Fichtelbergbahn
Encyclopedia
The Fichtelberg Railway is a gauge narrow gauge railway that leads from the standard gauge
international line at Cranzahl to the ski resort of Oberwiesenthal
in the Erzgebirge mountains in eastern Germany. It takes its name from the Fichtelberg
mountain near Oberwiesenthal.
to Komotau was openend in 1872, plans were made to also connect the former mining town of Oberwiesenthal
to the Saxon Railway system
. The requirements and qualifications to build a narrow gauge railway from Cranzahl were already fulfilled by 1884, but it wasn't until April 6 of 1896 that construction started. The railway opening took place on July 20, 1897.By the end of that year, 67,756 passengers (and 57 dogs) had already traveled on the new railway.
Passenger count increased in the following years, and tourism played an increasing role in the passenger count. Freight traffic also increased significantly. Until 1906, freight had to be transloaded
in Cranzahl, since then transporter wagon
s made the extra cargo handling unnecessary. The biggest cargo customer - even until the mid-1990s - was the quarry
in Hammerunterwiesenthal, requiring around 30 freight cars daily.
After 1990 the railway lost its status as the most important carrier into Oberwiesenthal
(which is the highest town in Germany
), and in 1992 freight service was terminated. After 1994, the Deutsche Bahn
became the new owner, and planned to either dismantle the railway, or sell it.
For the 100 year anniversary, the communities along the track, together with the operators of the Pressnitz Valley Railway
and the Lößnitzgrund Railway organized a fest week that drew 40,000 visitors. With different rolling stock
of narrow gauge railways from all over Germany, a train schedule of extra and regularly scheduled trains meant that there was a train on the track almost every hour. Fun fairs
along the track and historic trains ensured the success of the event.
New thinking started after the success of the event, and the district of Annaberg
prepared the acquisition of the railway. On June 1, 1998, the operator BVO Bahn GmbH, since 2007 Saxon Steam Railway Company
took over operations from the Deutsche Bahn
, and renamed the railway to the catchier Fichtelbergbahn. The new operator aligned operations with the tourism in the surrounding area, and within relative short time achieved country-wide recognition. Especially during the winter months the railway now has similar significance as in its heyday, as winter sports tourists in the towns of Neudorf and Cranzahl can reach the ski areas of Oberwiesenthal
with ease and in style.
station Cranzahl at 653 m (2,142.4 ft) of the Zschopautal Railway. The passenger trains start on the same platform as the standard gauge trains. The former freight yard and its loading ramp for the transporter flatcars is on the northern end of the station. The narrow gauge trains leave the station in a left turn and follow the right side of the Sehma valley
through the village of Neudorf.
The first stop is Unterneudorf, next is Neudorf. The following stop Vierenstrasse is a popular starting point for hiking into the Fichtelberg
area. Leaving Vierenstrasse, the track follows a long incline (1:33) through the densely covered Fichtelberg forest. The next station Kretscham-Rothensehma is used to allow valley-bound trains to pass. The track continues to climb, reaching the watershed of the Pöhlbach
river, arriving at the next stop of Niederschlag.
The tracks now lead downward into the Pöhlbach valley, crosses the Bundesstrasse 95, and follows along the border to the Czech Republic
uphill to the Hammerunterwiesenthal station. Leaving Hammerunterwiesenthal, the valley becomes so narrow that there is only room for the state road and the railroad tracks, steep meadows on the right hand side, and a steep forest to the left that already belongs to the Czech Republic.
After the next stop Unterwiesenthal, the track unwinds itself from the narrow valley, the Fichtelberg
on the right, and the Klinovec
to the left become visible. After crossing the federal route again, the railway leads over a 110 m (360.9 ft) long and 23 m (75.5 ft) high steel viaduct
, and reaches the terminus of Oberwiesenthal
at 893 m (2,929.8 ft).
operates only steam powered passenger trains, which carry dining
and baggage car
s. Six train-pairs operate daily. On weekends, trains pass each other in the morning in Neudorf, otherwise trains pass in Hammerunterwiesenthal. The SDG uses steam engines of the DR Class 99.77-79
, serial 099 772, 099 773, 099 785, 099 786 and 099 794.
