\n
We were quite early at the entrance to the metro station at Plaza Chamber\u00ed. After we had shown our ticket, we were placed in an area on the pavement. Now we waited for the tour to start. Other visitors were placed in a long queue in another part of the square.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
Of the 25 tickets allocated, only 5 people turned up for our visit. As there were still 20 people missing 5 minutes after the official start, the organiser filled the group from the queue of people without tickets. So if you have some time and don’t need a specific timeslot, you can also try to take part in the tour without a ticket. A little tip about the tour: our guide initially only spoke in Spanish, even though we were told that the tour was also in English. Only when we asked did we get the most important information translated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We then had to descend a few steps and enter the old Chamber\u00ed railway station.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/figure>\n\n\n\nHow Chamber\u00ed became a ghost station<\/h3>\n\n\n\n The Chamber\u00ed station was part of the first metro line opened in Madrid in 1919 with the following eight stations: Cuatro Caminos, R\u00edos Rosas, Mart\u00ednez Campos, (Iglesia), Chamber\u00ed, Bilbao, Tribunal, Gran V\u00eda and Sol. During this time, the line was very busy and over time the capacity of the trains was no longer sufficient. The operating company Compa\u00f1\u00eda Metropolitana decided to use longer trains on the metro line in the early 1960s. Actually a good idea, but\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/figure>\n\n\n\nMany of the platforms on the line were too short and had to be lengthened. The platform at Chamber\u00ed station was also too short. However, structural problems were encountered here and the extension was not possible. After all the other stations had been rebuilt, Chamber\u00ed station was closed on 22 May 1966.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/figure>\n\n\n\nWe are standing in the entrance area of the station and I feel like I’m in an old film. The first thing you notice are the ticket booths. There are even old timetables and price lists hanging here. I find the exit barriers particularly interesting. These open when the passenger steps onto a platform, simply by the weight of their body. The entire entrance area is illuminated by natural light that falls into the room through a skylight. The architect deliberately used white tiles. These make the room appear larger and, above all, brighter. Square tiles in the Sevillian style can be found throughout the station.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/figure>\n\n\n\nOn the platform<\/h3>\n\n\n\n After we had learnt a few things about the construction of the metro, we went to a staircase that would lead us to the platform. It’s a shame that the route signs are no longer as large and impressive as they used to be. I like it when you can see at a glance where you are going.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/figure>\n\n\n\nWhen I arrive on the platform, a metro is actually travelling through the station\u2026 It’s only then that I realise that I’ve also travelled through here in the last few days and that the station is dark and empty outside of visiting hours.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/figure>\n\n\n\nThe platform is separated from the platform by a large pane of glass. So you don’t always have to watch out and step back when a train is coming. The light is dim and falls on the old advertising posters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The advertising posters are not made of paper, as you still find them today. They are painted tiles, as they were made in the 1920s. I find it amazing that the advertising spaces were always rented out for a certain period of time. When the time was up and a new customer wanted to show their advert there, the tiles were simply painted over. I think the adverts are beautiful and have been excellently preserved!<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n <\/figure>\n\n\n\n <\/figure>\n\n\n\n <\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nThere is a lot to discover and one or two stories about the railway station are told. I found one detail so interesting that it has stayed in my memory. The entire line had to contend with the high groundwater level right from the start of construction. It is well known that water and electricity don’t mix particularly well, which became a problem with the conductor rails. Fortunately, there are always resourceful engineers and so they developed pantographs for the metro that hang from the ceiling.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
After about 45 minutes, the tour was over. I think it was worth it and I took a much closer look on the next journey through the station on the metro. The Chamber\u00ed ghost station is definitely worth a visit!<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/figure>\n\n\n\nAddress:<\/h4>\n\n\n\n Plaza Chamber\u00ed, s\/n, Madrid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Opening hours:<\/h4>\n\n\n\n Friday: 16-20 h Saturday: 10-14 h and 16-20 h Sunday: 10-14 h<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The visit is only possible with a guided tour!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Entrance fee:<\/h4>\n\n\n\n Free of charge Registration on the website<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\nChamart\u00edn station – a look inside the metro trains of the past<\/h2>\n\n\n\n We take the metro to Chamart\u00edn station. Lines 1 and 10 stop here. The station is huge and, as we discovered, one of the main transfer stations for travellers coming from the airport.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n
\n
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n\n
One platform is separated from normal public traffic by partitions. There is a free exhibition of classic metro trains here. If you want to visit the exhibition, you have to buy a ticket online in advance (there are certain time slots for the visit).<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
There are two options: taking part in a free guided tour (in Spanish only) or an individual tour. We opted for the individual tour. Important: As the museum is located inside the railway station, you can only get there with a valid metro ticket.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/figure>\n\n\n\nWhat can visitors expect?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n After the station was completely restored to mark its 100th anniversary, the operating company decided to put on an exhibition about the creation and development of the metro’s rolling stock. King Felipe VI opened the exhibition, which features 12 historic carriages. In addition, visitors are presented with information on display boards about the construction of the metro and the restoration of the trains, for example.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/figure>\n\n\n\nWe walk past the various metro carriages and are really amazed at how differently they are set up. The open doors make it easy to look inside and details such as seating arrangements and lighting immediately catch the eye. How this has developed over the course of time\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n <\/figure>\n\n\n\n <\/figure>\n\n\n\n <\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nOf course, the trains that started the history of the metro in Madrid over 100 years ago are very interesting – the trains on Line 1 from 1919.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/figure>\n\n\n\nWe really enjoyed the exhibition at the Metro Museum Madrid!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Address:<\/h4>\n\n\n\n Bahnhof Chamart\u00edn Calle Agust\u00edn de Fox\u00e1 s\/n. Madrid<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Opening hours:<\/h4>\n\n\n\n Friday: 16 – 20 h Saturday: 10-14 h and 16-20 h Sunday: 10-14 h<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The visit is only possible with a guided tour!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Entrance fee:<\/h4>\n\n\n\n free of charge Registration via the Metro Museum Madrid website<\/a> is required.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Rather by chance, I came across 3 free activities in Madrid that are not just a great day out for railway fans. Who can claim to have visited a ghost station in the Madrid Metro Museum\u2026<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":25204,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[430],"tags":[23,85],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n
Metro Museum Madrid - 3 free museums<\/title>\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n\t \n\t \n\t \n \n \n \n \n \n\t \n\t \n\t \n