tells me it's closed by now. 40 minutes early?

The museum is closed till August, 31.