Ambarawa Train Museum

Located on Jalan Stasiun approximately a kilometre south of Ambarawa town centre is the Ambarawa Train Museum, a dedication to the steam age in Java.

The museum is home to 21 steam locomotives which are all sitting out in the open air, causing many of them to show signs of rust. Two other steam locomotives are in working order and there's also a couple of old carriages, the old train station and a small museum displaying a collection of old railway equipment and photos.

At the time of research, the site had been closed for a year due to ‘renovations', but we saw absolutely no sign of progress and many of the locomotives are sadly falling into disrepair. The site is due to reopen as a commercially viable venture in 2013, but this relies on the state-owned railway corporation to invest in getting it up and running again.

Despite it being closed for business, it's still possible to enter the site via the open gate. Locals are seemingly living inside the grounds and kids fly kites and play football around the train tracks, meaning that your presence is barely noticed. It's certainly worth a visit if you're in the area and are even remotely interested in the steam age.

From the main road in Ambarawa, walk 500 metres southwest until you reach Monumen Palagan Ambarawa and then turn left down Jalan Pemuda. After 500 metres, Jalan Stasiun is on your right and the museum is a further 300 metres down this road.