Carrileiros Railway Park

Ourense has a great railway tradition that dates back to 1881, the year in which the first tracks arrived from Vigo. In 1957 the first direct line with Madrid was inaugurated, turning Ourense into the connecting hub of Galicia with the rest of Spain. This position is consolidated to this day with the arrival of the high speed train in 2021.

Ourense’s railway legacy can be seen in many different ways: through infrastructure such as the viaduct or the San Francisco or A Ponte train stations; through life-size locomotives (like the one in front of the station) or even model train machines. In this case you can admire H0 scale models in the COFEPO Train Collection or the mini trains at the Carrileiros Railway Park.

Along with its collection of railway elements, this park is characterized by its colorful miniature trains (on which children, adults and even pets can ride).

The Carrileiros Railway Park was openend in May 2003 (and remodeled in 2011). It is municipally owned but is managed by the non-profit association Ferrocarril Central de Galicia (Carrileiros). In its 4,000 square meters, a railway circuit with 470 meters of track is recreated. Tunnels, level crossings, viaducts, switch points, stations… But above all miniature trains that are large enough to transport passengers. The locomotives are models of real machines, the coaches are flat platforms with running boards for support, and the tracks, in this case, are 5 inches wide.

Access to the park is free, but to get on the train (suitable for children, adults and pets) you must buy tickets at the dedicated window and save your turn at the stop. The ticket office area also has a small museum with railway objects.

Once a year the Train Festival takes place: a unique railway show in which associations and fans from all over Spain and Portugal participate. Furthermore, at Christmas time the Orient Express visits: this historic train has a carriage specially prepared so that the little ones can leave their letters to Santa Claus, the Three Wise Men or the Apalpador.

On the website of this association they also have information to learn more about the railway in a fun way, such as some nice cut-outs of stations and locomotives.