Narrow-gauge railways in Germany A number of narrow-gauge lines survive, largely as a consequence of German reunification, in the former East Germany where some of them form part of the public transport system as active commercial carriers. Most extensive of those still employing steam traction is the Harz mountain group of metre-gauge lines, the Harzer Schmalspurbahnen . Other notable lines are the Zittau–Oybin–Jonsdorf line in Saxony, the Mollibahn and the Rügensche Kleinbahn on the Isle of Rügen on the Baltic coast and the Radebeul-Radeburg line , Weisseritztalbahn in the suburbs of Dresden. Although most rely on the tourist trade, in some areas they provide significant employment as steam traction is particularly labour-intensive.
In the Western part of Germany, Selfkantbahn Heinsberg near Aachen ) and Brohltalbahn Linz /Rhine) are the best known ones, offering services in summer weekends.
Oberrheinische Eisenbahn 1,000 mm (3 ft 3+ 3 ⁄8 in ) gauge lines
Albbähnle Amstetten (Württemberg) – Laichingen ; closed in 1985, Currently Amstetten – Oppingen is a heritage railway Odenwaldexpress – Mosbach –Mudau ; 27,51 km, closed in 1973.Filderbahn ; from Möhringen to Vaihingen , Hohenheim , Degerloch , and Neuhausen auf den Fildern respectively Leinfelden-Echterdingen ; converted to standard gauge in 1990.Härtsfeldbahn – Aalen –Dillingen an der Donau ; 55,49 km, closed in 1972; heritage railway on part of the line.Lokalbahn Rhein–Ettenheimmünster ; converted to standard gauge in 1922/1927Mittelbadische Eisenbahnen ; converted to standard gauge in 1973, now closed.Obere Wiesentalbahn (Todtnauerli.); 1,000 mm (3 ft 3+ 3 ⁄8 in ), closed in 1967Oberrheinische Eisenbahn – Mannheim –Heidelberg –Weinheim –Mannheim; currently operating as an electrified tram.Schmalspurbahn Nagold–Altensteig („Altensteigerle“); closed in 1967.750 mm (2 ft 5+ 1 ⁄2 in ) gauge lines
381 mm (15 in ) gauge lines
Bavaria
1,000 mm (3 ft 3+ 3 ⁄8 in ) gauge lines
Bayerische Zugspitzbahn from Garmisch-Partenkirchen to Zugspitze ; 19 km, electrified cog railway Chiemsee-Bahn from Prien to Prien-Stock; 1,91 kmKleinbahn Wallersdorf–Münchshöfen ; 7,7 km, closed in 1949Eichstätt-Kinding Bahn ; 46,4 km, converted to standard gauge in 1934Staatliche Waldbahn Ruhpolding–Reit im Winkl ; 22,5 km, closed in 1940Walhallabahn from Regensburg to Donaustauf ; 23,4 km, closed in 1968Wendelsteinbahn from Brannenburg to Wendelstein ; 7,66 km, electrified cog railway 900 mm (2 ft 11+ 7 ⁄16 in ) gauge lines
600 mm (1 ft 11+ 5 ⁄8 in ) gauge lines
Berlin
600 mm (1 ft 11+ 5 ⁄8 in ) gauge lines
Brandenburg
1,000 mm (3 ft 3+ 3 ⁄8 in ) gauge lines
750 mm (2 ft 5+ 1 ⁄2 in ) gauge lines
600 mm (1 ft 11+ 5 ⁄8 in ) gauge lines
Hesse
1,000 mm (3 ft 3+ 3 ⁄8 in ) gauge lines
900 mm (2 ft 11+ 7 ⁄16 in ) gauge lines
800 mm (2 ft 7+ 1 ⁄2 in ) gauge lines
600 mm (1 ft 11+ 5 ⁄8 in ) gauge lines
410 mm (16+ 5 ⁄32 in
Lower Saxony
1,000 mm (3 ft 3+ 3 ⁄8 in ) gauge lines
Inselbahn Juist ; 2,8 km, from 1896 to 1982, tracks lifted.Inselbahn Langeoog ; 2,6 km.Kehdinger Kreisbahn ; 51,8 km, closed.Kleinbahn Bremen–Tarmstedt ; 27,0 km, closed in 1956.Kleinbahn Hoya – Syke – Asendorf Kreisbahn Aurich ; 84,6 km, closed in 1969.Kreisbahn Emden–Pewsum–Greetsiel ; 22,8 km, closed in 1963.Spiekerooger Inselbahn [de ] ; 3,5 km, heritage railway .Steinhuder Meer-Bahn StMB; 52,7 kmSüdharz-Eisenbahn Walkenried –Wieda –Braunlage –Sorge –Tanne ;Wangerooger Inselbahn ; 5,9 km.900 mm (2 ft 11+ 7 ⁄16 in ) gauge lines
750 mm (2 ft 5+ 1 ⁄2 in ) gauge lines
Bleckeder Kreisbahn ; 47,25 km, closed.Gartetalbahn Göttingen – Duderstadt ; 35,6 km, closed in 1957Hümmlinger Kreisbahn ; 28,9 km, converted to standard gauge in 1957.Kleinbahn Lingen–Berge–Quakenbrück ; 55,3 km, closed in 1952.Kleinbahn Ocholt – Westerstede ; 7 km, converted to standard gauge in 1904.Kreisbahn Cloppenburg ; 29,2 km, closed in 1952.Kreisbahn Osterode–Kreiensen ; 32,7 km, converted to standard gauge in 1967.600 mm (1 ft 11+ 5 ⁄8 in ) gauge lines
Mecklenburg-Vorpommern
