Centre de la mine et du chemin de Fer Oignies

Useful Information

Location:	Rue Emile Zola, 62590 Oignies. (50.472563, 2.996442)
Open:	MAY to OCT 2nd Sun 14-18. [2023]
Fee:	Adults EUR 5, Children (6-16) EUR 2.50, Children (0-5) free. Groups (20+): Adults EUR 4, Children (0-16) EUR 2.
Classification:	Mining Museum Coal Mine
Light:	Incandescent Electric Light System
Dimension:
Guided tours:	self guided. Guided: D=2 h, Min=20.
Photography:	allowed
Accessibility:	yes
Bibliography:
Address:	Centre de la mine et du chemin de Fer Oignies, Rue Emile Zola, 62590 Oignies, Tel: +33-321-69-42-04.
As far as we know this information was accurate when it was published (see years in brackets), but may have changed since then. Please check rates and details directly with the companies in question if you need more recent info.

History

1993	non-profit CMCF Oignies association founded.

Description

Centre de la mine et du chemin de Fer Oignies (Mine and Railway Centre Oignies) is the home of the CMCF Oignies association, a non-profit association which collects, repairs and operates mining trains. Mines during the 20th century depended on their mine trains which were used to transport miners, material, and ore or coal. The carts were optimized for the respective load, the locomotives were electric, diesel powered, or even with steam engines in the early days. The trains use narrow gauge, because the size of the mine tunnels is limited.

We were not sure if we should list this museum, because showcaves.com is dedicated to underground site, and there is no underground section here. But there is a strong connection to the local mining, as the trains are all mine trains, and the home is the carreau de la fosse 2 (Pit 2) of the Oignies mines. The former colliery building hosts also the Association of Friends of Mines and the Association of Rail Postal Ambulants.

The museum is open only once a month, on the second Sunday, but this dey is special, because each time there is the possibility to see mine trains running and to take a ride. There are steam locomotives which are models in the scale 1:3 to 1:11, but they are fully functional, and they are demonstrated. The association has a special workshop for the members who build such models. The museum also has a section for small scale models, the typical childrens toys, but they have model railway networks and machines at five different scales.