Frauenwald - die LAURA

 

Please, note although the layout is NOT a copy of Frauenwalde but the trains that ran have inspired Grafenwalde  

  

Kleinbahn means a short line, in this case only 4.9 km (3 miles), it was a normal gauge line to Frauenwalde, it was served by tiny trains and lasted from 1912 to 1965. in the wooded hills of the Thüringer Wald and lasted from 1912 to 1965. The railway had to meet the transport needs of the predominantly rural structure of the area. The main transports were agricultural produce, livestock, fertilizers, coal and building materials.

The railcar shown below was employed until WW2, although a 0-4-0 tank loco with road number 5 plus passenger cars and goods cars was also employed. This loco was supplemented by one obtained from the Kleinbahn Neuhaldensleben–Weferlingen former roadbed is accessible today as a Wanderweg 

 

The railway survived the Second World War without any damage. The diesel railcar was seized by the military government, so that all trains were driven by steam again. The railway was intended for dismantling with many other lines, but this could be prevented. In 1949, the railway was nationalized and the operation was taken over by the Deutsche Reichsbahn. 

In the early 1950s, tourism in the Thuringian Forest increased sharply. In 1952, continuous express trains from Berlin were led to the Thuringian Forest for the first time. In Rennsteig, the train consisting of four-axle express train car was split. Three cars continued to ran to Schmiedefeld, the other three were transported from one to Frauenwald. In 1960, the 98 6216 was retired due to a cylinder damage and replaced by a diesel locomotive of the series. From 1962, a class V 15 diesel locomotive ran until the closure.

 

A short film of the the Rennsteig