Dampfkleinbahn Bad Orb

Over het museum

The roughly 7.5-kilometer line links Wächtersbach on the Kinzigtalbahn with the spa town of Bad Orb in the Spessart. It was built by the Bad Orber Kleinbahn AG, founded in 1900, which began operating it as a standard-gauge railway in May 1901. From 1937 the line belonged to the Gelnhäuser Kreisbahnen; besides spa guests it was used by school students and commuters, at times carrying more than half a million passengers a year in the 1970s.

Growing deficits, the aftermath of a serious accident at a level crossing in 1991 and the need to renew the track led to the end of passenger service in March 1995. The town of Bad Orb then took over the line for a symbolic one Deutsche Mark.

Volunteer railway enthusiasts led by Rolf Jirowetz converted the line to 600-millimeter gauge from 2000 onward. In 2001 the first trains ran as far as the Aumühle, and since fall 2006 the Wächtersbach light railway station has been reachable again. The train is pulled by the small steam locomotive “Emma”, which Jirowetz had discovered in the late 1980s as climbing equipment on a playground and restored to working order.

In September 2026 the operator announced that it would end operations at the end of October 2026 for reasons of age. The locomotive and cars are to be sold or handed over to a new operator; whether the railway will continue is uncertain.

Hoogtepunten

• Ride behind the historic narrow-gauge steam locomotive “Emma”
• Around 7 km through the Autal valley between the Spessart and the Kinzig valley
• Watch the locomotive being shunted and oiled during the turnaround break in Wächtersbach
• Coffee and cold drinks in the “red car” during the ride
• Listed 1920s station building in Bad Orb

Opgericht

2001

Beheerder

Dampfkleinbahn Bad Orb Rolf Jirowetz

Toegangsprijzen & kortingen

2026 fares. Tickets are only available on the day of travel, about 30 minutes before departure at the ticket counter in Bad Orb station or on the train in Wächtersbach. Postcards and an illustrated book are also sold at the counter and on the train.

Toegankelijkheid

Het museum heeft hierover geen informatie gepubliceerd – vraag het rechtstreeks na bij het museum.

Kinderen & gezin

Het museum heeft hierover geen informatie gepubliceerd – vraag het rechtstreeks na bij het museum.

Bereikbaarheid & parkeren

Groups and charter trips start from Bad Orb station.

Service & horeca

Coffee and cold drinks in the “red car” during the ride; postcards and an illustrated book at the ticket counter in Bad Orb and on the train.

Evenementen & zaalverhuur

• Ruimtes te huur

Tot 60 personen.

Charter trips for up to 60 people from Bad Orb station by arrangement with the operator (only until operations end in late October 2026).

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