Bergisches Straßenbahnmuseum

About the museum

As the streetcar lines in the Bergisches Land region were shut down one after another, streetcar enthusiasts founded the Bergische Museumsbahnen association in 1969. Their aim was to preserve typical vehicles of the region and put them back into service on a real line. To do so, they took over a section of the former interurban line 5 between Wuppertal and Solingen, which had run for the last time in May 1969.

The stretch from Kohlfurth up to Cronenberg was a good fit because it runs largely separate from road traffic. The meter-gauge line is just under three kilometers long, is a protected monument and climbs about 150 meters in elevation. At Pentecost 1992 the museum began operating, opened by Minister President Johannes Rau; it is considered the smallest licensed streetcar operator in Germany.

The depot at the Kohlfurther Brücke houses motor cars that once ran on this very line, along with vehicles from Hagen, Bochum and Düsseldorf, many of which were saved from scrapping by private individuals. A well-known example is motor car 107 from 1936. The 2021 flood caused severe damage, and regular service did not resume until 2025. Because the ties need replacing, the cars currently run only on a shortened section.

Highlights

• Rides on historic streetcars along a heritage-listed line
• Motor car 107 from 1936
• Car shed and depot at the Kohlfurther Brücke
• Book streetcar serving as the museum shop
• St. Nicholas rides in December

Founded

1992

Operated by

Bergische Museumsbahnen e. V.

Admission & discounts

Admission is free.

Visiting the depot and car shed is free; only the rides are charged. VRR/VRS public transport tickets are not valid. Tickets for the St. Nicholas rides only in advance via wuppertal-live.de.

Accessibility

The museum hasn’t published any information on this – please ask the museum directly.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Hands-on stations

The historic trams may be viewed, touched and boarded; events such as Saint Nicholas rides in December and a family festival.

Getting there & parking

By car via the A 46 (Sonnborner Kreuz) and the L 74 toward Remscheid/Solingen to the Wuppertal-Kohlfurth exit. Transit association tickets are not valid on the museum railway.

Amenities & dining

• Museum shop

Museum shop in the book streetcar (Saturdays and operating days 11:00–17:00). Food and drink at the Naturfreundehaus near the Greuel stop.

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent
• Private parties
• Corporate events
• Weddings / ceremonies

Up to 100 guests.

Charter rides in historic cars, wedding rides with a ceremony conducted by the Wuppertal registry office; depot and car shed (approx. 500 m² hall, approx. 900 m² outdoor area, around 100 people at beer-tent benches) for birthdays, anniversaries and company parties.

Plan your visit