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The preservation society

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In 1994 local citizens put the Wiehltalbahn project on track. Currently the "Förderkreis zur Rettung der Wiehltalbahn e.V. (The Wiehltalbahn Preservation Society)" has more than 340 members.

The goal of the project is to establish the Wiehltalbahn as the backbone of a modern local transport system in the southern part of the "Bergisches Land". Freight and tourist trains will also serve the region.

Initially the preservation society was perceived as a mere transport policy association, but it became clear very quickly that the line (that had also been closed for freight traffic in 1994) without traffic would fall into oblivion. With the re-opening of the first section for tourist traffic in 1999 the preservation society raised awareness of the railway line again. The new millenium nevertheless began with  renewed discussions about the survival of the line which finally led to a political battle-royal. The courts decided in favour of the railway. These verdicts are nationwide, trend-setting and are known as the "Wiehltalbahn-Verdicts".

At present the  preservation society operates the line between Osberghausen and Waldbröl in co-operation with the "Rhein-Sieg-Eisenbahn GmbH (Rhine-Sieg-Railway Ltd.)" and the "WB Wiehltalbahn G.m.b.H. (Wiehl Valley Railway Ltd.)" with tourist and freight traffic. A tourist attraction is the "Bergischer Löwe" with the steam locomotive "Waldbröl", which is a joint venture between the preservation society and the Dieringhausen railway museum.

The preservation society is also pressing ahead with the re-opening of the Morsbach branch and is still working on the installation of a modern public tranportation system in the southern part of the upper Berg county with the Wiehltalbahn as its backbone.

So there are multiple activities by the Wiehltalbahn enthusiasts - ranging from commitment to traffic policy, over track maintainance and running the trains to rediscovering the past of the line.


Accordingly there are also many ways of joining in - be it by active work input, by a donation or by membership to the preservation society. You cab read the (Gernam) statutes here, the application form can be downloaded here.

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