Experience history up close
The listed, blue and yellow Neroberg railway was put into operation in 1888, the year of three emperors, under Kaiser Wilhelm. The 438-metre-long route with a gradient of up to 25 per cent is driven by Wiesbaden's probably most sloping landmark with a low-noise and completely pollutant-free drive using water ballast.
You can follow the eventful history of the Neroberg railway here in the timeline.
The history in facts
20. August 1886
Application for a concession by the entrepreneur Carl Rudolf, Baden-Baden, for a water-ballast-powered rack-and-pinion railway to the popular excursion destination of Neroberg.
01. Juli 1887
Contract between the city of Wiesbaden and Rudolf for the construction of the Neroberg railway
13. Februar 1888
Licence granted by the district president in Wiesbaden. The railway system is built according to the Riggenbach system (rack in the middle of the tracks) with a turnout (three tracks; four tracks at the turnout in the middle of the line) according to the Abt system. The two railway carriages are built by Maschinenfabrik Esslingen.
25. September 1888
Opening and inauguration ceremony of the Neroberg railway
1890
Sale of the mountain railway to the Bachstein Consortium.
1895
Transfer of the Neroberg railway to the Süddeutsche Eisenbahngesellschaft (SEG).
1923 bis 1925
Operations are discontinued for economic reasons and in 1925 the Nerobergbahn is taken over by the city of Wiesbaden.
1942
Incorporation of the Nerobergbahn into the newly founded Stadtwerke Wiesbaden AG. Subsequent cessation of operations during the Second World War and partial destruction of the Nerobergbahn.
1946
Reopening and confiscation by the US military authorities. From 1948, the railway can be used by everyone again.
1963
Maschinenfabrik Esslingen receives the order to refurbish the carriage tanks. At the same time, the superstructure is renewed by the Auwärter company. The two railway carriages leave Wiesbaden in November 1962 for general refurbishment and return home in March 1963 - the year of the 75th anniversary of the railway.
1971
General refurbishment of the Nero Valley viaduct.
1978
The carriages are given a new coat of paint.
1988
In the year of the 100th anniversary of the railway: Recognition as a technical monument worthy of protection by the state of Hesse.
1991
Another general refurbishment of the viaduct.
1993
Students are employed to operate the railway for the first time. The following year, the centrifugal pump and the entire fencing system are replaced.
1995
A new hauling rope is installed. The fully locked rope is replaced by a stranded rope.
1998
110 years of the Nerobergbahn; the top and bottom stations and the two carriages are given a new coat of paint. The Friends and Supporters of the Neroberg Railway Association is also founded.
2000
Opening of the railway museum at the valley station.
2005
The track will be completely refurbished, sleepers and rails will be renewed. In addition, the tradition of starting the season on Good Friday is being broken: The reason is the first Russian artists' market on the Neroberg, which is being held on the weekend before Easter to mark the 150th anniversary of the Russian Church (popularly known as the “Greek Chapel”). Since this year, weddings have been possible in the Neroberg railway.
2009/2010
Refurbishment of the interior of the two carriages: the existing upholstered benches will be replaced with original wooden benches based on historical drawings. In addition, the original appearance from the early days of the railway will be recreated with a new exterior paint job in the typical blue and daffodil yellow colours.
2013
125 years of the Nerobergbahn with a big anniversary programme. All-time record for total annual passenger numbers: 306,217.
2016
General refurbishment of both railway carriages.
2018
In the year of the railway's 130th birthday: big children's and family festival on the Neroberg