Hessencourrier

Over het museum

The Hessencourrier is run by an association of Kassel railway enthusiasts who, in 1970, bought two retired passenger coaches from the Kassel–Naumburg light railway. As early as 1972, the first of the two coaches was back on the tracks for a members' excursion. The name refers to the fact that most of the vehicles in the collection once ran on lines in Hesse.

Over the following decades, the association saved numerous other coaches and locomotives from the scrapyard. In the late 1970s it acquired its first steam locomotive of its own, the HC 5; between 1982 and 1985, Lok 52, the light railway's last steam locomotive, was restored to working order. Today the association owns four steam locomotives, usually one or two of them in steam, plus diesel locomotives and passenger, baggage, and freight cars that trace the development of passenger coach construction from 1894 to 1956.

For many years the workshop was housed in a rented engine shed in Naumburg. In 2007 the Hessencourrier moved to a home of its own in Kassel's Technologiepark Marbachshöhe, where a new engine shed was inaugurated in 2011. Since 1992 the association has run regular trips on the winding line of about 33 kilometers via Baunatal, Schauenburg, and Bad Emstal to Naumburg, which climbs gradients of up to roughly 2.9 percent through the Habichtswald Nature Park. As a licensed railway operator and infrastructure company, the association trains its own engine drivers and train crews and, in addition to around a dozen public trips a year, also offers charter trains.

Hoogtepunten

• Steam train ride of about 33 km from Kassel-Wilhelmshöhe through the Habichtswald forest to Naumburg
• Steep section with gradients of up to 2.9 percent between Elgershausen and Hoof
• Historic passenger coaches dating from 1894 to 1956
• Buffet car in the middle of the train
• St. Nicholas and mulled wine trips during Advent and between Christmas and New Year

Opgericht

1972

Beheerder

Hessencourrier e. V.

Toegangsprijzen & kortingen

2026 fares for the public special trips Kassel–Naumburg or Kassel–Bad Emstal. Tickets are available in the online shop (sent as a PDF by email and exchangeable on the train for a historic cardboard ticket) and, on most trips, from the conductor on board; advance purchase is required for special trips such as the St. Nicholas, teddy bear, and apple festival trips. Tickets are non-refundable. Large dogs (shoulder height over 25 cm) need a child's ticket.

Toegankelijkheid

• Rolstoeltoegankelijk: niet aanwezig
• Lift: geen informatie
• Aangepast toilet: geen informatie
• Gehandicaptenparkeerplaats: geen informatie
• Hulphonden welkom: geen informatie
• Tastmodellen / voelbare objecten: geen informatie
• Rondleidingen in gebarentaal: geen informatie
• Informatie in eenvoudige taal: geen informatie
• Audiodescriptie: geen informatie

According to the association, the historic train has no step-free access and no technical boarding aids. Strollers are carried in the baggage or freight car. Toilets on the train can only be used while the train is moving; at the Kassel station, toilets are available in the association's building.

Kinderen & gezin

Erg geschikt voor kinderen & gezinnen

• Gezinsrondleidingen & workshops
• Kinderwagenvriendelijk: niet aanwezig

Themed rides for children: Easter ride with egg hunt in Naumburg, teddy bear ride (teddy bear as a gift), and Saint Nicholas rides. Strollers must ride in the baggage or freight car; please supervise children on the train.

Bereikbaarheid & parkeren

By car: A 44, exit Kassel-Wilhelmshöhe, Druseltalstraße toward downtown, at the large intersection turn right onto Eugen-Richter-Straße, then left onto Johanna-Waescher-Straße to the tracks.

Service & horeca

• Café
• Restaurant: niet aanwezig

Buffet car in the middle of the train for refreshments.

Evenementen & zaalverhuur

• Ruimtes te huur
• Privéfeesten
• Zakelijke evenementen
• Bruiloften / trouwceremonies

Tot 350 personen.

Charter trains with a historic diesel or steam locomotive for birthdays, company outings, Christmas parties, weddings, tour operators, and film and photo shoots. The smallest train set has about 100 seats (two passenger coaches, a baggage car, and a buffet car); up to 350 seats are possible. Inquire at least 6–8 weeks in advance at charterzug@hessencourrier.de.

Je bezoek plannen