SWISS MUSEUM
OF MODEL-MAKING
LIVE STEAM
A living museum, open to all!
The Fondation du Modélisation à Vapeur Vive is responsible for the creation of a museum dedicated to the world of live steam locomotives within the Swiss Vapeur Parc in Le Bouveret.
In addition to presenting an exceptional collection of steam engines to the public, this project aims to pass on to future generations a rare technical heritage while offering visitors an immersive and educational cultural experience.
THE FOUNDATION
Created in 2010, the Fondation du Modélisation à Vapeur Vive was born out of the desire to sustainably preserve a unique collection of locomotives and live steam engines built up within the Swiss Vapeur Parc and beyond. Due to the exceptional nature of this collection, the rarity of the know-how it embodies and the absence in Switzerland of a comparable place dedicated to their conservation, operation and transmission, the Foundation assumes a heritage mission that goes far beyond the regional framework.
Its action is part of an approach of national interest: to preserve and make accessible a technical, artisanal and industrial heritage that belongs to the Swiss collective memory and bears witness to a decisive period in the development of the country, its transport and its mechanical know-how. The creation of an independent structure was therefore necessary in order to ensure the sustainable conservation, restoration and transmission of this singular heritage.
A MISSION OF PUBLIC INTEREST
Recognised as a non-profit organisation since 2013 and placed under the supervision of the Federal Department of Home Affairs, the Foundation carries out its mission with a long-term perspective.
It relies on the skills of professionals from the railway, technical, economic and institutional fields, as well as on the commitment of many volunteers and enthusiasts.
THE BUILDING
Completed in 2026, the setting of the Swiss Museum of Steam Flying is an exceptional architectural element in itself. Built in the heart of the Swiss Vapeur Parc thanks to the help of valuable institutional and private support, the 1/4 scale replica of the Lausanne locomotive depot (1911) will house the Foundation’s collection and the educational exhibition from 2027.
The replica of the building is currently being finished. The construction of a building of this magnitude required the mobilization of many trades and the help of dedicated volunteers. From the drawing, documented by the official archives to the adaptations necessary for the installation in the park, it took more than 2 years to build this magnificent building overlooking the reproduction of the Lavaux vineyard facing Lake Geneva.
THE COLLECTION
Composed of more than a hundred pieces, the collection of the Fondation du Modélisation à Vapeur Vive brings together exceptional steam engines, documentation and objects related to the railway world and live steam.
This collection, unique in Europe and for the moment unknown to the public, will be exhibited and showcased in the museum.
THE EXHIBITION
The special feature of the Swiss Steam Museum is that the machines from the collection on display will continue to circulate regularly on the Swiss Vapeur Parc network. Visitors will be able to observe how they work in real life, hear the sounds of steam and better understand the mechanical principles that have marked industrial history.
The museum will give an important place to the transmission of knowledge thanks to a modern and accessible scenography. Visitors will learn about how the steam locomotive works, how energy is produced, and the role of water, coal, and pressure. Interactive devices, animations, films and multimedia media will explain the technical principles related to steam and railway mechanics in a simple way.
The museum will also offer an immersion in the history of the Industrial Revolution and the development of the railway, highlighting the decisive influence of steam on transport and industry. This approach will make the museum a place of scientific, technical and historical discoveries for families, schools, enthusiasts and curious visitors alike.
The project will also promote live steam modelling, a discipline combining craftsmanship, miniature engineering and precision mechanics. Each locomotive presented is a true piece of living heritage. Thanks to its direct link with the Swiss Vapeur Parc, its interactive nature and its educational vocation, the project goes beyond the framework of a traditional exhibition to become a real place of experience and transmission.
Our institutional support
