Historic Railway

Intrigued by the rhythmic chug of a steam engine? You’re in the right place. The Historic Railway, Frankfurt, isn’t just a museum. It’s a time machine. The Historic Railway, Frankfurt, also known as HEF, was founded in 1978. Its mission is to keep the history of rail travel alive. The society preserves historic railway equipment. They focus particularly on steam locomotives. They view these machines as technical and cultural monuments. Several weekends a year, the Historic Railway, Frankfurt, runs a museum service. These trips operate on the Frankfurt Harbour Railway tracks. The route travels between Mainkur, Eiserner Steg, and Frankfurt-Griesheim. The society also organizes the annual Königstein Railway Festival at Whitsun. This festival operates on the Königsteiner Bahn. The route goes between Frankfurt-Höchst and Königstein im Taunus. The Historic Railway, Frankfurt’s prized possession is locomotive 01 118. This DRG Class 01 express train steam locomotive is unique. Built by Krupp in Essen in 1934, it’s the only one of its class still in operational service. It has remained remarkably unchanged throughout its history. The locomotive even retains its large Wagner smoke deflectors. Originally purchased for 208,597 Reichsmarks, it began service in 1935. After World War II, it ended up in East Germany. The Historic Railway, Frankfurt, purchased it in 1981. The sale was facilitated by a branch of the East German Foreign Ministry. This department was tasked with generating foreign currency. They did this by selling art and antiquities to the West. Imagine the negotiations and the journey this locomotive took to get here. The locomotive has traveled over 3.5 million kilometers. It has even ventured beyond Germany on special trips to France, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, and Switzerland. It’s a testament to engineering and preservation. The Historic Railway, Frankfurt, also boasts other locomotives. These include a DRG Class 52 goods train locomotive and two former military diesel locomotives. A diverse collection of historic passenger coaches completes the picture. The Historic Railway, Frankfurt, offers a tangible link to the past. It allows you to experience the golden age of steam travel. So next time you hear a whistle blow, remember the stories these trains carry.