The scenery is enhanced in the winter, when low temperatures increase the volume of steam from the locomotive, and snow covered forests alternate with small Erzgebirge villages displaying their typical Christmas decoration
.
Standard gauge
The standard gauge is a widely-used track gauge . Approximately 60% of the world's existing railway lines are built to this gauge...
international line at Cranzahl to the ski resort of Oberwiesenthal
Oberwiesenthal
Oberwiesenthal is a town and a ski resort in the district of Erzgebirgskreis in Saxony in Germany. It is situated in the Erzgebirge mountains, on the border with the Czech Republic, 19 km south of Annaberg-Buchholz, and 23 km northeast of Karlovy Vary. At , it is the highest town in Germany...
in the Erzgebirge mountains in eastern Germany. It takes its name from the Fichtelberg
Fichtelberg
The Fichtelberg is a mountain with two main peaks in the middle of the Ore Mountains in Saxony, eastern Germany near the Czech border. At above sea level, the Fichtelberg is the highest mountain in Saxony, the second highest in the Ore Mountains and used to be the highest mountain in East Germany...
mountain near Oberwiesenthal.
History
After the Zschopau Valley Railway from ChemnitzChemnitz
Chemnitz is the third-largest city of the Free State of Saxony, Germany. Chemnitz is an independent city which is not part of any county and seat of the government region Direktionsbezirk Chemnitz. Located in the northern foothills of the Ore Mountains, it is a part of the Saxon triangle...
to Komotau was openend in 1872, plans were made to also connect the former mining town of Oberwiesenthal
Oberwiesenthal
Oberwiesenthal is a town and a ski resort in the district of Erzgebirgskreis in Saxony in Germany. It is situated in the Erzgebirge mountains, on the border with the Czech Republic, 19 km south of Annaberg-Buchholz, and 23 km northeast of Karlovy Vary. At , it is the highest town in Germany...
to the Saxon Railway system
Royal Saxon State Railways
The Royal Saxon State Railways were the state-owned railways operating in the Kingdom of Saxony from 1869 to 1918...
. The requirements and qualifications to build a narrow gauge railway from Cranzahl were already fulfilled by 1884, but it wasn't until April 6 of 1896 that construction started. The railway opening took place on July 20, 1897.By the end of that year, 67,756 passengers (and 57 dogs) had already traveled on the new railway.
Passenger count increased in the following years, and tourism played an increasing role in the passenger count. Freight traffic also increased significantly. Until 1906, freight had to be transloaded
Transloading
For the data downloading process, see sideload.Transloading is the process of transferring a shipment from one mode of transportation to another. It is most commonly employed when one mode cannot be used for the entire trip, as for instance when goods must be shipped internationally from one inland...
in Cranzahl, since then transporter wagon
Transporter wagon
A transporter wagon, in railway terminology, is a wagon or railroad car designed to carry other railway equipment. Normally, it is used to transport equipment of a different rail gauge...
s made the extra cargo handling unnecessary. The biggest cargo customer - even until the mid-1990s - was the quarry
Quarry
A quarry is a type of open-pit mine from which rock or minerals are extracted. Quarries are generally used for extracting building materials, such as dimension stone, construction aggregate, riprap, sand, and gravel. They are often collocated with concrete and asphalt plants due to the requirement...
in Hammerunterwiesenthal, requiring around 30 freight cars daily.
After 1990 the railway lost its status as the most important carrier into Oberwiesenthal
Oberwiesenthal
Oberwiesenthal is a town and a ski resort in the district of Erzgebirgskreis in Saxony in Germany. It is situated in the Erzgebirge mountains, on the border with the Czech Republic, 19 km south of Annaberg-Buchholz, and 23 km northeast of Karlovy Vary. At , it is the highest town in Germany...
(which is the highest town in Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
), and in 1992 freight service was terminated. After 1994, the Deutsche Bahn
Deutsche Bahn
Deutsche Bahn AG is the German national railway company, a private joint stock company . Headquartered in Berlin, it came into existence in 1994 as the successor to the former state railways of Germany, the Deutsche Bundesbahn of West Germany and the Deutsche Reichsbahn of East Germany...
became the new owner, and planned to either dismantle the railway, or sell it.