Bäderbahn Molli in Kühlungsborn 1,000 mm (3 ft 3+ 3 ⁄8 in ) gauge lines
900 mm (2 ft 11+ 7 ⁄16 in ) gauge lines
750 mm (2 ft 5+ 1 ⁄2 in ) gauge lines
600 mm (1 ft 11+ 5 ⁄8 in ) gauge lines
North Rhine-Westphalia
1,000 mm (3 ft 3+ 3 ⁄8 in ) gauge lines
Bielefelder Kreisbahnen ; 23 km, closed in 1956Drachenfelsbahn , cog railway ; 1,5 kmDürener Eisenbahn ; closed in 1965.Euskirchener Kreisbahnen ; 57 km, closed in 1959Herforder Kleinbahn ; 40,8 km, closed in 1966.Hohenlimburger Kleinbahn ; closed in 1983Iserlohner Kreisbahn ; 1900–1964Kleinbahn Haspe–Voerde–Breckerfeld ; 18,39 km, closed in 1963Kreis Altenaer Eisenbahn ; 14,6 km, closed in 1976.Leppetalbahn (Engelskirchen-Marienheider Eisenbahn); 18,4 km, closed in 1958.Märkische Museums-Eisenbahn e. V. (MME) – Sauerländer Kleinbahn, Museumseisenbahn im Elsetal, Herscheid-Hüinghausen – Köbbinghauser-Hammer; 2,3 kmPlettenberger Kleinbahn (Plettenberger Straßenbahn AG); closed in 1962.Geilenkirchener Kreisbahn – in Kreis Heinsberg , partly operating as a heritage railway, the Selfkantbahn (GKB)Straßenbahn Essen ; 52,5 kmTecklenburger Nordbahn ; converted to standard gauge in 1935785 mm (2 ft 6+ 29 ⁄32 in ) gauge lines
Bröltalbahn ; 87,3 km, first narrow-gauge railway in Germany.750 mm (2 ft 5+ 1 ⁄2 in ) gauge lines
600 mm (1 ft 11+ 5 ⁄8 in ) gauge lines
Rhineland-Palatinate
1,000 mm (3 ft 3+ 3 ⁄8 in ) gauge lines
750 mm (2 ft 5+ 1 ⁄2 in ) gauge lines
Saxony
Saxony-Anhalt
1,000 mm (3 ft 3+ 3 ⁄8 in ) gauge lines
750 mm (2 ft 5+ 1 ⁄2 in ) gauge lines
900 mm (2 ft 11+ 7 ⁄16 in ) gauge lines
Schleswig-Holstein
1,000 mm (3 ft 3+ 3 ⁄8 in ) gauge lines
Apenrader Kreisbahn [de ] ; 86 km, closed (reunited with Denmark in 1920)Eckernförder Kreisbahnen [de ] ; 28,7 km, closed in 1959.Flensburger Kreisbahn [de ] ; 49,5 km, closed in 1953.Haderslebener Kreisbahn [de ] ; 18,5 km, closed (reunited with Denmark in 1920)Kleinbahn Niebüll–Dagebüll [de ] ; 13,7 km, opened in 1895, converted to standard gauge in 1926Kreisbahn auf Alsen [de ] (Danish: Amtsbanerne på Als); 19 km, converted to standard gauge in 1933 (reunited with Denmark in 1920).Kreisbahn Norderdithmarschen [de ] ; closed in 1937Rendsburger Kreisbahn [de ] ; 46 km, closed in 1957.Sylter Inselbahn [de ] , closed in 1970.900 mm (2 ft 11+ 7 ⁄16 in ) gauge lines
600 mm (1 ft 11+ 5 ⁄8 in ) gauge lines
Thuringia
1,000 mm (3 ft 3+ 3 ⁄8 in ) gauge lines
750 mm (2 ft 5+ 1 ⁄2 in ) gauge lines
600 mm (1 ft 11+ 5 ⁄8 in ) gauge lines
Wangerooge Island Railway
1,000 mm (3 ft 3+ 3 ⁄8 in ) gauge lines
The single track Wangerooge Island Railway (Wangerooger Inselbahn ) 1,000 mm (3 ft 3+ 3 ⁄8 in ) located on the East Frisian island of Wangerooge off the northwestern coachen of Germany.
Wiesloch Feldbahn and Industrial Museum
600 mm gauge railways in Germany
600 mm (1 ft 11+ 5 ⁄8 in ) gauge lines
See also
References
Machel, Wolf-Dietger (2011). Enzyklopädie der deutschen Schmalspurbahnen [Encyclopedia of the German Narrow Gauge Railways ] (in German). München: GeraMond Verlag. ISBN 9783862451012 Organ, John (2004). North East German Narrow Gauge: Harz Mountains and Baltic Region . Narrow Gauge Branch Lines series. Midhurst, West Sussex, UK: Middleton Press. ISBN 1904474446 Organ, John (2005). Saxony Narrow Gauge: featuring the extensive 75cm, 60cm and 38cm lines . Narrow Gauge Branch Lines series. Midhurst, West Sussex, UK: Middleton Press. ISBN 1904474470 Organ, John (2007). West German Narrow Gauge . Narrow Gauge Branch Lines series. Midhurst, West Sussex, UK: Middleton Press. ISBN 978-1904474937 Organ, John (2014). Harz Revisited: Metre Gauge Railways in Central Germany . Narrow Gauge Branch Lines series. Midhurst, West Sussex, UK: Middleton Press. ISBN 9781908174628 Organ, John (2015). Saxony & Baltic Germany Revisited . Narrow Gauge Branch Lines series. Midhurst, West Sussex, UK: Middleton Press. ISBN 9781908174710
External links
Narrow gauge railways in Germany at Wikimedia Commons
Sovereign states States with limited Dependencies and
