France living railway museum – Le Musée vivant du chemin de fer de l’AJECTA (Longueville)

Le Musée vivant du chemin de fer La Rotonde de Longueville l’AJECTA – France’s “Living Railway Museum” in Longueville

If you’re searching for railway museums near Paris, the Musée vivant du chemin de fer de l’AJECTA (Living Railway Museum) in Longueville makes for an easy day trip. It’s about an hour from Paris Gare de l’Est with the P line of the SNCF Transilien, followed by a short 10-minute walk from Longueville station. The museum is set in a former Chemin de fer du Nord roundhouse, preserving an authentic piece of French industrial history.

A small but charming collection
This is not Mulhouse’s grand Cité du Train — it’s smaller, more rustic, and decidedly less polished. Inside the roundhouse, you’ll find locomotives and carriages in varying states of restoration: from lovingly repaired to rather rusty. Despite the wear, there’s undeniable character here, especially when exploring the old Pullman cars, third-class wooden coaches, and *early 20th-century first-class compartments that you’re still allowed to climb into.

The museum’s strength lies in its **hands-on charm** — you can get close to the exhibits and experience the textures, smells, and scale of real trains, even if the setup feels a little improvised. Unfortunately, limited opening hours and volunteers already tidying up half an hour before closing didn’t help the overall impression.

Atmosphere and experience
Visiting on a grey, rainy afternoon didn’t do this museum many favors. The collection clearly needs more investment and maintenance, but you can sense the dedication of the volunteers keeping this historic site alive. It’s an honest, unpretentious place that still captures a piece of French railway nostalgia.

Verdict
If you’ve got time to spare and want a pleasant train ride from Paris to a quiet village, this little museum is worth a look. However, given the current condition of much of the rolling stock, it’s not quite worth a special trip on its own. With some restoration work and better visitor facilities, it could become a real gem.

**Five locomotives.**