Along the Waldbahn to Bayerische Eisenstein

[Ian Morgan]

The Waldbahn runs from Plattling and Deggendorf, in Germany, through the Bavarian Forest National Park to the border with the Czech Republic at Bayerische Eisenstein. When the line was built, it was a joint venture between Bavaria and Bohemia to build the route from Plattling in Bavaria to Plzeňin Bohemia. The station building at Bayerische Eisenstein was actually built straddling the border, with the border line passing through the middle of the station concourse.

 

This was great during the time of friendship between Bavaria and Bohemia, but 90 years later, when the Iron Curtain was erected, the station was cut in half, and the line on the Czech side of the border closed. The line on the German side carried on serving the picturesque small towns, and the National Park visitors. A small railway museum was created at Bayerische Eisenstein.

 

When the Iron Curtain eventually fell, the railway line on the Czech side was reopened, initially requiring changing trains and border controls for through travel. Nowadays, you can get through trains between Plattling (germany) and Špičák (Spitzberg) (Czech Republic).

 

All in all, a fascinating railway, with a fascinating history, and a charming, and quiet, railway museum, as this area tends to be a bit 'off the beaten track' for foreign vistors.

 

See my photos taken 14 years ago (a couple of years before the Czech Republic joined the EU and so border checks were still in force), here:

 

https://www.flickr.com/photos/ianm42/albums/72157664746548312

 

 

Ian Morgan

Hampshire