HISTORICAL RAILWAY PARKS IN FINLAND

Finnish Railway parks celebrated their 150th anniversary in 2024. Railway architects and gardeners designed railway areas together. State Railways built over 500 railway parks, which were the first public parks in Finland. Park culture represents tangible and intangible, living railway heritage. 

We celebrated 60 railway parks in Finland during the summer and autumn 2024 with over 1900 local people.

Railway apple tree story

The title tree of the Railways is pendulous apple tree 'Malus Hyvingiensis' which had the 120th anniversary. The National Board of Antiques gave a grant to the Railway Park Heritage project. Old railway apple trees received metal signs designed for the heritage year 2024. The Project also planted new railway apple trees at 30 railway parks, often with children and local schools.

During the summer of 2024, the project arranged guided walks with local people at 60 station areas and railway parks around Finland. Over 1900 people participated and gathered to historical station areas. Museum trains, railway line and station celebrations were success. The cultural environment gives potential for the local community to tourism and small entrepreneurship in the region.

Internet information about events and local newspaper articles awakened the public to see and respect the historical railway parks. Railways has influenced the society with architecture and park culture as modes to locals.

Railways celebrate the 200th anniversary worldwide in September 2025.

Railway heritage themes should be raised to awareness in European countries. Through events and by sharing stories and images of past, present and future. Railways have much potential and green values for the future society.