Heidekrautbahnmuseum

About the museum

The museum goes back to the Berliner Eisenbahnfreunde (Berlin Railway Friends), an association founded in Berlin-Reinickendorf in 1978 that collects historic rolling stock and runs heritage trains. After having to give up its long-standing site on Waldstraße in Reinickendorf, the association rented part of the disused Basdorf locomotive depot from the Niederbarnimer Eisenbahn AG in the 1990s, moved its vehicles there and later relocated its office to Basdorf as well.

On Ascension Day 2000, the railway friends, together with the Förderverein Heidekrautbahn (friends’ association), opened the Heidekrautbahn Museum in the depot’s former apprentice workshop. The exhibition on the upper floor covers the history of the Niederbarnimer Eisenbahn, whose lines are known as the Heidekrautbahn, the history of the association and the development of track construction. In the former foreman’s office, the dispatcher’s and signal box office of Mühlenbeck station has been reconstructed with original fittings.

The museum also includes an outdoor area with a signal garden made of parts that association members salvaged when the line was modernized, as well as engine sheds and vehicle halls. These house steam and diesel locomotives, a railbus and historic passenger cars that the association maintains on a volunteer basis. The track construction collection comes from TU Berlin (Technical University of Berlin) and was saved from being scrapped. Because work goes on at the site, it can only be toured with a guide.

Highlights

• Reconstructed signal box and dispatcher’s office from Mühlenbeck station
• Signal garden with salvaged Heidekrautbahn signals
• Guided tour of engine sheds, workshops and vehicle halls
• Track construction collection with more than 60 rail sections and small iron fittings
• Last mechanical train destination indicator of the Niederbarnimer Eisenbahn
• Diorama of the association’s former site in Reinickendorf

Permanent exhibitions

• Geschichte der Niederbarnimer Eisenbahn – Photos, documents, models and salvaged original parts such as a signal bell and a train destination indicator trace the development of the Heidekrautbahn and its trains.
• Stellwerk Mühlenbeck – In the former foreman’s office, a branch-line signal box with a dispatcher’s station and original furniture has been recreated as a walk-in exhibit.
• Oberbausammlung – Rail sections and small iron fittings from the former TU Berlin collection show how track construction has evolved.

Founded

2000

Operated by

Berliner Eisenbahnfreunde e.V.

Admission & discounts

Admission includes a guided tour. Rides on the Berliner Eisenbahnfreunde heritage trains are booked separately; fares are calculated individually for each trip.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible: no information
• Elevator: no information
• Accessible restroom: no information
• Accessible parking: no information
• Service dogs welcome: no information
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

The exhibition is on the second floor of the former apprentice workshop; the association provides no information on an elevator or accessibility. There are open inspection pits on the site, so visitors may not be there unaccompanied. The historic heritage trains are not accessible (high steps, no wheelchair spaces).

Kids & families

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

Getting there & parking

Amenities & dining

No information on food or a shop at the museum; the heritage trains usually carry a buffet car.

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent
• Private parties
• Corporate events

Vehicles, halls, engine sheds and the association’s grounds can be rented for photo and film shoots. Charter trips on the VT 95 railbus (56 upholstered seats, plus 35 more with the VB 142 trailer car) for family, club or company outings, with individual quotes.

Plan your visit