Drezine: Abandoned railways do not have to be left to weed. In many places, tourists now take matters into their own hands: moving with the power of hands or feet on an old vehicle called Drezin.
A short jerk passes through Drezin and the border has been crossed. Traveling along the old railroad from Kranenburg to Groesbeek in the Netherlands, we just rushed to the neighboring country. The meadows are still green, the bushes are in bloom, and the sun shines through the treetops. Just a look down reveals the difference: instead of the gray ballast of the German railway, colorful pebbles now lie between the Dutch rails.
There are more than two dozen Draisines manufacturing companies in Germany, and the number is increasing.
They breathe new life into abandoned railways. On routes in almost all German federal states, operators offer rental vehicles: as a powered-powered drezine, they must be pumped along the rails using a hand; Cycling drive designs invite up to four people to enjoy a relaxing skating through nature; and larger Drezins can even accommodate entire bowling clubs.
The latest addition is the border railway-bike route on the Lower Rhine. Previously, the Austria Express train from Amsterdam to Klagenfurt roared here. Now, at a speed of 12 kilometers per hour, he has time to admire, for example, the Baroque gardens in Kleve. The rails guide you; No map is required.
Oldest railway line and longest route
The scene of railway vehicles has long been known in Templin in Brandenburg. The oldest German Drezin railway has been in operation here since 1996.
The 30-kilometer long abandoned railway from Fürstenberg/Havel to Templin takes you through the lake districts of the Uckermark and Oberhavel regions. Also in Brandenburg, visitors can drive along the longest Drezin railway in Germany: the 40.5-kilometer route from Zossen to Jüterbog is half a kilometer longer than the previous champion in Palatinate Nahe.
A swamp rail car in Dithmarschen uses wind energy on an eight-kilometer long route between Marne and St. Michaelisdonna. With a wind at the back of up to four degrees, a small square sail helps cyclists. Meanwhile, seven-speed cycling wagons operate between Rinteln-Süd and Alverdissen in the Weserbergland region. They are specially designed for the 18-kilometer route through the Extertal Valley – which makes climbing uphill easier.
Viaduct at a height of 24 meters
The Eichsfeld artillery railway in Lengenfeld Unter Stein, Thuringia, is particularly attractive because of the beauty of its route: the railway passes over 244 meters long and 24 meters high Lengenfeld viaduct, which It offers a beautiful view. The view stretches over the long Frieda valley and the surrounding villages.
On the way to the turnpike near Siebengärtengraben, travelers pass through three tunnels. Here is the time to rest: After all, 107 meters of ascent is conquered only by the power of muscles.
Cover photo: Manfred E. Fritsche, CC BY-SA 2.0 DE, Via Wikimedia Commons
