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İstanbul Rahmi M. Koç Museum

In July 2001, Rahmi M. Koç Museum opened a new wing to improve the display of its collection of industrial and scientific artifacts. This new section has some unique rail related pieces, including one of Sultan Abdülaziz railway car. This high quality museum is located in a former Ottoman anchor foundry, for the first building, and a disused 19th century shipyard for the new buildings. The two buildings are in the same street, on opposite sides. The museum is along the Golden Horn, much improved lately by genuine rehabilitation effort. Industrial activity is been relocated and replaced by gardens and preserved areas. In my opinion, the buildings and the sites are already worth a visit.

The museum various exhibits will appeal to everybody in the family, from the youngest to the oldest. The museum has also several restaurants and cafeterias

Address

Rahmi Koç Müzesi Hasköy cadessi Hasköy 80320, Istanbul, Turkey Tel: (90-212) 256 71 73, fax: (90-212) 297 66 37

Collection

The following describes only the railway part of the collection. The museum has a small selection of rolling stock including rare industrial equipment formerly used in Turkey. To our knowledge, this is the only attempt at preserving industrial locomotives in Turkey. All equipments are in mint external condition. The museum has also a collection of models and pictures not detailed here.

Steam enthusiast will certainly appreciate also the collection of static steam engines and marine engines.

Railway steam engine

Other rolling stock

• Sultan Abdülaziz car, 1867, used during a trip to Toulon, Paris, London, Berlin, Wien, Budapest. This car was found in a TCDD shed and restored to its original condition.
• The original Tünel car, this is a 1875 car from the underground funicular to Galata. This car was replaced by a modern one in the 1960's.
• 2 narrow gauge passenger cars
• 3 narrow gauge freight cars
• one standard gauge flat car loaded with engine heaving lifting jacks

Sultan Abdülaziz car, photo: Arman Oymakas, 2001	The wonderfull wood car of Tünel, the historic funicular of Istanbul. This car was taken out of service in the 1960's, after about 90 years of service! March 2005. Photo JP Charrey
OK engine, In the background 55022. March 2005. Photo JP Charrey	Henschel 15943, This unit bears the same number manufacturer nbr as its sister still in Eskişehir. March 2005. Photo JP Charrey
A strange beast: a Davenport industrial loco. March 2005. Photo JP Charrey	1936 harbour tug 'Liman 2' steaming away from the museum for a tour on the mythical Golden Horn. Photo RMK Museum

Ankara branch

The RMK museum has recently opened a branch in Ankara, called "Çengelhan Rahmi M. Koç Museum". It is located across the entrance of the citadel, in the historic (and touristic) part of the city. This museum has also a section about railways.