Did you know? Model trains lurk beneath the Gare de l'Est!

Published by Graziella de Sortiraparis · Published on October 23th, 2023 at 11:21 a.m.
There's no shortage of hidden places in Paris. Under the Gare de l'Est train station, you can walk along tracks 4 and 5 on a world of miniature trains, run by the Association Française des Amis des Chemins de Fer.

We often wander around Paris without suspecting for a second what's lurking beneath our feet! And such is the case in Paris stations, which can be home to bunkers, but also... associations! Under tracks 4 and 5, there's no magical train to take us to Hogwarts, but rather miniature trains, assembled there by true enthusiasts from AFAC, the Association Française des Amis des Chemins de Fer. Beneath the real, life-size trains, almost 400 m2 of track have been hidden away for years!

A meticulous, realistic work, still in its original state, with the sound of trains, but on a miniature scale. Not a bad change of scenery from the station just above! Unfortunately, this small space can't accommodate many people, being very"dilapidated" and poorly ventilated, according to the AFAC, so ask the association directly if you'd like to visit. Visits are possible on rare occasions, only on the first Saturday of each month, by reservation only.

Trains of all kinds, over 600 meters of track, hundreds of points, high-voltage lines, stationmasters, passengers... on three different-scale rail networks, installed between 1946 and 1955, for an immersion in railway history! This miniature world is entirely hand-crafted, giving you a closer look and a better understanding of this complex universe, in the midst of vivid scenery, where freight convoys and steam locomotives pass through mountains, towns and fields!

Practical information

Location

Place du 11 novembre 1918
75010 Paris 10

Accessibility info

Prices
Free

Official website
www.afac.asso.fr

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