Narrow Gauge Railways of Saxony

Narrow gauge railways in Saxony, eastern Germany, operate commercial daily steam-hauled trains on a network of lines built to a gauge of 750 mm. Once part of a larger network, many lines were closed in the 1960s but have since been revived by enthusiast-run museum railways. John Woodhams' book offers a unique insight into these quirky reminders of the days of steam.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 96 pages
Publication date: 15 March 2023
Publisher: Amberley Publishing

Saxony, located in eastern Germany, is home to a number of narrow gauge railways that still operate commercial daily steam-hauled trains. These railways were once part of a much larger network that once covered over 500 kilometers (311 miles) and was originally operated by the Royal Saxon State Railway company. However, after the Second World War, some railway assets were claimed by the Soviet Union as reparations, and the area became part of the German Democratic Republic. Many of the lines that served small towns and villages in rural areas were in poor condition and closed in the 1960s.

However, a few lines that were still in operation when the Berlin Wall collapsed in 1989 are still running today, though now privatized, and have been joined by several other enthusiast-run museum railways that have revived sections of lines that were closed earlier. John Woodhams has provided a wonderful insight into these unusual and quirky reminders of the days of the steam with a fascinating selection of rare and previously unpublished images.

Weight: 276g
Dimension: 166 x 234 x 14 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781398108141