Pause for a moment here before the Nahverkehrsmuseum Kleinbahnhof Wohldorf. It’s more than just a building. It’s a portal to Hamburg’s past.
The Nahverkehrsmuseum Kleinbahnhof Wohldorf stands as a tribute to local transport history. It specifically highlights the Walddörfer tram. This museum resides in the former freight building. It once belonged to the Kleinbahn Alt-Rahlstedt–Volksdorf–Wohldorf railway.
Around 1907, this building became the final station. The Kleinbahn connected Hamburgische Exklaven in Preußen. It became a favored destination due to its affordability. The Wohldorf station embodies the Walddörfer district’s history. It also represents Hamburg’s leisure and local transport evolution.
Step inside the Nahverkehrsmuseum Kleinbahnhof Wohldorf. You will find original artifacts and detailed documents. These items chronicle the Walddörfer tram. It operated until 1961. The museum also depicts Hamburg’s public transport history.
Imagine the stopfhacke, schottergabel and screw keys. They illustrate pre-1900’s technology. Exhibits detail Hamburg’s local transport of the 1950s. Outside, a covered tram displays its former glory.
A key attraction is the model railway. Many visit to see the trains run. This exhibit recreates the original Kleinbahn. The model features the original Wohldorf station and buildings. Joachim v. Helmrich initially built the 22-meter-long display. Before the renovation, it occupied almost half a floor. The trains run on S gauge at a 1:64 scale.
In 1958, the Kleinbahn-Verein Wohldorf or KVM formed. They later renamed it. In 1962, the Kleinbahnverein and “Friends of the Railway” wanted to use Wohldorf station as a museum. The district parliament agreed to convert the electric Kleinbahn into a museum railway. A double-decker trailer was planned. The decision hinged on the bus service’s performance replacing the Kleinbahn.
The Nahverkehrsmuseum Kleinbahnhof Wohldorf opened on September 18, 1999. The Kleinbahn-Verein Wohldorf or KVW restored it. KVW merged into Verein Verkehrsamateure und Museumsbahn e.V. or VVM. It was renamed Nahverkehrsmuseum Kleinbahnhof Wohldorf.
The museum underwent extensive renovations from 2020 to 2023. It reopened in Easter 2023. The association leases the building from Hamburg.
In 2019, water damage forced the museum’s closure. The building was declared structurally unsound. The renovation aimed to preserve the building. It also aimed to enhance its utility. The original structure was carefully renovated under preservation guidelines. The goal was to create an attractive destination, including for schools. The renovation improved the limited space of the station building.
The museum displays were temporarily relocated during renovations. Some went to the Aumühle Railway Museum. Others were stored or kept at the chairman’s home. After the renovation, the exhibits returned. The exhibition now interactively presents Hamburg’s transport network development.
Operated by Verein Verkehrsamateure und Museumsbahn e.V. volunteers. The Nahverkehrsmuseum Kleinbahnhof Wohldorf welcomes you. Its regular opening hours are Sundays from 12:00 to 16:00. Experience Hamburg’s transport history. This history comes alive within these walls.