Have you ever wished you could shrink down to the size of a toy train? Today, at the Dampfbahn Katzensee, you can almost feel like that.
The Dampfbahn Katzensee is a miniature railway, a model railway in a 1:6 scale, that circles around the Waldhaus Katzensee restaurant. It’s not just a toy train track, it’s a living history museum. Here, the past comes alive in the form of steam-powered locomotives. The Landenberger family has been maintaining and operating this beautiful miniature railway since their grandfather started it in 1961.
You can almost hear the echoes of the steam-powered locomotives that once traversed the Swiss countryside. These miniature trains run on tracks that are either 9 1/2 or 7 1/4 inches wide, just like the real trains they were designed after. The locomotives were all used at some point by different Swiss railway companies. It’s like a miniature version of history, chugging around the grounds in a rhythmic dance of smoke and steam. And here’s a fun fact: The engines, lovingly maintained by the Landenbergers and their friends, are still powered by steam.
The Dampfbahn Katzensee invites you to step back in time and experience the thrill of a steam-powered journey, minus the long distances. So, come along and see this piece of Swiss history, and don’t forget to look for the special English locomotive, a Q1 Class from the North Eastern Railway, a real treat for railway enthusiasts!