Underground Railway Museum

"The Underground Railway Museum (Hungarian: Földalatti Vasúti Múzeum), also known as the Millennium Underground Museum, is a unique museum located beneath Deák Ferenc Square in the heart of Budapest. This museum is housed in a historic tunnel that was once part of the M1 line of the Budapest Metro, the oldest underground railway system in Hungary, and one of the first in the world. The museum is accessible through a pedestrian subway system connecting the square to the Deák Ferenc tér metro station. The M1 Metro line, which first opened in 1896, was a significant milestone in Budapest's public transportation system and in the history of rail transport worldwide. This original section of the metro ran from Gizella tér station (now Vörösmarty tér) to Aréna út station (now Hősök tere), passing through Deák Ferenc Square, which became an important hub for the underground network. At the time, the Deák Ferenc Square station had two side platforms and was located just 2.7 meters (about 8 feet 10 inches) underground, which was relatively shallow for a metro system. The design of the station included a sharp curve due to the square's layout, which made the station a notable point in the early line. In the 1950s, when preparations were being made for the construction of Line M2 (the second line of the Budapest Metro), the route of the M1 line was diverted under Deák Ferenc Square to ease the sharp curve. As a result, an 80-meter (about 260 feet) section of the original M1 tunnel was left abandoned and walled off. Though Line M2 did not open until the 1970s, in the 1960s, further construction work in the area led to the creation of a large pedestrian underpass beneath the square. This raised the question of what to do with the abandoned section of the tunnel. Initially, it was planned to fill in the space, but instead, a proposal was made to turn the old metro tunnel into a museum dedicated to the history of the Budapest Metro. The Underground Railway Museum opened its doors to the public on 26 October 1975, coinciding with the 79th anniversary of the opening of the M1 metro line. It quickly became a popular attraction for both locals and tourists, offering a fascinating glimpse into the early days of Budapest's metro system and its significant role in the city's development. In 1996, on the 100th anniversary of the metro's opening, the museum underwent a significant renovation, updating its exhibits and preserving the historical elements of the tunnel. The museum is a tribute to the Millennium Underground, which is considered a pioneer of underground rail travel, and showcases various aspects of the M1 line's history, its construction, and its impact on Budapest’s public transport system. The museum features a variety of exhibits, including historical photos, old metro carriages, and relics from the early years of the M1 line. Visitors can see preserved station signs, furniture, and architectural details that reflect the early metro system's design. The museum also provides insight into the technical advancements of the metro, the challenges of building an underground railway system, and the evolution of Budapest's transportation network. One of the highlights of the museum is the original M1 train car, which allows visitors to step inside a piece of Budapest's history. The museum also showcases the Gizella tér tiling, which was a significant part of the original station's design."