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Only one hour from Seoul Station by subway, the Railroad Museum in Uiwang, Gyeonggi Province, offers a glimpse into more than 100 years of history of Korean trains and railroads. The museum is run by national railway operator Korail.
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In the two-story museum, which was moved to its current location in 1988, models of Korean trains from all periods of Korea’s railroad history -- from the country‘s first steam locomotive to the country’s high-speed train KTX -- are on display. Visitors can also enjoy a virtual reality experience as conductor in the Train Driving Experience Room.
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Outside the museum, 24 full-scale trains are exhibited, including a diesel-electric railcar that served diplomatic purposes for the head of state until 2001. The third-class passenger trains whose operations came to an end in the early 2000s -- the Bidulgi-ho and Tongil-ho – are also on display.
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The museum is 10 minutes away on foot from Exit 2 of Uiwang Station Line 1. It is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. every day in the winter, and 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. from March to October, except for Mondays, New Year’s Day and traditional holidays. Tickets are 1,000 won to 2,000 won, depending on age.
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Another attraction nearby is Uiwang Theme Railroad Street near Uiwang Station, where drawings on trains by elementary school students and trick art are presented.
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The Railroad Museum is temporarily closed until Jan. 3 to help stymie the spread of COVID-19.
More information can be found at the website: www.railroadmuseum.co.kr.
Photos by Park Hyun-koo
Written by Ock Hyun-ju
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Articles by Ock Hyun-ju