Industrial Narrow Gauge Railways

NEWS 2006
Updates on information regarding industrial and commercial narrow gauge around Europe.

This section contains details of narrow gauge sites (industrial/commercial, not preserved) still operating or news regarding closures, confirmed from recent vists, or the railway press. Please feel free to contribute to these pages and so help a broad cross section of railways, and countries to be featured. Click on the thumbnail pictures to see the larger picture.

The most recent reports will be at the top

HUNGARY: November 2006
Felsõpetény to Bánk (600mm gauge) This was probably one of the best known industial narrow gauge railways in Hungary, transporting kaolin to a standard gauge transhipment point at Bánk. Reports now confirm that it closed sometime after October 2005. A special train was organised in September 2006 on the 5km line, and there are plans to re-open it, but only on a preserved basis.

The above photo was taken in 2002, when the railway was operational.
(Posted 26.11.06 Source: Today's Railways and the KBK)

AUSTRIA: November 2006
feistritztalbahn (760mm gauge) Although this line was reported in the Narrow Gauge News to be loosing all its freight traffic by the end of December 2006, this fortunately appears not to be accurate. The only freight now is from the talcum factory at Oberfeistritz. There have been up to 3 return trains per day over the last few years. However a proportion of the output now goes by road. This road based transport has been increasing and the volume of rail traffic has significantly decreased, but there are no plans for the complete closure of the rail services yet.
(Posted 26.11.06 Source: Narrow Gauge News, Today's Railways, Patrick Aulbach)

AUSTRIA: September 2006
Ybbstalbahn, Waidhofen (760mm gauge) Flooding has once again hit the Austrian narrow gauge. Two sections of the Ybbstalbahn just west of Opponitz were washed away on the 7th August. The line is currently only open to Opponitz, and the Tuesdays only timber trains are now loaded at Opponitz instead of Gross Hollenstein.
(Posted 09.10.06 Source: Today's Railways)

CROATIA: August 2006
Ston Saltworks (600mm gauge) The railway at this saltworks was not in use on the day of the visit, but is used when salt is loaded from one of the salt pans. One loco was found in working order, and one similar loco was derelict.

Both locos appear to be chain driven on the front axle only, and the front axlebox has a clear JW marking of Jenbacher Werke. However the engine is Jugoslav.
There are two separate circuits of track, one running down the centre of the salt pans,

and one alongside a dirt road running around the edge of the site. They do not seem to be connected apart from the use of a portable turntable.

(Posted 20.08.06 Source: Steve Thomason)
AUSTRIA: August 2006
Zell am See to Krimml (760mm gauge) Finally some good news for this line that is still waiting reconstruction resulting from the floods last year. Currently it is only open for approximately half it's original length. The line is due to be rebuilt on a new alignment to reduce the risk of flooding, and also to allow increased speeds on the railway. This will be paid for by Salzburg and central government. Salzburg AG is likely to become the new operator for the line, and a number of transporter wagons are being overhauled at the Zillertalbahn to allow freight to be carried once again when the line has fully reopened.
(Posted 20.08.06 Source: Today's Railways)

ITALY: August 2006
Saline di Cervia, Cervia (600mm gauge) It's always good to hear of lines that have been re-opened. The saltworks at Cervia have recommenced operations and the railway has been brought back into use. It closed in 1999, and reopened on a limited basis in 2002. Now upto 3km of track is back in operation. 2 locos are in use, one has been moved here from another salt works in the south of the country.

The picture above shows Loco No3 (Greco & C, 1960)on the 2nd August 2006.
(Posted 20.08.06 Source: Antonio Martinetti)

FRANCE: May 2006
Briqueterie Lagrive, Lisieux (500mm gauge) The brickworks was visited on the 5th May and found to be in operation. Both the MS131 Jung locos are still on site, with the loco in darker blue livery now the working loco. Clay is still excavated using the small bucket and chain excavator.

