Hi Guys,

The Weisseritztalbahn, a 41km, steam-powered, 760mm gauge line in Germany reopened a 15km portion of its mainline between Freital-Hainsberg and Dippoldiswalde on 12-13-08.

The 125 year-old narrow gauge line, was seriously damaged by disasterous flooding during August of 2002. When the damage was tallied, 24 bridges (some major) and 60 other roadbed-supporting structures were either badly damaged or totally obliterated. By far, the most badly-damaged portions of the line were between Freital (the standard gauge connection) and Dippoldiswalde. Since that time, service on only two disconnected sections has been possible. For a time, it was uncertain whether the line would be reinstated. Now with Government assistance, a significant portion of the line is back in action. The remaining section of line between Dippoldiswalde and Kurort-Kipsdorf is due to reopen in 2010.

A nice YouTube video of one of the opening day trains arriving at Malter station and headed by two of the line's massive 2-10-2T locomotives can be found at the attached link.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tkhtvl4LOnU

Enjoy!
Glenn

http://www.weisseritztalbahn.de/

This is the Wesseritztal Bahn web site. It opened a new venture
into (East) Germany's narrow guage railroads.

Merry Christmas to all

Tom Travis La Porte IN WA9NGO

Happy to report that the first work train arrived in Kurort Kipsdorf on 11/29/2016 with service to recommence in 2017.

Check at the Weisseritztal website:
http://www.weisseritztalbahn.de/