Reutlingen–Schelklingen railway

The Reutlingen–Schelklingen railway or Swabian Jura Railway (German: Schwäbische Albbahn) is a 58.25 kilometre long branch line from Reutlingen to Schelklingen, which crosses the Swabian Jura in southern Germany. Its route no. is 4620. The section from Reutlingen to Honau is also known as the Echaz Railway (Echazbahn) or Echaz Valley Railway (Echaztalbahn). The 15.28 kilometre long northern section from Reutlingen to Kleinengstingen is closed nowadays, this section has been largely converted into a rail trail.

Reutlingen–Schelklingen railway
MAN-Schienenbus on the Swabian Jura Railway
Overview
Native name	Schwäbische Albbahn
Line number	4620
Locale	Baden-Württemberg, Germany
Service
Route number	759 Kleinengstingen–Schelklingen 764 Reutlingen–Reutlingen Süd
Technical
Line length	58.25 km (36.19 mi)
Track gauge	1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) standard gauge
Minimum radius	180 m (591 ft)
Operating speed	50 km/h (31.1 mph) (maximum)
Maximum incline	10.0%
Route map km elev from Tübingen 0.00 Reutlingen Hbf to Plochingen 3.14 Reutlingen Süd Reutlingen Tram (until 1974) 4.91 Pfullingen 6.18 Pfullingen Süd 8.20 Unterhausen Spinnerei 9.87 Unterhausen (Württ) 11.03 Honau (Württ) Honau–Lichtenstein rack railway 13.18 Lichtenstein (Württ) from Gammertingen 15.28 Engstingen (formerly Kleinengstingen) 18.97 Kohlstetten (former station) 21.89 Bridge over the Lauter 22.00 Offenhausen 24.13 Gomadingen (former station) 27.32 Marbach (b Münsingen) 28.78 Grafeneck 34.53 Münsingen 37.12 Tank bridge 38.67 Oberheutal 40.72 Mehrstetten 40.84 Level Crossing B 465 49.09 Sondernach 50.31 Schmiech 50.75 Hütten (former station) 51.91 Talsteußlingen 53.03 Schmiech 55.67 Schmiech 56.46 Schmiechen Alb Railway former Schmiechen village 57.00 ENAG / DB Netz 57.19 Bridge over the B 497 57.56 from Sigmaringen 58.25 Schelklingen to Ulm Source: German railway atlas

Photos

• 
  Honau-Lichtenstein rack railway (postcard from 1905)
• 
  Lichtenstein castle
• 
  The "Ulmer Spatz"
• 
  Münsingen station
• 
  Interior of signal cabin at Münsingen station
• 
  Old goods wagon

References

Sources

• Eisenbahnatlas Deutschland [German railway atlas]. Schweers + Wall. 2017. ISBN 978-3-89494-146-8.

External links

• Media related to Reutlingen–Schelklingen railway line at Wikimedia Commons
• Friends of the Honau-Lichtenstein Rack Railway Society
• Swabian Jura Railway Society
• 1944/45 timetable
• Honau Station Preservation Society
• Friends of the Railbus Society, Ulm - Ulmer Spatz