For the 100 year anniversary, the communities along the track, together with the operators of the Pressnitz Valley Railway
Pressnitz Valley Railway
The Pressnitz Valley Railway was a narrow gauge railway line in Saxony, Germany. It used to climb from Wolkenstein on the standard gauge Flöha - Vejprty line through the valley of river Pressnitz to Jöhstadt on the border with Bohemia...
and the Lößnitzgrund Railway organized a fest week that drew 40,000 visitors. With different rolling stock
Rolling stock
Rolling stock comprises all the vehicles that move on a railway. It usually includes both powered and unpowered vehicles, for example locomotives, railroad cars, coaches and wagons...
of narrow gauge railways from all over Germany, a train schedule of extra and regularly scheduled trains meant that there was a train on the track almost every hour. Fun fairs
Funfair
A funfair or simply "fair" is a small to medium sized travelling show primarily composed of stalls and other amusements. Larger fairs such as the permanent fairs of cities and seaside resorts might be called a fairground, although technically this should refer to the land where a fair is...
along the track and historic trains ensured the success of the event.
New thinking started after the success of the event, and the district of Annaberg
Erzgebirgskreis
Erzgebirgskreis is a district in the Free State of Saxony, Germany. It is named after the Erzgebirge , a mountain range in the southern part of the district which forms part of the Germany–Czech Republic border...
prepared the acquisition of the railway. On June 1, 1998, the operator BVO Bahn GmbH, since 2007 Saxon Steam Railway Company
Saxon Steam Railway Company
The Saxon Steam Railway Company , formerly the BVO Bahn, is a German railway company in Saxony, that operates several Saxon narrow gauge railways...
took over operations from the Deutsche Bahn
Deutsche Bahn
Deutsche Bahn AG is the German national railway company, a private joint stock company . Headquartered in Berlin, it came into existence in 1994 as the successor to the former state railways of Germany, the Deutsche Bundesbahn of West Germany and the Deutsche Reichsbahn of East Germany...
, and renamed the railway to the catchier Fichtelbergbahn. The new operator aligned operations with the tourism in the surrounding area, and within relative short time achieved country-wide recognition. Especially during the winter months the railway now has similar significance as in its heyday, as winter sports tourists in the towns of Neudorf and Cranzahl can reach the ski areas of Oberwiesenthal
Oberwiesenthal
Oberwiesenthal is a town and a ski resort in the district of Erzgebirgskreis in Saxony in Germany. It is situated in the Erzgebirge mountains, on the border with the Czech Republic, 19 km south of Annaberg-Buchholz, and 23 km northeast of Karlovy Vary. At , it is the highest town in Germany...
with ease and in style.
Track description
The railway starts at the standard gaugeStandard gauge
The standard gauge is a widely-used track gauge . Approximately 60% of the world's existing railway lines are built to this gauge...
station Cranzahl at 653 m (2,142.4 ft) of the Zschopautal Railway. The passenger trains start on the same platform as the standard gauge trains. The former freight yard and its loading ramp for the transporter flatcars is on the northern end of the station. The narrow gauge trains leave the station in a left turn and follow the right side of the Sehma valley
Sehmatal
Sehmatal is a municipality in the district of Erzgebirgskreis, in Saxony, Germany, which was created in 1999 through the union of Neudorf, Cranzahl and Sehma. The three villages are located along the Sehma river, aligned in a north-south direction...
through the village of Neudorf.
The first stop is Unterneudorf, next is Neudorf. The following stop Vierenstrasse is a popular starting point for hiking into the Fichtelberg
Fichtelberg
The Fichtelberg is a mountain with two main peaks in the middle of the Ore Mountains in Saxony, eastern Germany near the Czech border. At above sea level, the Fichtelberg is the highest mountain in Saxony, the second highest in the Ore Mountains and used to be the highest mountain in East Germany...
area. Leaving Vierenstrasse, the track follows a long incline (1:33) through the densely covered Fichtelberg forest. The next station Kretscham-Rothensehma is used to allow valley-bound trains to pass. The track continues to climb, reaching the watershed of the Pöhlbach
Pöhlbach
Pöhlbach is a river of Saxony, Germany....
river, arriving at the next stop of Niederschlag.
