Bad Schwalbacher Kurbahn, Heritage narrow-gauge railway in Bad Schwalbach, Germany
The Bad Schwalbacher Kurbahn is a narrow-gauge railway that runs through the Gerstruth Valley, connecting Moorbadehaus station with the peat extraction areas. The track stretches about 1.6 kilometers and the carriages have manually operated brakes that passengers help control.
The railway opened in 1926 to move peat and replace horse-drawn wagons that had previously supplied materials for the spa resort. This development represented a significant step forward for the local industry at that time.
The railway demonstrates old working methods that visitors can watch during regular demonstrations. You can see how people in this area once used machines and vehicles in their daily work.
The railway operates from Easter through October with departures starting at 10:30 AM and final trips at 5:30 PM. Since the line travels through hilly moorland with older carriages, wear comfortable shoes and allow extra time for the journey.
The tracks had to be moved repeatedly over the years as peat extraction sites shifted throughout the moorland. These constant adjustments reveal how adaptable the workers needed to be in managing their changing work environment.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
