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Narrow-gauge railways in Germany

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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 (close to Heinsberg near Aachen) and Brohltalbahn (Linz/Rhine) are the best known ones, offering services in summer weekends.

Baden-Württemberg

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Oberrheinische Eisenbahn

1,000 mm (3 ft 3+38 in) gauge lines

750 mm (2 ft 5+12 in) gauge lines

381 mm (15 in) gauge lines

Bavaria

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1,000 mm (3 ft 3+38 in) gauge lines

900 mm (2 ft 11+716 in) gauge lines

600 mm (1 ft 11+58 in) gauge lines

Berlin

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600 mm (1 ft 11+58 in) gauge lines

Brandenburg

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1,000 mm (3 ft 3+38 in) gauge lines

750 mm (2 ft 5+12 in) gauge lines

600 mm (1 ft 11+58 in) gauge lines

Hesse

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1,000 mm (3 ft 3+38 in) gauge lines

900 mm (2 ft 11+716 in) gauge lines

800 mm (2 ft 7+12 in) gauge lines

600 mm (1 ft 11+58 in) gauge lines

410 mm (16+532 in) gauge lines

Lower Saxony

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1,000 mm (3 ft 3+38 in) gauge lines

900 mm (2 ft 11+716 in) gauge lines

750 mm (2 ft 5+12 in) gauge lines

600 mm (1 ft 11+58 in) gauge lines

Mecklenburg-Vorpommern

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Bäderbahn Molli in Kühlungsborn

1,000 mm (3 ft 3+38 in) gauge lines

900 mm (2 ft 11+716 in) gauge lines

750 mm (2 ft 5+12 in) gauge lines

600 mm (1 ft 11+58 in) gauge lines

North Rhine-Westphalia

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1,000 mm (3 ft 3+38 in) gauge lines

785 mm (2 ft 6+2932 in) gauge lines

  • Bröltalbahn; 87,3 km, first narrow-gauge railway in Germany.

750 mm (2 ft 5+12 in) gauge lines

600 mm (1 ft 11+58 in) gauge lines

Rhineland-Palatinate

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1,000 mm (3 ft 3+38 in) gauge lines

750 mm (2 ft 5+12 in) gauge lines

Saxony

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Saxony-Anhalt

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1,000 mm (3 ft 3+38 in) gauge lines

750 mm (2 ft 5+12 in) gauge lines

900 mm (2 ft 11+716 in) gauge lines

Schleswig-Holstein

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1,000 mm (3 ft 3+38 in) gauge lines

900 mm (2 ft 11+716 in) gauge lines

600 mm (1 ft 11+58 in) gauge lines

Thuringia

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1,000 mm (3 ft 3+38 in) gauge lines

750 mm (2 ft 5+12 in) gauge lines

600 mm (1 ft 11+58 in) gauge lines

Wangerooge Island Railway

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1,000 mm (3 ft 3+38 in) gauge lines

The single track Wangerooge Island Railway (Wangerooger Inselbahn) 1,000 mm (3 ft 3+38 in) located on the East Frisian island of Wangerooge off the northwestern coachen of Germany.

Wiesloch Feldbahn and Industrial Museum

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600 mm gauge railways in Germany

600 mm (1 ft 11+58 in) gauge lines

See also

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References

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  • 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.
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Media related to Narrow gauge railways in Germany at Wikimedia Commons