(Posted 08.07.06 Source: Rick Stewart)

GERMANY: June 2006
Torfwerk Zubrägel, Vechta (600mm gauge) A further visit in June confirmed that the whole line is not out of use. Approx half the length of the line is now back in operation.
The working line extends from the yard situated by the main road soth of Vechta, to a point prior to the old crossroads. It then turns right onto the moors to the current working area.
(Posted 08.07.06 Source: Brian Rumary)

SWITZERLAND: June 2006
Brunnen Cement Works (750mm gauge) One of the few narrow gauge industrial railways in this country was found to be working in June. It works daily except for Thursday afternoons, and 2 trains can be in use. The two relatively modern Diema locos normally in use are No.5146 and 5147. built in 1991.

(Posted 08.07.06 Source: Adrian Foster)

GREECE May 2006
Aghios Ioannis to Piraeus (Gauge 1000mm) The metre gauge tracks are being replaced with standard gauge, and conversion is planned for completion by the end of 2006. The metre gauge track has already been pulled up south of the Athina Central Station and northwards to Aghioi Anargyroi.

ROMANIA: May 2006
Sibiu Narrow Gauge (760mm gauge) This line closed in 2001 after the only serviceable diesel had a derailment. However, there are now plans to re-open this 58km line, as Sibiu has been announced as one of the European Capitals of Culture for 2007. If re-opened, the line is likely to have more of a museum status rather than a genuine commercial railway. The 764-205 steam loco is still here but requires some work to bring back to working order.

HUNGARY: May 2006
Szentes Brickworks (600mm gauge) This brickworks had an extensive railway serving the claypit, drying sheds and kilns. Unfortunately the works has gone bankrupt and all the equipment was sold. Fortunately some of the equipment was saved from being scrapped, and will be transported to the Kemence Forestry Museum Railway. (Posted 20.05.06 Source: Today's Railways)

BALTIC STATES: April 2006
FarRail Industrial Narrow Gauge Tour In September 2006 there is a 12 days tour of indudstrial narrow gauge sites across the 3 Baltic States of Lithuania, Estonia, and Latvia, organised by FarRail tours. The majoratory of locations will be peat railways. For further details of this tour please visit the web site for FarRail Tours at Baltic NG Tour . Their main site is at www.farrail.com
The company is German, but the tour leaders, and the local in-country guide speak very good English.

GERMANY: March 2006
Torfwerk F Meiners, Steinfeld (600mm gauge) This line has a pleasantly rural setting. The unloading is completed alongside a minor road just outside of Steinfeld. After a short section of roadside running with a very steep gradient, the railway enters woodland next to a nature reserve where the loco sheds are situated. Wagons are exchanged at this point, and taken onto the moors by a second loco. 5 locos were recorded here with a 1958 Schöma in use between the tippler and the edge of the moors.

Torfwerk Holthaus and Fortmann, Südmoslefehn (600mm gauge) This railway situated on the banks of the Küsten Kanal was found to be working normally. The Schöma type CDL-10 was on line duties.

(Posted 17.04.06 Source: Steve Thomason)

GERMANY: March 2006
Union Torfwerk, Scharrel (600mm gauge) All tracks have now been taken up from this roadside railway, except those on the moors. The area of moorland previously harvested by this company is now being used by Ramsloh Moorkultur. Some of the older Union wagons are still in use, but mostly new wagons have now been built. There is now a busy section on the edge of the moors that is jointly used by both Ramsloh Moorkultur, and Brinkmann trains.

Griendtsveen (Brinkmann) Torfwerk, Scharrel (600mm gauge) Railway working normally. Now taken over by Griendtsveen, all wagons are now standard metal bodied issue, although the locos are still the original Brinkmann locos with two Schöma locos dating back to the Second World War on line work. The branch to the claypit has been abandoned for several years with many old skips stored there. Extended building has taken place around the old brickworks for the storage and processing of peat.

Ramsloh Moorkultur, Ramsloh (600mm gauge) Railway working normally. One loco was working the roadside stretch towards the old Union workings, and two trains were working the northern branch. The disused tracks back into Ramsloh station have all now been taken up, but it is clear to see where the railway once was. 13 locos were seen, with No.12, a Diema in the picture below.

(Posted 17.04.06 Source: Steve Thomason)

GERMANY: March 2006
Wichmann and Tabeling, Telbrake (600mm gauge) Railway working normally. A few years ago the start of the railway was re-routed to avoid a residential street next to the works. The line now joins the original formation 500m further up. It is then a 2-3 km journey before arriving at the peat moors. No3, a small Diema loco was in use on line work.

