Questions about visiting lines in Saxony.....?

Zerogee

Zerogee

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I know that quite a few folks on here have toured the various Saxon preserved lines, so I'm hoping that someone might be able to answer this particular query....

Having "done" the Harz last year, one particularly great thing about it was not having to worry about a hire car, or driving in general - we simply based ourselves at Wernigerode and rode the trains all over; of course that is easy with the HSB, because it is still effectively a fully operational railway with an extensive track network that is still a functional part of the local infrastructure.
When it comes to looking at the Saxon lines, however, the picture I get is much more of relatively short individual preserved lines that are mainly tourist-orientated, much more like the ones over here, and that it would be necessary to have independant transport to easily get around between the various lines - is that an accurate image?
What I'm wondering is whether it is possible to do a sensible rail-only (or with the occasional bus) trip over a few days, taking in (say) two or three of the Saxon lines which are worth visiting, without having to rely on car travel between them?
Do many of the narrow gauge lines have interchange stations with the main DB network, so it would be possible to travel between them by standard gauge services - either returning to a central "base" in between, or else moving from town to town on different nights?

Any advice would be highly appreciated....
Jon.
 
Jon.

On one of my recent LGB purchases it came with a large map of the Dresden/Chemnitz area showing all the narrow gauge railways .Looking at this and from my own experience some are reachable by train such as:

-The Lossnitzgrundbahn from Radebeul up towards Radeburg

- The Zittauer Schmalspurbahn from Zittau to Bertsdorf reached by quite a lengthy journey by train from Dresden via Bischorswerda

- The Weisserritztalbahb from Freital to Kurort Kipsdorf

-The Dollnitzbahn from Oschatz to Mugeln

Think those are the main ones you can reach by S-Bahn or regional trains.Also think you would have to dedicate one railway per day.
 
Another one to do is the roadside tram from Bad Schandau to the Lichtenhainer Wasserfall where there is an excellent restaurant serving trout and white asparagus when in season.

Getting there is interesting. The train from Dresden follows the Elbe but on the other side of the river to the tram. You jump off the train and get a little ferry across to the other side of the river.

....and, of course, talking about the Elbe, you've got a fleet of Paddle steamers to choose from!!.

Hope all that whets your appetite!! I'm sure that Dunnyrail and Stockers can give more advice!!
 
Jon,

As you know I regularly visit Germany. I always travel by overnight ferry to Hoek van Holland and then by train via Rotterdam to Germany. I use the Diebahn website for all the train bookings. On my last trip I was based in Leipzig because I was attending a concert there. I was able to visit the Dollnitzbahn as well as Zittau and Radebeul. All travel was by train using either the Landeskarte or Schoneswochendekarte. All available from machines at stations. The machines have an english menu option.

Hope this helps.

Martin
 
Many thanks Martin and Keith! All very useful stuff.
Will have a chat with my prospective travelling companions at some point, then may have more questions..... thinking about a possible trip in 2019.

Jon.
 
Oh sorry never logged in last night. As has been said the 3 steam lines near Dresden are all easily accesible by Train.

- Frietal Hainsberg to Kurort Kipsdorf

- Zittau to Kurort's Oybin and Jonsdorf, bit of a run to this one and watch out for the short double departures from Bertsdorf

- Radebeul Ost to Radeburg. Watch out for this one as there is another Radeberg on the line to Zittau and the names are easily confused! Dont ask how I know this.

- The Preserved Tramway at Bad Schandau is easily accesible from Dresden but a 10-15 minute walk from the Station on the other side of the River.

Also in Dresden is the Miniature Parkisbahn plus the Funiculars Standseilbahn and Schwebebahn both pretty close together and easily accesible by the superb Tram System.

Other lines nearby will indeed need a car though

- Steinbach to Johstadt

is accesible by train but a quite a long run from Dresden. Best do this if you hire a car and take in these two Enthusiast run lines

-Steinbach - Johnstadt and
-Cranzhall
Both these have Meyers pretty much guaranteed.

Finally there is
- Oschatz - Mugeln, I have found this one tricky to get to by train from Dresden due to the limited stopping service at Oschatz, but that was back in 1994 things may be beter from Dresden now.


Try to base yourself somewhere in Central Dresden or near Dresden-Neustadt, so long as you are a short distance from a Tram Line travel around will be simple. Have a great trip.
 
Jon,

There is an hourly service from Leipzig to Oschatz with a journey time of 35 minutes. From Dresden there are 2 services per hour with a journey time of just under an hour.

Martin
 
Cranzhal is on the mainline network.
We have been to the area three times and have hired a car from Berlin airport. Direct flights to Dresden do not seem to be available.
There are some excellent hotels to the south of Dresden which are way cheaper than the city.
Have a look st the Dampfbahn route - Sachsen

here www.dampfbahn-route.de
 
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