Look Inside This Ghostly Graveyard Where Locomotives Are Slowly Being Swallowed By Nature

Just beside the Hungarian capital sits a cavernous building which is home to countless relics from a bygone age. Once, this industrial enclave buzzed with activity as workers strove to repair the pride of the nation’s railways. But now, everything is silent, and only ghosts remain here in this graveyard for the trains that time forgot.

Istvántelek train yard was built on a large swathe of land next to Budapest in the early 1900s. Yet its fate would prove just as checkered and complex as that of the country itself. And eventually, the vast facility fell into disrepair.

In its heyday, Istvántelek functioned as a service yard for the maintenance of Budapest’s impressive fleet of trains. But the engines eventually stopped arriving as history marched on. Fast forward to the 21st century, and the place is almost abandoned. Nowadays, just a few commuter routes still run on the overgrown lines.

While Istvántelek may be quiet and still, though, it is far from empty. According to Atlas Obscura, there are the remains of over 100 trains that made their way here over the years – only to go no further. And thanks to the efforts of some brave urban explorers, we have been able to see inside this remarkable space.

The story of rail travel in Hungary stretches back to the middle of the 19th century, when the first steam-powered locomotives ran between eastern Budapest and the town of Vác. High prices initially kept passenger numbers low, though a rethink in 1889 brought this transport revolution within the reach of ordinary folk.