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Today it will be 50 years since the last freight train of the Jokioinen railway ran from Forssa to Humppila and back. The last train arrived at Forssa station on March 29, 1974, pulled by steam locomotive number 4 Tubize. The text "Ohi on" (It's all over) was written on the side of the locomotive. After the traffic day, Tubize was driven inside the Forssa locomotive depot for the last time, and the story of the Jokioinen railway ended. In April, the dismantling of the track and scrapping of the rolling stock began.
A few days earlier, the Museum Railway Association had moved its locomotives and carriages to Minkiö station, which over time developed into the center of museum railway operations.
The Museum Railway Association is asking local residents for help in collecting the history of the Jokioinen railway: if you have old photos of the Jokioinen railway (including those with the railway in the background) or personal memories related to the Jokioinen railway, you can send them to us at:
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Christmas is approaching and it's time again for the traditional Museum Jokioinen Museum Railway Christmas card. The Christmas card is again made by PTJ Koskinen, one of the steam locomotive drivers of the museum railway. Like always, the card is very relevant.
In 2023, the new automatic protection system with gates at the Kiipuntie level crossing was inaugurated. The system is the first of the Jokioinen Museum Railway. The municipality of Jokioinen also turned 150 years old and the Jokioinen railway turned 125 years old. Santa Claus and his elves are coming from the direction of Jokioinen and the warning system is working well. Among the gifts, there seems to be something important related to year 2023 in Finland...
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In the autumn, the Museum Railway Association, which runs the Jokioinen Museum Railway, started a fundraising campaign to collect money to renovate and keep the steam locomotive LWR 6, Helga, in running condition. Built in 1909, Helga is the oldest Finnish-made locomotive in running condition.
The fundraising campaign was prominently reported by the news paper Forssan Lehti and radio YLE Häme. The news about the campaign also reached MP Timo Heinonen from Kantahäme, who decided to go help in obtaining funding. As a result of long-term work, the State Finance Committee is today 12.12. granted a grant of 50,000 euros for Helga's renovation.
The Museum Railway Association is really grateful for the assistance it received! The grant makes it possible to order the necessary materials and parts to be made, so that the renovation of the steam boiler and the entire locomotive can be started at a suitable time.
Because it is an expensive renovation and renewal work, the Museum Railway Association will continue fundraising until next spring. The grant received now makes it possible to start the project and make the necessary purchases.
It is a pleasure to note that the association's long-term work as a preserver of Finnish cultural heritage and industrial history is appreciated. The museum railway volunteers who do unpaid work as well as various grants enable the preservation of this unique railway as a living museum.
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Jokioinen Railway turns 125 years old this year. The railway was opened to traffic on December 9, 1898. However trains have been already runing on the track under construction before. The main owner of the railway company was the Jokioinen manor and the railway was built to meet the industrial needs of Jokioinen and Forssa, as the Turku-Toijala state railway did not connect to Jokioinen and Forssa but Humppila.
The length of the Jokioinen railway was 22.5 km and it ran from Humnppila station via Minkiö halt and Jokioinen station to Forssa. Passenger traffic lasted until 1954, and freight traffic was discontinued twenty years later in 1974.
The predecessor of the Jokioinen Museum Railway, the Forssa-Humppila Museum Railway operated museum trains already during the period of the Jokioinen Railway in 1971-73. After the closure of the line, there was a hard fight to save the line, and finally museum train service could be started again in in 1978 on the Minkiö-Jokioinen railway which was saved from demolition.
In 1994, the reconstructed Minkiö-Jokioinen railway line was opened, so museum train traffic could be again operated between Humppila and Jokioinen. Over the years, the operation has expanded and many wagons and locomotives have been added to the rolling stock. A brand new historic station building has been moved to Humppila and a new workshop hall in Minkiö was erected for vehicle repair and maintenance.
During the year 2023, the 125th anniversary of the Jokioinen railway will be celebrated with the Jokioinen Museum Railway events. The event dates are:
- Opening of the season, mobile day and Humppila day, Sun 11.6.
- Strongest of the Depot, Sun 18.6.
- Minkiö Farmers Market, Sun 2.7.
- Minkiö Harvest Market, Sat 12.8.
- Star Light Train, Sat 9.9.
- Santa Claus Train, Sat-Sun 2.-3.12.
This year, scheduled traffic runs on Sundays from the second Sunday in June to the end of July (June 11-July 30) and on the first three Saturdays of August (August 5-19). Even though the cost level has risen drastically, it was decided not to increase ticket prices. Instead, the aim is to achieve savings by reducing the kilometers run. Because of this, traffic starts a week later and ends a week earlier than before. The decision was also partly influenced by the fact that the corona period that has been going on for many years has significantly reduced the number of people from Talkoo who are active in traffic.
