For 35 years, the HistoRail demonstrates the permanence and the adaptation of the railway to the technologies, to the evolution of the needs of our societies, through these collections presented on 1000 m².

In 1987, several railway associations, with the Regional Management of SNCF, came together to create a railway museum in a former shoe factory whose arrival of the railway contributed to the development at the end of the 19th century. About thirty volunteers, assisted by railway workers, the SNCF and a dozen companies were able to create a railway universe and open the 1st hall on July 2, 1988, without any public subsidy. Claude Bolling, jazz pianist and film music arranger, was at the inauguration as Honorary President and also well known for his passion for the railway «thing», real and miniature. Jazz remains our major cultural theme which is again developed for the 35th year (2022-2023). A concert-show will be given at the «Rex» cinema in Saint-Léonard on November 19, 2022.
Here is a first concert on 11/06/2022: Concert of the Musical Union of Saint-Léonard de Noblat given in HistoRail on 11/06.
On almost 1000 m² of the 2 rooms and the exterior, a multitude of real objects are presented in a thematic order evoking the trades necessary for the circulation of trains, embellished by networks of miniature trains that bring pedagogy and playful pleasures, all in a concert of railway noises during the start-up of mechanisms and objects.
Conference visits, with operation of real equipment and networks of miniature trains will be provided and will allow everyone to understand the railway history, the complexity of the railway, the large number of trades required for safety and operation, and therefore the necessary costs associated with all these parameters.

Restoration of art-deco woodwork in Limoges-Bénédictins

During the creation of HistoRail, we discovered a unique piece stored «clandestinely» in the Saint-Léonard merchandise market: a small part of the art-deco woodwork of the Benedictine station of Limoges, inaugurated in 1929, classified as Historical Monuments in 1975, and demolished in 1978.
The SNCF team has the origin of this «diversion» asked HistoRail to store them elsewhere in order to free this hall which was to be rented by SNCF. The imposing mass (6.30m x 2.70m) plus a wrought-iron bodyguard, porcelain frescoes and a tourist map from 1929 forced HistoRail to distribute this set both in the hidden parts of the factory and in a barn.
In 2019, for the 90th anniversary of their inauguration, HistoRail managed to remove them from their 40-year anonymity thanks to a journalist from France3. From that date, with the considerable support of the DRAC, a restoration operation is undertaken. To date, the legal and financial stages have been settled. HistoRail has been appointed Contracting Authority by SNCF-Gare & Connexions, as these woodwork will return to their original station once fully restored, probably in September 2023.
Thus, these operations, complemented by crowdfunding at Hello Association, will be the subject of a presentation during the three days of JEP-SNCF, as well as at Société Blanchon in Limoges, on Saturday 17, morning and afternoon. The exotic wood is stored at this company that will restore them. The other two parts (porcelain and card) are already in the restaurant.
The Brand, Heritage and Corporate Philanthropy Directorate (DMPP) SNCF provides considerable material assistance to HistoRail for the management of this dossier, which is totally in line with the theme of these JEP 2022.
Jazz concerts, in 2022 and 2023, will promote crowdfunding. Crowdfunding for the restoration of art-deco woodwork at the SNCF station in Limoges-Bénédicitns