Experience history up close
The listed, blue and yellow Nerobergbahn was put into operation in the year of the Three Emperors, 1888, under Kaiser Wilhelm. The 438 meter long route with an incline of up to 25 percent is handled by Wiesbaden's probably most slanted landmark with low-noise and completely pollution-free propulsion by means of water ballast.
In addition to various historical pictures, you will find historical data and milestones of the Nerobergbahn on this page.
History in figures
1886 |
Permit application filed by businessman Carl Rudolf from Baden-Baden for a water-powered funicular railway to the popular tourist site Neroberg. |
1887 |
Contract for the construction of the Nerobergbahn signed by Rudolf and the City of Wiesbaden |
1888 |
The railway is built using the Riggenbach system (gear rack in the centre of the tracks) with a passing loop (three tracks; four tracks at the passing loop in the middle of the route) that uses the Abt system. The two carriages are built by Maschinenfabrik Esslingen. |
1888 |
Opening of the Nerobergbahn on 25 September 1888. |
1890 |
Sale of the funicular railway to Bachsteinische Consortium. |
1895 |
Transfer to Süddeutsche Eisenbahngesellschaft (SEG). |
1923 |
End of operations due to economic reasons. |
1925 |
Takeover of the Nerobergbahn by the City of Wiesbaden. |
1942 |
Integration of the funicular railway into Wiesbaden municipal utilities. |
1944 |
Shutdown due to war damage. |
1946 |
Reopening and seizure by the US military authorities. |
1948 |
The railway is reopened to the public. |
1963 |
Maschinenfabrik Esslingen is commissioned with restoring the carriage tanks. The structure is also overhauled by Auwärter. The two carriages of the Nerobergbahn leave Wiesbaden in November 1962 for a general overhaul, returning to their home in March 1963 — the year of the railway’s 75th anniversary. |
1974 |
The carriages are given a new coat of paint. |
1988 |
The Nerobergbahn celebrates its 100th anniversary and is recognised as a protected technical monument by the State of Hesse. |
1991 |
General overhaul of the viaduct. |
1993 |
Renewal of the water pump. |
1995 |
A new cable is laid, replacing the locked coil cable with a stranded cable. |
1998 |
110 years of the Nerobergbahn; the two stations and both carriages are given a new coat of paint. |
2000 |
Opening of the railway museum at the valley station. |
2005 |
The route is completely restored, with sleepers and tracks renewed. |
2010 |
The two carriages are restored with replicas of the original interiors and painted in the original blue and daffodil yellow on the outside. |
2013 |
125 years of the Nerobergbahn is celebrated with a programme of anniversary events. Record number of passengers for the year: 306,217. |
2016 |
General renovation of both carriages. |
2018 |
Big festival for the railway’s 130th anniversary: Families and children celebrate the occasion on the Neroberg. |