European public transport museum reviews

Basics:
Address: Augustusstraße 1, 01067 Dresden, Germany
Web: http://www.verkehrsmuseum-dresden.de
Opening Times: Tue-Sun 1000-1800
Admission: Adults 9 euro, concessions 4 euro

Visit date: September 2016

Access by public transport:
The museum is in the pedestrianised Baroque area of Dresden and is within a short walk of many local tram routes.

Collection:
The museum has a small but interesting rail collection consisting of:
Motor and driving wheels of E50 class electric loco E50 42
Replica of Leipzig and Dresden Rly 0-4-2 "Saxonia"
Baldwin 0-4-4-0T 600mm gauge articulated locomotive using the Pechot-Bourdon articulation system, claimed to be one of only two surviving articulated locomotives using this system in the world.
Saechsische Staatsbahn IV-K 0-4-4-0T 750mm gauge Mallet articulated loco, restored as Deutsche Reichsbahn 99 535, one of a famous class used on the narrow gauge lines of Saxony.
"Princess Mathilde's Saloon" carriage from 1885 Saxony Royal Train
Bockwaer Coal Rly 2-4-0T "Muhlenthal". Dating from 1861, claimed to be the oldest surviving steam locomotive constructed entirely in Germany.
Deutsche Reichsbahn E71 class electric loco E71 30
Experimental 1899 Siemens four-wheel steeple-cab electric loco

Additionally, the museum has a large collection of cars and two-wheeled vehicles from Eastern Germany from the nineteenth century until the end of the DDR era, and water and air transport collections based more around small exhibits.

Presentation:
The museum exhibits are rather crammed into the Johanneum, a sixteenth-century stables and mews constructed in elaborate Renaissance style to fit with the rest of the Schloss complex. This means that some of the exhibits are difficult to examine or get a full view of. Labelling is mainly in German and English. Nevertheless, an interesting and rewarding visit.

Basics
Address: KVB-Museum, Gemarkenstraße 173, 51069 Köln
Web: http://www.hsk-koeln.de
Opening times: Second Sunday in month, Mar-Dec, 1100-1700
Admission price: 1.5 euro, children 1 euro

Visit date: March 2016

Access by public transport: The museum is adjacent to the railway-style tramway terminus at Thielenbruch, served by Koeln tram routes 3 and 18.

Collection: Thirteen motor tram cars, three trailers, three freight vehicles, two works motor cars, one replica horse tram car. The Koeln heritage tram stock appears to have been particularly badly damaged during World War Two, with only one motor-motor-trailer set from one of the suburban companies surviving from before 1939. The earliest era of tramways in Koeln is represented by an ex-Bonn car of similar vintage and design, with a false Koeln identity.

Presentation: All labelling and historical discussion is in German-only, but interesting if you can read some of the language. Not one to make a special trip to, but worth visiting if you are in the area.

Basics:
Address: Auto & Technik MUSEUM SINSHEIM e.V., Museumsplatz, D-74889 Sinsheim
Web: http://sinsheim.technik-museum.de/
Opening times: Mon-Fri 0900-1800, Sat, Sun and holidays 0900-1900
Admission price: €14 adult, €12 child 6-14, child 5 or younger free.

Visit date: March 2015

Access by public transport: Sinsheim Museum/Arena station is adjacent to the museum compound, served by hourly trains on route S5 Heidelberg-Eppingen and irregular S42 Heilbronn-Sinsheim Hbf. The time from Heidelberg is 38 minutes. There are irregular bus services on route 765 Sinsheim Hbf-Steinsfurt.

Collection: This is primarily a car and vehicle museum, but has a static rail collection including six steam locomotives, three electric locomotives, and two buses. The main highlight is a semi-streamlined Großherzoglich Badische Staatseisenbahnen class 18 Pacific. It is also possible to compare the Swiss and Austrian versions of the "Crocodile" electric locomotive.

Presentation: The museum has a huge collection of road vehicles, aircraft and military vehicles, covering two large exhibition halls and open-air displays. Most rail exhibits are in a side section of one of the exhibition halls, with a Class 52 2-10-0 in military camouflage in the other exhibition hall, in the indoor military vehicle and militaria section. The main group of rail exhibits are somewhat crowded together, and only visible from one side. Labelling is mainly bilingual, although some of the English labels are very abbreviated. Overall this is probably not worth visiting for rail purists, but definitely if you are interested in other forms of transport.