All about Museo de los Ferrocarriles de Yucatán in Mérida

The Museo de los Ferrocarriles de Yucatán (Yucatán Railroad Museum) is on the site of the huge Gran Parque La Plancha (newly opened on November 19, 2023). The museum is located between the lake and the skate park. The Museo de la Luz (Museum of Light) is also located in the same park.

The site of today's Gran Parque La Plancha was the former railyard of the Ferrocarriles Unidos de Yucatán (United Railways of Yucatán). After the station ceased operations in 1997, the Yucatán Railroad Museum was founded in 2000 as a private company.

They exhibited 38 locomotives and wagons on the huge site. Many of them were donated by Ferrocarriles Nacionales de México. Until recently, however, many were in a poor condition (rust and corrosion) and partly overgrown by nature.

Redevelopment

As part of the redevelopment as a park, the railroad museum was given a new home next to the artificial lake and 25 of the 38 locomotives and carriages were extensively restored under the auspices of Mexico's National Defense Secretariat.

They were transported around the park using heavy-duty cranes. Some of the exhibits are housed in a restored former warehouse (on three tracks) and the remaining locomotives and wagons are distributed throughout the park.

Most of the wagons and locomotives on display date to the late 19th century through the 1980s. Of particular note, for example, are two of the three surviving locomotives ALCO "Century" C-628 diesels, and one of the last American-type 4-4-0s to be built by the Baldwin Locomotive Works.

Some interesting railroad objects were also found during the work, for example the remains of a turntable that was used to change the direction of travel of a locomotive. The turntable was restored and is now part of the railroad museum.

In the past, the museum unfortunately had very few visitors. It was not unusual for the museum to not attract any visitors at all during weekdays. Now the museum is beginning a second life.

Museo de la Luz

Museo de la Luz (Museum of Light), newly opened on November 2, 2023, is also located in the huge Gran Parque La Plancha (newly opened on November 19, 2023).

The Museum of Light is located on the corner of Calle 43 and Calle 50.