The tracks now lead downward into the Pöhlbach valley, crosses the Bundesstrasse 95, and follows along the border to the Czech Republic
Czech Republic
The Czech Republic is a landlocked country in Central Europe. The country is bordered by Poland to the northeast, Slovakia to the east, Austria to the south, and Germany to the west and northwest....
uphill to the Hammerunterwiesenthal station. Leaving Hammerunterwiesenthal, the valley becomes so narrow that there is only room for the state road and the railroad tracks, steep meadows on the right hand side, and a steep forest to the left that already belongs to the Czech Republic.
After the next stop Unterwiesenthal, the track unwinds itself from the narrow valley, the Fichtelberg
Fichtelberg
The Fichtelberg is a mountain with two main peaks in the middle of the Ore Mountains in Saxony, eastern Germany near the Czech border. At above sea level, the Fichtelberg is the highest mountain in Saxony, the second highest in the Ore Mountains and used to be the highest mountain in East Germany...
on the right, and the Klinovec
Klínovec
Klínovec is the highest peak of the Ore Mountains, located in the Czech Republic's part of the mountains at . There is an important TV broadcasting tower on the top of the mountain.- Location :...
to the left become visible. After crossing the federal route again, the railway leads over a 110 m (360.9 ft) long and 23 m (75.5 ft) high steel viaduct
Viaduct
A viaduct is a bridge composed of several small spans. The term viaduct is derived from the Latin via for road and ducere to lead something. However, the Ancient Romans did not use that term per se; it is a modern derivation from an analogy with aqueduct. Like the Roman aqueducts, many early...
, and reaches the terminus of Oberwiesenthal
Oberwiesenthal
Oberwiesenthal is a town and a ski resort in the district of Erzgebirgskreis in Saxony in Germany. It is situated in the Erzgebirge mountains, on the border with the Czech Republic, 19 km south of Annaberg-Buchholz, and 23 km northeast of Karlovy Vary. At , it is the highest town in Germany...
at 893 m (2,929.8 ft).
Train operations
The SDGSaxon Steam Railway Company
The Saxon Steam Railway Company , formerly the BVO Bahn, is a German railway company in Saxony, that operates several Saxon narrow gauge railways...
operates only steam powered passenger trains, which carry dining
Dining car
A dining car or restaurant carriage , also diner, is a railroad passenger car that serves meals in the manner of a full-service, sit-down restaurant....
and baggage car
Baggage car
A baggage car or luggage van is a type of railway vehicle often forming part of the composition of passenger trains and used to carry passengers' checked baggage, as well as parcels . Being typically coupled at the front of the train behind the locomotive, this type of car is sometimes described...
s. Six train-pairs operate daily. On weekends, trains pass each other in the morning in Neudorf, otherwise trains pass in Hammerunterwiesenthal. The SDG uses steam engines of the DR Class 99.77-79
DR Class 99.77-79
The steam locomotives of DR Class 99.77–79 were ordered by the Deutsche Reichsbahn in East Germany after the Second World War. They were narrow gauge locomotives with a 750 mm rail gauge and were built for the narrow gauge lines in Saxony. The locomotives were largely identical to the DRG...
, serial 099 772, 099 773, 099 785, 099 786 and 099 794.
Photo opportunities
There are many nice photo opportunities along the railway. Notable are the trains passing each other in Neudorf, the valley-bound train entering the Kretscham-Rothensehma station, the train making its way through Hammerunterwiesenthal with the church as backdrop, the ride through the Pöhlbach valley, and the train on the viaduct shortly before entering Oberwiesenthal.The scenery is enhanced in the winter, when low temperatures increase the volume of steam from the locomotive, and snow covered forests alternate with small Erzgebirge villages displaying their typical Christmas decoration
Schwibbogen
A Schwibbogen is a decorative candle-holder from the Ore Mountains region of Saxony, Germany.The first metal Schwibbogen was made in 1740 in Johanngeorgenstadt. The early candle arches always consisted of black ore. They were made out of one single forged piece and could be painted. The number of...
.
Links and Literature
- Official web site (German)
- Andreas W. Petrak: Fichtelbergbahn – Auf schmaler Spur von Cranzahl nach Kurort Oberwiesenthal. Bildverlag Böttger, Witzschdorf 2006, ISBN 3-9808250-0-0