If you love the smell of oil and iron and the sight of hulking machines frozen mid-motion, this museum in Sibiu is a must. It's one of the best-preserved collections of steam locomotives in Central Europe, tucked right behind the city's main railway station.

The museum occupies the former roundhouse and turntable, with active railway lines running nearby — the atmosphere is raw and industrial, full of rust, grease and character. In summer, sunlight streaming through the high windows creates dramatic shadows across the giant locomotives; in winter, frost on the iron giants gives the whole place an eerie, timeless feel. It's a fantastic spot for railway enthusiasts, photographers and curious kids alike.

• Sibiu Main Railway Station — the museum sits directly opposite, just a few minutes' walk across the tracks
• A narrow gauge steam locomotive is often also on display at the Agnita railway depot, east of the station

• 23 standard gauge locomotives, 10 narrow gauge locomotives, 3 snowploughs and 2 steam cranes
• 7 locomotives are still active and occasionally run special trains for enthusiasts
• Part of the depot is still in operational use — stay alert while exploring
• Locomotives date from 1885 to 1959, built in Romania as well as Germany (Henschel & Sohn, Borsig, Schwartzkopff) and the USA (Baldwin Locomotive Works)

Opened in 1994, the museum's real magic lies in its working locomotives — every so often they fire up and steam through the countryside on special heritage trips.