Angelner Dampfeisenbahn

Description

As a tourist and technical-historical offering in the Angeln region, the Angelner Dampfeisenbahn (also called Angelner Eisenbahn or Angeln-Bahn) presents rides on the Süderbrarup–Kappeln line. The museum railway thus follows a historical connection and is aimed at culturally interested visitors who want to experience the rural railway heritage.

The operation was initiated by Freunde des Schienenverkehrs Flensburg e. V.; their museum train services began in 1979 as part of the Heringstage between Kappeln and Süderbrarup. To carry out operations professionally, Angeln Bahn GmbH – Eisenbahnbetriebsgesellschaft – was founded on 6 December 1994. In addition to the museum rides, this company also took on contracted freight services for NVAG, in particular for the dairy in Kappeln, as well as shunting duties in Flensburg. Claims arising from the insolvency of other transport companies created liabilities of around €50,000, whereupon Angeln-Bahn GmbH filed for insolvency at the end of 2004; proceedings were opened on 1 April 2005 and the company was subsequently dissolved.

As infrastructure companies, Feld- und Kleinbahn-Betriebsgesellschaft mbH followed initially, and from 2009 the Angelner Eisenbahn Gesellschaft. Museum services were able to resume already in summer 2005.

The long-term usability of the line is under financial pressure, since about €2.5 million in investments are required for continued operation. Track installations and the engine shed in Kappeln are owned by the district of Schleswig-Flensburg; these facilities were handed over to the operating company for a symbolic lease payment of one euro, making that company responsible for maintenance and investments. In May 2017 the district announced its intention to sell the line for a negative purchase price of €60,000. The neighboring municipalities planned to form a Zweckverband to secure the museum railway operation; a railway infrastructure special-purpose association based in Kappeln adopted a corresponding statute on 26 March 2019.

Seasonal timetables from 17 July 2021 provided three pairs of trains on Saturdays and two pairs on Sundays on the Kappeln–Süderbrarup–Eckernförde route; diesel multiple units of DB class 628 or DB class VT 98 were used, and they also called at the reinstated Lindaunis halt. In 2022 the trains ran only on Saturdays with two VT 98.

The vehicle fleet consists predominantly of Scandinavian vehicles. Some club coaches, including FSF02, FSF21, FSF40 (formerly NSB 18835) and the control coach FSF03 (formerly NSB BFS 65 18603), were left heavily damaged in 2017 at Süderbrarup station; removal by rail was initially not possible because the track connections to the storage sidings had been dismantled. At the end of the first half of 2017 the switch connection was restored, some vehicles could be removed, and by 2022 the site had been cleared.