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  • Traveling to Germany

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Discussion about railroad topics everywhere outside of Canada and the United States.

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 #386887  by Leo Sullivan
 
If you are looking for 'traditional interurbans' The original lines of the Karlsruhe suburban system "Albtalbahn" are original. The new Karlsruhe lines are mostly on railway lines, interesting but not yet historic.
Then, not far away are the series of lines based on Mannheim. the triangular line from Mannheim to Weinheim an Heidelburg is probably the longest in Germany (varied, partially rural and very interesting) and, at Mannhiem connects to the Rhei-Haardt Bahn,
a very nice interurban line to Bad Durkheim. this complex of lines also includes the city systems of Mannheim, Ludwigshafen and Heidelburg.
Each of these systems has long suburban lines also. Probably the best interconnecting system in Germany. The Ruhr conurbation probably has more total length but is composed of mostly urban routes. (I spent some time there last month myself) Bonn-Cologne has the two intercity lines and many suburbans and, Berlin has the three nearby out of town lines.
The Thueringerwaldbahn in Gotha is a real interurban in an interesting small city, and of course there is the tiny Kirnitzschtalbahn, not really an interurban as there is no 'Urb' but truly rural. At Dresden, the line to Weinbola is very long, with single track sections and runs through the wine growing area. usually not considered an interurban, because it is part of a city system, it nonetheless has all the characteristics. The same goes for the Scheuditz line at Leipzig but, it is not as scenic.
My advice, as you are starting in Hamburg is drive along the coast eastward stopping at Doberan (900 mm steam) Rostock (big tram system with new long line), Rugen (750 mm steam) then, if you aren't tempted by Stettin (Poland), head south. That will take you to Berlin and to many alternatives to mention. Remember, Germany has many more tramways than the USA so, you will have to chose. I also often use a car in Germany and agree that it is a very good way to see tramways. However, beware of downtown driving. It is better to visit the centers by tram. The traffic systems favour public transport so, take advantage of that fact. Good luck and dont forget to tell us how it went.

 #387299  by Rich T
 
Thanks Leo, these are great suggestions.

Are there any rural tram lines hauling freight or express?

 #387416  by Leo Sullivan
 
Sorry to say, I cant think of any proper electric freight or express. The last I knew of was Strausburg near Berlin which used a little steeple cab until a couple of years ago. There are freight and express cars around but, not for real service. The Interurbans from Bonn to Cologne have freight but it is diesel. The Extertalbahn near Hannover (not very near) has their locomotives, electric and wooden too but, much of the wire was stolen and so electric freight service ended. I was there three weeks ago and it didn't look good for restoration. All the long lines had some sort of freight, long ago but it ended in the 60s in the west and in the 80s or 90s in the east. There are Browncoal lines in the Lausitz but they are heavy industrial and maybe even gone by now. Also in the steam narrow gauge category, I forgot too mention the 750 mm line at Mugeln which runs Meyer 0-4-4-0 locomotives exclusively. Search the Dollnitzbahn on the web to see when. You might just be close at the right time. The line is between Leipzig and Dresden. I still think Dresden is the best, in August, the paddlesteamers will be in full operation, all nine, along with all the other wonders of that amazing city.

 #388947  by Markus B
 
Rich T wrote:Thanks Leo, these are great suggestions.

Are there any rural tram lines hauling freight or express?
"Rural tram lines" mean light rail lines with freight trains?

A narrow gauge line with freight trains is the Brohltalbahn:

http://www.brohltalbahn.de/english.htm

 #390443  by Rich T
 
Markus

Electric trams were what I was referring to as steam light railways I considered tramways. Of course this is really nothing more than semantics and the Brohltal Railway is now most certainly on my list of places to visit. Perhaps I will be fortunate enough to see their freight operation.

Thank you for the information.

 #390708  by CarterB
 
Rich,

Since you will be at Brohl on the Rhine, you may wish to consider taking the fabulous KD Rhine Line cruise down river starting at Bingen and getting off either at Andernach above Brohl or Bad Briesig below Brohl. DB trains run along both sides of the Rhine.

 #390847  by Markus B
 
Rich T,

check out drehscheibe-online for information on Electric trams with freight trains. I don´t remember any, but if they are somewhere in Germany, the guys on drehscheibe will know.

 #390876  by george matthews
 
Markus B wrote:Rich T,

check out drehscheibe-online for information on Electric trams with freight trains. I don´t remember any, but if they are somewhere in Germany, the guys on drehscheibe will know.
I believe that in Dresden there is a specially equipped freight tram to transfer parts from one part of Volkswagen to another part.

 #391190  by Markus B
 
george matthews wrote: I believe that in Dresden there is a specially equipped freight tram to transfer parts from one part of Volkswagen to another part.

Yes, how could I forget that one?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CarGoTram

 #398899  by Thomas I
 
VikingNik wrote:As my German uncle told me when I visited over Christmas, Munich is the 'true' capital of Germany, the one with the most beauty and culture, the one that looks like we envision German cities to be. Make sure you take time to visit. It's Hauptbahnhof is not the most attractive but it has tons of transportation systems to experience. I also really enjoyed Bamberg when I visited it many years ago with my parents.
Only Bavarians believe that Munich is the 'true' capital of Germany... :P

 #398930  by george matthews
 
In the 1950s there was a rural connecting tram between Pforzheim and Karlsruhe. I remember seeing it on my first trip to Germany in 1956. I don't suppose it will have survived, but it indicates that in that area there has been a tram-minded culture.

 #399435  by Markus B
 
george matthews wrote:In the 1950s there was a rural connecting tram between Pforzheim and Karlsruhe. I remember seeing it on my first trip to Germany in 1956. I don't suppose it will have survived, but it indicates that in that area there has been a tram-minded culture.
You could hardly be more wrong, the rural tram has not only survived, but it prospered.

http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Albtalbahn (good map, text in german)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karlsruhe#Transport
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karlsruhe_model

 #399649  by Thomas I
 
Markus B wrote:
george matthews wrote:In the 1950s there was a rural connecting tram between Pforzheim and Karlsruhe. I remember seeing it on my first trip to Germany in 1956. I don't suppose it will have survived, but it indicates that in that area there has been a tram-minded culture.
You could hardly be more wrong, the rural tram has not only survived, but it prospered.

http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Albtalbahn (good map, text in german)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karlsruhe#Transport
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karlsruhe_model
The connection between Karlsruhe and Pforzheim from the 1950s doesn't exist today.

 #399667  by george matthews
 
Thomas I wrote:
The connection between Karlsruhe and Pforzheim from the 1950s doesn't exist today.
Do you mean the Pforzheimerkleinbahn no longer runs? The map in the wiki article seems to show it, but is that only a historic connection? (is there an English version as my German is not very good?)

 #399787  by Thomas I
 
george matthews wrote:
Thomas I wrote:
The connection between Karlsruhe and Pforzheim from the 1950s doesn't exist today.
Do you mean the Pforzheimerkleinbahn no longer runs? The map in the wiki article seems to show it, but is that only a historic connection? (is there an English version as my German is not very good?)
You mean this map: http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bild:Albta ... n_1901.png ???

That shows the network about 1901.

The green line and parts of the red lines are gone.