North Rhine-Westphalia near Duesseldorf and Cologne is the industrious heart of Germany. Where coal mines used to dominate, factories have now changed to works of art and temples of culture. But the region isn't just industries; there are plenty of forests and areas of outstanding natural beauty to explore. 

From April until November the museum railway runs on the first Sunday of the month on an 18km track right through the "Ruhr-Area" from Hattingen/Ruhr to Wengern-Ost and back. In addition, special extra tours are offered, for example to the Eifel or the Sauerland. The Ruhr-Area is famous for its unique industry culture amidst impressive scenery.

Ruhrtalbahn
Eisenbahnmuseum Bochum-Dahlhausen
Dr. - C. - Otto - Straße 191
D - 44879 Bochum
Tel: 0049 234 492516
Email: [email protected]

Originally opened in 1900, the Geilenkirchener Kreisbahn from Alsdorf to Tueddern, closed to freight traffic in 1971. This could have been the end for this line, but in the late 1970's some railway enthusiasts founded the "Interessengemeinschaft Historischer Schienenverkehr e.V." (IHS) and started collecting rolling stock. After the last remaining part of the line between Gillrath and Schierwaldenrath (length 5.5 km) was taken over, the first train of the Selfkantbahn ran on the 14th August 1971. The Selfkantbahn operates on Sundays and public holidays between Easter and the end of September.

Selfkantbahn
Interessengemeinschaft Historischer Schienenverkehr e.V.
Postfach 100702
D - 52007 Aachen
Tel:  0049 241 82 369
Fax: 0049 241 83 491
Email: [email protected]