Königswinter - politicians and celebrities, tourists from the region and abroad have gained with their help the most visited mountain in Europe. Now the Drachenfelsbahn celebrates 125 years of age.
Located in the Seven Mountains to overcome the valiant train since 17 July 1883 on a stretch of nearly a mile at 12 miles per hour 220 meters - and offered not only 36 million "ordinary consumer" a spectacular view of the Rhine Valley.
"I have already attended numerous guests on their way to the summit Drachenfels," said the chief of the mountain railways in the Seven Mountains AG, Juergen Limper (68). Wolfgang Clement, for example, is not just a regular, but also a close friend of Kemper.
Even Karl May ( "Winnetou") is the oldest cog railway in Germany on the 321-meter high Drachenfels (where according to legend, Siegfried slew the dragon) have traveled. However, the evidence can not - the old visitors' books have been lost over time.
On the journey of former U.S. Vice President J. Danforth Quayle remembers the Drachenfelsbahn reluctant CEO: "There was something going on here, I could not enter my own platform. Everywhere, dogs and bodyguards, who heranließen anyone to Quayle and his family. "
The black stain on the history of Drachenfelsbahn is 14 September 1958. At 18.50 clock on this Sunday evening, a full-loaded train crashed after a mechanical problem on the downhill. 17 people were killed, 87 injured.
This will not repeat such a horrific accident, the cars and locomotives, meticulously maintained. In the workshops of the newly restored train station, not much has changed: Even if the train since the late 50s no longer travels by steam, here it still smells of machine oil and hard work.
Currently, the fleet for the anniversary in the shot is taken. To mark the tenth anniversary of the Drachenfelsbahn (early June, a ceremony will be held), it will moreover give a special stamp. The motif of the 45-cent stamp is still top secret.
It is no secret, however, that the Bonn Treat EXPRESS and Drachenfelsbahn our readers an anniversary trip to the Drachenfels:
Five times to win two free tickets to all the readers who call on Wednesday between 12.30 and 12.35 clock of 02 28 / 7 29 06 42nd
The cards can be picked up directly at the Drachenfelsbahn. Good luck.
