Tourist and Minor Railways

Hessen

“Feuriger Elias” steam excursion
operated on the Darmstadt tram network by Historische HEAG-Fahrzeuge

Tourist and Museum Railways

• Bad Schwalbacher Kurbahn in the Kurpark, Bad Schwalbach. about 1.6km, 600mm gauge. Diesel hauled with industrial locomotives formerly used in the peat extraction industry. Operates 2 or 3 days each month, April to October, in December, and by private charter (Site in German)
• Bahnwelt Darmstadt-Kranichstein railway museum in Darmstadt offering rides with various vehicles and locomotives on a short standard gauge line within the museum grounds. Operates a few days each month, April to September
• Dampfkleinbahn Emma Bad Orb to Wächtersbach, about 7km. 600mm gauge, usually steam hauled. Operates Sundays and public holidays, April to October (Site in German)
• Eisenbahnfreunde Bebra 600mm gauge line about 1.6km in length in the grounds of the museum. Steam or diesel hauled using historic industrial locomtives or purpose built diesel railcar. Operates typically one or two days each month, April to October (Site in German)
• Eisenbahnfreunde Wetterau Bad Nauheim Nord to Münzenberg, 9km. Standard gauge, diesel hauled. A steam locomotive is in the course of restoration. Also operates freight services. Not currently operating, planned reopening late 2023 (Site in German)
• Eisenbahnfreunde Treysa museum in Treysa offering occasional excursions on the national network. Diesel or electric hauled (Site in German)
• Frankfurter Feldbahnmuseum industrial railway museum in Frankfurt. Passenger carrying trains operate typically one or two days each month, except July and August. 600mm gauge. Steam or diesel hauled, using former industrial equipment (Site in German)
• Grube Fortuna mining museum near Solms has an underground narrow gauge railway carrying vistors into the mine workings; also the Feldbahn Fortuna, a steam and diesel hauled railway on the surface. Both operate weekends and public holidays, May to mid December, and various weekdays during school holidays (Feldbahn site in German)
• Hessencourrier Kassel Wilhelmshöhe to Naumburg, 33.4km. Standard gauge, usually steam hauled. Operates one or two days each month, May to October, and several days on December (Site in German)
• Historische Eisenbahn Frankfurt steam or diesel hauled excursions on the lines of Frankfurter Hafenbahn. Operates on a few days each year (Site in German)
• Historische HEAG-Fahrzeuge steam hauled excursions on the lines of the Darmstadt tram network, using metre gauge locomotives. May be unique in offering this type of excursion. Different sections of line may be covered on different days. Operates on a few days in May, June, and September (Site mainly in German with some information in English)
• Mühlenkopfschanze inclined lift conveying visitors between the towers of the ski jump in the Willingen Ski Club. Operates throughout the year but may be restricted access during competitive events (Site in German)
• Peterskopfbahn standard gauge funicular from the shore of the Edersee to Peterskopf, about 0.9km with a rise of 290m. Operates Tuesdays to Sundays and public holiday Mondays, April to October (Site in German)
• Werra Fulda Bahn proposed tourist passenger services on the recently reopened RbT Regiobahn Thüringen line between Schenklengsfeld to Heimboldshausen. 10.7km, standard gauge (Site in German)

Miniature Railway

• Dampfbahnclub Taunus in Oberursel, north west of Frankfurt am Main. total length of lines about 1.5km, 127mm (5 inch) and 184mm (7¼ inch) gauge, steam or diesel hauled. Club railway open to the public one or two days each month, April to October (Site in German)

Draisinenbahn

Hand or pedal powered rail trolleys available for hire

• Arbeitskreis Aartalbahn Oberneisen (RP) to Diez (RP) and Michelbach, total length of line about 20km. Operates daily, March to October. Advance booking required (Site in German)
• Eder-Draisine Affoldern to Hemfurth, about 2km. Operates weekends and public holidays, April to October, daily during summer school holidays (Site in German)
• Solardraisine Überwaldbahn Mörlenbach to Wald-Michelbach, 9.7km. Solar powered trolleys. Operates daily, April to October (Site in German)