Despite the small cuts in traffic, the jubilee year is to be celebrated throughout the summer and early autumn, and to end the festivities handsomely with the traditional Santa Claus Train, which will be run almost 125 years after the service on the Jokioinen railway began!
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Christmas is approaching and it's time again for the traditional Museum Jokioinen Museum Railway Christmas card. The Christmas card was again made by PTJ Koskinen, one of the steam locomotive drivers of the museum railway. Like always, the card is very relevant this year.
In 2022, The Covid pandemic started to be behind us, but the world was drawn into new crises. At Minkiö depot at the heart of the winter, the museum railway's loyal workhorse, the steam locomotive No. 5 built in December 1917 for the former Hyvinkää—Karkkila railway, has nevertheless decided to pull against.
The artist himself explains the starting idea for the card was a strong man train pulling competition in Minkiö last summer. Then he had to get Ukrainian children to have fun of the problem of dictators, finally the grip slipped a littlöe bit. In the background there is Ukrainian-born Ilja Repin's, who also lived in Finland, painting Barge Haulers on the Volga, where enslaved Russians haule a barge on river Volga. Finnish cartoonist Kari once drew a picture based on the same painting of barge haulers in which Eastern European countries were pulling Soviet leaders.
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The traditional Santa Claus Train will be runing again on the first weekend of December 3/12 - 4/12. This year the Santa Claus Train pulled by a steam locomotive will run on Saturday, December 3 Between Jokioinen and Minkiö and on Sunday, December 4 between Humppila and Minkiö. The round trip takes about an hour and lets you to enjoy the magic of Christmas.
The price of the train journey includes warm mulled juice and Christmas gingerbread. In addition, Santa Claus is present on the trains to hand out sweets to all train passengers. In the train carriages, the fireplaces glow hot and makes you to experience real Christmas feeling.
Minkiö station has Christmas-themed programs and music for children and also thre oler ones.
Come and enjoy a warm Christmas event with us! And don't forget to invite your friends along for the Christmas train ride.
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Humppila Day is celebrated in Humppila on the second Sunday in June. Then in addition to the normal Humppila-Jokioinen museum train, special trains run from Humppila station to the Santavaihte Barbeque Place. You can stay over there while grilling and return on the next train.
The Humppila station area of the museum railway has program for all ages throughout the day: the station park offers a free bouncy castle (weather reservation), a Mölkky game, croquet and a nice get-together, for example having a picnic. On the station's tracks you can try hand car rides. The station’s café is open all day.
There are steam trains running on Humppil Day between Humppila station and the Santavaihde Barbeque and Picknick Place. The first train of the day at arrives Humppila at 9.55 and the last train leaves at 16.20. The price of the pendulum train ride to Santavaihde is 7 e for an adult and 3.5 e for a 4-12 year old child. You can also travel by train on the Jokioinen Museum Railway day ticket.
The day's schedule also includes longer diesel train journeys to Minkiö and Jokioinen according to the museum museum's normal schedule.
In addition to train traffic, Humppila station also has a café and railway equipment on display. The steam locomotive also stands during breaks in front of Humppila station and is on display to the public.
Welcome to enjoy a fun summer day with us!
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On the first weekend of May, April 30-May 1, 2022, the traditional Youth Weekend will be held again, with the aim of presenting the Museum Railway's versatile activities and getting new young people to join the hobby.
Lauantai 30.4.
- Meeting at Minkiö station at 10:30 a.m. Presentation of the operation of the museum railway, allocation of accommodation (if requested people vanm be picked up from a VR train from Humppila)
- Lunch
- During the day, light tinkering and doing things together. This year, the goal is to clean the track bed.
- Possibility to try try hand cars
- >Evemimng sauna + barbecuing
Sunday 1.5.
- At 8.30-9.30 Breakfast
- Organized program
- Lunch
- Ending the official program at 14, but you can also stay longer.
General: The Museum Railway Association, which maintains the Jokioinen Museum Railway, offers participants lunches, afternoon coffee/tea, juice and an evening snack during the weekend, as well as breakfast on Sunday. On Saturday evening, you can also take a sauna and barbecue.
Bring with you:
- Bed linean / sleeping bag.
- Towel
- Clothing suitable for light work and according to weather.
The weekend is free for everyone and does not require membership of Museum Railway Association, so everyone who wants to is welcome to spend a nice weekend and join a versatile hobby!
Additional information and registration: Youth manager matias.immonen05(at)gmail.com
Best regards, youth managers, Matias, Leevi, Benjam and Aapo
Also report any special diet or other needs. The announcement can be shared so that as many children and young people as possible get the opportunity to get to know this versatile and educational hobby.