The tram “Kirnitzschtalbahn”
The Kirnitzschtal 19th Century became increasingly an attraction for tourists and recreation seekers. To increase the tourism one was thinking about building a modern transportation. The valley from Bad Schandau to “Lichtenhainer” waterfall just rising 40m was well-suited in spite of its numerous curves. 1870 was first submitted the proposal to build a horse track, as there has been one in Dresden at that time. This object was not realized, instead, the project of an electric tram has been submitted in 1893 by an Executive Committee.
timetable rail replacement bus service from March until Easter
“Kirnitzschtalbahn” 1902
The original plan was to build the railway to “Kirnitzschenke”, possibly even up to the frontier of Bohemia to “Rainwiese”. In Schandau the railway should be continued to the station. However, these plans were not implemented for economic reasons. Originally there were also discussions about whether the drive should be carried out by a steam engine or electricity, but a power plant had to be built before. They opted for the electric drive and began 1897 with the track construction. Between 21 and 25 May 1898 arrived the first wagon in Bad Schandau made by the company Busch from Bautzen, and on Whit Saturday 1898 at 12:00 clock the first wagons drove from Bad Schandau to the “Lichtenhainer” waterfall.
Mr. Gustav Ringel wrote among others the following:
“As in 1897 construction of the railway began, the desire in me awakened to give me a permanent job. So I registered to the Directorate of Elektra for an employment. My wish came true and on May 20, 1898, I was sent to learn to ride the tram in Zwickau. Even after 6 days the apprenticeship was completed, and I became a tram driver. Then the day of inauguration arrived and has been celebrated as a great festival. Garlanded wagons, peers and music, had been the prelude. But the ride didn't went as smoothly as the wagons haven't been so familiar with the new tracks yet.
In those days three trains went to the “Lichtenhainer” waterfall, and I was honored to drive one of the trains with other two engineers. After we had safely arrived at the waterfall, there was a banquet, attended by at least 100 people.
The opening day was the first Whitsun holiday, so I drove with my good friend Gustav Koschmieder the first train 5 clock 6 minutes from Schandau fully occupied to the waterfall. ”
The fleet then consisted of six railcars, each with 2x15 hp motors, which had 18 seats and 12 stances and six trailers, each with 24 seats and 14 stances. The railcars were glazed, only the driver's cockpit was open. The trailers had only side curtains protecting from the weather.
The number of passengers increased from 80,000 persons at the beginning up to 200,000 persons in 1922. Nevertheless, there were economic difficulties - it was a pure excursion train operated only from Easter to October. In the night of 26 to 27 July 1927 there was a great disaster: a fire destroyed the entire car park, coach house and garage. Against all odds, the operation of the trains has been resumed in 1938 for the first time all year round. Fares resulted from the distance between the stops. There were fares like 15, 18, 22 and 27 cents.
Advertisement ca. 1900 from Meinhold's guidebook
After the fire on 27 July 1927 only burned-out metal skeletons remained from the car park.
In May 1945 the railway line was closed temporarily, because during the war there were hardly any capacity for maintenance and it has been driven to abrasive wear.
But on 7 June 1945 it went on, and in 1953 there has been a record number of 579 000 persons transported. Although it has been steadily built on the tracks, there was a derailment on 7/21/1969, when the TW4 knocked over, and all passengers suffered injuries. Once again, one was thinking about setting up the rail operations. Fortunately, the city council of Bad Schandau decided to resume the railway operation as a tourist attraction and environmentally friendly means of transport. Due to the closure of the line 31 (“Lockwitztalbahn”) of the transport companies Dresden the opportunity arose, to replace the worn car park by car type TW240-004 which were built in Gotha and Erfurt in 1940/44.
An original railcar built in 1925 with number 240-101-8 from the Busch company in Bautzen was also acquired from the “Lockwitztalbahn”. This wagon is the last operable with a one axe bogie in Europe. These bogies are well suited for the winding road. This train is now maintained by amateur tram drivers and on special occasions like anniversaries or “Kirnitzschtalfest” it represents a special attraction for the tram friends.
1998 committed the “Kirnitzschtalbahn” its 100-year anniversary and is now a major tourist attraction in “Kirnitzschtal”. And if you visit us in summer for “Kirnitzschtalfest”, you also get the opportunity, to travel as a passenger with the lovingly maintained historic rail wagons through the romantic valley.