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The 'Sauschwänzlebahn' - Wutach Valley Railway

Steam engine
Photo: Steam engine in the station Weizen

Information in brief

Sauschwänzlebahn
Photo: Beautiful view above the railway line

Description

The Wutach Valley Railway is popularly known as the Sauschwänzlebahn, literally the Pigtail Line, because of the wide-ranging convoluted route. This was necessary to keep the gradient below 1%. The distance of 9.6 km as the crow flies was extended to a track length of more than 25 km by means of curved sections, terminal loops and a loop tunnel.

The line was built between 1887 and 1890 and was in official service until 1976. The section from Blumberg-Zollhaus to Weizen has been a museum railway since 1977 and is a popular place for excursions. The railway museum and the historical gantry-style signal tower at Blumberg-Zollhaus station are well worth seeing.