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 ZittauâÂÂOybinâÂÂJonsdorf 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 (close to Heinsberg near Aachen) and Brohltalbahn (Linz/Rhine) are the best known ones, offering services in summer weekends.
Baden-Württemberg
gauge lines
- Albbähnle Amstetten (Württemberg) â Laichingen; closed in 1985, Currently Amstetten â Oppingen is a heritage railway
- Odenwaldexpress â MosbachâÂÂMudau; 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 â AalenâÂÂDillingen an der Donau; 55,49 km, closed in 1972; heritage railway on part of the line.
- Lokalbahn RheinâÂÂEttenheimmünster; converted to standard gauge in 1922/1927
- Mittelbadische Eisenbahnen; converted to standard gauge in 1973, now closed.
- Obere Wiesentalbahn (Todtnauerli.); , closed in 1967
- Oberrheinische Eisenbahn â MannheimâÂÂHeidelbergâÂÂWeinheimâÂÂMannheim; currently operating as an electrified tram.
- Schmalspurbahn NagoldâÂÂAltensteig (âÂÂAltensteigerleâÂÂ); closed in 1967.
gauge lines
gauge lines
Bavaria
gauge lines
- Bayerische Zugspitzbahn from Garmisch-Partenkirchen to Zugspitze; 19 km, electrified cog railway
- Chiemsee-Bahn from Prien to Prien-Stock; 1,91 km
- Kleinbahn WallersdorfâÂÂMünchshöfen; 7,7 km, closed in 1949
- Eichstätt-Kinding Bahn; 46,4 km, converted to standard gauge in 1934
- Staatliche Waldbahn RuhpoldingâÂÂReit im Winkl; 22,5 km, closed in 1940
- Walhallabahn from Regensburg to Donaustauf; 23,4 km, closed in 1968
- Wendelsteinbahn from Brannenburg to Wendelstein; 7,66 km, electrified cog railway
gauge lines
gauge lines
Berlin
gauge lines
Brandenburg
gauge lines
gauge lines
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Hesse
gauge lines
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Lower Saxony
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 BremenâÂÂTarmstedt; 27,0 km, closed in 1956.
- Kleinbahn Hoya â Syke â Asendorf
- Kreisbahn Aurich; 84,6 km, closed in 1969.
- Kreisbahn EmdenâÂÂPewsumâÂÂGreetsiel; 22,8 km, closed in 1963.
- ; 3,5 km, heritage railway.
- Steinhuder Meer-Bahn StMB; 52,7 km
- Südharz-Eisenbahn WalkenriedâÂÂWiedaâÂÂBraunlageâÂÂSorgeâÂÂTanne;
- Wangerooger Inselbahn; 5,9 km.
gauge lines
gauge lines
- Bleckeder Kreisbahn; 47,25 km, closed.
- Gartetalbahn Göttingen â Duderstadt; 35,6 km, closed in 1957
- Hümmlinger Kreisbahn; 28,9 km, converted to standard gauge in 1957.
- Kleinbahn LingenâÂÂBergeâÂÂQuakenbrück; 55,3 km, closed in 1952.
- Kleinbahn Ocholt â Westerstede; 7 km, converted to standard gauge in 1904.
- Kreisbahn Cloppenburg; 29,2 km, closed in 1952.
- Kreisbahn OsterodeâÂÂKreiensen; 32,7 km, converted to standard gauge in 1967.
gauge lines
Mecklenburg-Vorpommern
gauge lines
gauge lines
gauge lines
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North Rhine-Westphalia
gauge lines
- Bielefelder Kreisbahnen; 23 km, closed in 1956
- Drachenfelsbahn, cog railway; 1,5 km
- Dürener Eisenbahn; closed in 1965.
- Euskirchener Kreisbahnen; 57 km, closed in 1959
- Herforder Kleinbahn; 40,8 km, closed in 1966.
- Hohenlimburger Kleinbahn; closed in 1983
- Iserlohner Kreisbahn; 1900âÂÂ1964
- Kleinbahn HaspeâÂÂVoerdeâÂÂBreckerfeld; 18,39 km, closed in 1963
- Kreis Altenaer Eisenbahn; 14,6 km, closed in 1976.
- Leppetalbahn (Engelskirchen-Marienheider Eisenbahn); 18,4 km, closed in 1958.
- Märkische Museums-Eisenbahn e. V. (MME) â Sauerländer Kleinbahn, Museumseisenbahn im Elsetal, Herscheid-Hüinghausen â Köbbinghauser-Hammer; 2,3 km
- Plettenberger Kleinbahn (Plettenberger StraÃÂenbahn AG); closed in 1962.
- Geilenkirchener Kreisbahn â in Kreis Heinsberg, partly operating as a heritage railway, the Selfkantbahn (GKB)
- StraÃÂenbahn Essen; 52,5 km
- Tecklenburger Nordbahn; converted to standard gauge in 1935
gauge lines
gauge lines
gauge lines
Rhineland-Palatinate
gauge lines
gauge lines
Saxony
Saxony-Anhalt
gauge lines
gauge lines
gauge lines
Schleswig-Holstein
gauge lines
- ; 86 km, closed (reunited with Denmark in 1920)
- ; 28,7 km, closed in 1959.
- ; 49,5 km, closed in 1953.
- ; 18,5 km, closed (reunited with Denmark in 1920)
- ; 13,7 km, opened in 1895, converted to standard gauge in 1926
- (Danish: Amtsbanerne pÃÂ¥ Als); 19 km, converted to standard gauge in 1933 (reunited with Denmark in 1920).
- ; closed in 1937
- ; 46 km, closed in 1957.
- , closed in 1970.
gauge lines
gauge lines
Thuringia
gauge lines
gauge lines
gauge lines
Wangerooge Island Railway
gauge lines
The single track Wangerooge Island Railway (Wangerooger Inselbahn) 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
gauge lines
See also
References
External links