Torfwerk Wübbeler, Arkeburg (600mm gauge) Although there had been reports that this railway has been bringing in peat once more, this was not found to be the case. The tipping shed had not been used for a long time. Peat was still stockpiled in the yard but was old. The whole area has been converted into an expanding visitor centre, with only a small circuit of track retained to carry passengers onto the old peat workings. All the moorland in this area has nature reserve status.

Torfwerk Böske, Arkeburg (600mm gauge) Recent rebuilding has resulted in a very large yard with 3 areas where peat is now tipped. At least two trains are in operation at any one time, with three locos in use as the yard shunters by each tippler. 5 locos including an O&K loco are on the scrap pile at the back of the workshops. A total of 12 locos were seen.

(Posted 17.04.06 Source: Steve Thomason)

GERMANY: March 2006
Torfwerk Zubrägel, Vechta (600mm gauge) It would appear that the 4km railway once serving up to 4 separate companies in this area has ceased working. Gramann had ceased using the railway last year, but the whole railway looks to be abandonned, and is in such a poor state that it would take a considerable amount of work to bring back into use.

At Zubrägel Most of the locos were lined up outside with the wagons left on the main line. The works was still in production with loading points set up on the edge of the moors for road transport.

Torfwerk Gramann (Gramoflor), Vechta (600mm gauge) Railway confirmed as ceased. The track was hardly visible inside the works, under the grass, but was still connected to the main line across the road.

A rake of peat wagons plus 2 of the Diemas were still present seen from a distance.

Torfwerk Höhne, Vechta (600mm gauge) This works situated about halfway along the railway at Vechta now appears to be the only peat works still using narrow gauge here. However as has been the case for several years, it is disconnected from the main line and used to pull wagons into the tipping shed from an adjacent stockpile. The length of line used is only approx 200m.
(Posted 17.04.06 Source: Steve Thomason)

HOLLAND: March 2006
Werklust Brickworks, Losser (700mm gauge) The brickworks is now converted into a visitor centre. It had ceased working by 1995, but the track had been left in place. The railway has been improved to enable visitor rides to be given. The railway runs alongside the minor road for a short distance, and then around the edge of the pit in a balloon loop. The original track into the pit has been taken up. It now has its own website; www.dewerklust.nl

De Vlyt Brickworks, Winterswyjk (700mm gauge) The brickworks is still in production but the long disused tracks at the works have been taken up. The 1km long railway out to the pit is still in place, but disappearing under the undergrowth.

Brickworks, Azewyn (700mm gauge) The brickworks is still in production but the 3km railway which used to serve the claypit in the 1990s has been completely removed and is now difficult to trace. Parts of the trackbed have been converted into a footpath.
(Posted 17.04.06 Source: Steve Thomason)

GERMANY: February 2006
Döllnitzbahn, Mügeln (750mm gauge) This railway which passed into private ownership in the 1990s, is to loose its passenger service. It had existed to provide transport for local school children

The service had been started in 1995, while freight was still carried, and at the time appeared to give the line a more secure future, with additional halts created to make the trains more accessible.

The passenger trains will officially cease this October. After which only the steam hauled excursions on the last Sunday of each month will exist. The length of the line is already truncated with trains terminating 2km from the mainline Oschatz station.
(Posted 12.03.06 Source: Today's Railways)

BULGARIA: December 2005
Septemvri to Razlog (760mm gauge) This state operated narrow gauge line had been hit by the 2005 summer floods in central Europe. It was reported in December that up to the end of October the central section of this railway was still closed between Velingrad and Avramavo.
(Posted 29.01.06 Source: Today's Railways)

AUSTRIA: December 2005
Zell am See (760mm gauge) At the end of October, the first section of this line reopened to Mittersill, after the severe flooding reported in earlier news pages. In December 2005 a feasibility study has been initiated which will consider the future of the second part of the line from Mittersill to Krimml.

The study will consider the impact that the possible closure of the stretch to Krimml would have on tourist figures in the area.
(Posted 29.01.06 Source: Today's Railways)

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Industrial Narrow Gauge Railways