The Estacion Central del Ferrocarril is the old central train station. It is located at the heart of the historic center of Asuncion. Since the ending of regular train services in Paraguay it has housed the National Rail Museum.

The station itself is a fine Victorian building. Its British design is seen in its shape and the iron and brick work from which it is constructed. It has not though seen a train depart from its platforms for many years.

The national train service was suspended in 1999. The tracks running through nearby streets were soon paved over leaving the central station isolated from the rest of the network.

For a short while a few sections of track were used for increasingly infrequent tourist services. After a few years these to were discontinued for lack of funds. The old stream trains were then retired to various locations across the country as museum pieces,

As for the old central station that was not allowed to fall into disrepair. Instead it was renovated and refitted as a museum dedicated to the Paraguayan railways. The new museum then opened to the public in 2002.

Entrance to the museum is made through the main station doors. Just as it would have been in the age of steam. Inside the station ticket office has been turned into the museum ticket office. There is a small entrance fee to help cover the costs of the museum. On paying this the visitor receives their ticket, made in the form of an old train ticket and is free to explore the museum.

Old rooms in the station such as the waiting rooms and the office have been filled with artifacts relating to the railways.

In some rooms there are displays explaining the history of the railways in Paraguay. It was once of the very first to be constructed in the Americas. Then in other rooms are objects from the history of the railways collected from across the country.

Many of these are the equipment and machinery of rail. Looking through them the English origins of the Paraguayan rail network can clearly be seen. Some are still clearly stamped with their place of manufacture. Places like Wolverhampton, Battersea and Rugby.

Upon passing through the various rooms of displays the visitor then emerges onto the station platform itself. The station contains just two platforms enclosed below its high metal roof. Between them run short stretches of track running down to the now permanently closed station doors.

There are a number of larger object laid out along the platforms. More interesting railway memorabilia for the visitor to examine.

Then on the tracks themselves are two old carriages. Firstly an old passenger carriage. The seats of which display the evidence of many years of service transporting passengers around the rail network.

Next to this is an old dining car. This as befits a more luxurious part of the train is in a smarter condition. Both carriages are though on the whole in a good condition and visitors are free to explore them at leisure.

Beyond these sitting on a raised plinth at the to of the station is a small steam engine. This to is British built and was the first train to run in Paraguay. In 1861 it travelled along the first stretch of new built track.

The track at the time only ran for a few miles. However once begun the work rapidly continued southwards towards the border the Argentina.

The museum is open from Monday to Friday and is well worth a visit from anyone visiting Asuncion. The entrance fee is small and very good value and there is plenty for those even with little interest in trains to examine.