| Chiemsee-Bahn Chiemsee railway | |||
|---|---|---|---|
 A Chiemsee-Bahn train in May 2007 | |||
| Overview | |||
| Termini |
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| History | |||
| Opened | July 9, 1887[1] | ||
| Technical | |||
| Line length | 1.9 km (1.2 mi)[2] | ||
| Track gauge | 1,000 mm (3 ft 3+3⁄8 in) metre gauge | ||
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The Chiemsee-Bahn is a meter gauge railway line in Prien am Chiemsee, Germany. It is one of the world's last steam tramways,[3] and the oldest continuously operated steam tramway in regular operation.[4]
The 1.9 km (1 mi) long line connects Prien am Chiemsee with Prien-Stock station. Its original terminus was on the west side of the main line railway tracks at Prien am Chiemsee station, which required the Chiemsee-Bahn to cross the tracks. This situation was eliminated in the winter of 1908/1909, when the Chiemsee-Bahn moved its terminus to the east side of the station.[2] The line, along with its steam locomotive and passenger cars, is registered as a historic monument of Bavaria, numbered D-1-87-162-66.[5]
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After the death of King Ludwig II in 1886, his unfinished palace Herrenchiemsee was opened for visitors by his successor Luitpold, Prince Regent of Bavaria.[2] Horse-drawn carriages transported the visitors from the railway station to the harbour, where they crossed over to the Herreninsel by boat. After an accident involving a horse-drawn carriage, Ludwig Feßler, operator of the Chiemsee-Schifffahrt, decided to contract Munich-based Krauss Locomotive Works with the planning for a local railway between Prien and Stock.[2] The contract for the construction was signed on March 15, 1887. Construction began on May 2, and the line opened on July 9, 1887.[2]
The rolling stock consists of one steam engine and nine passenger cars,[2] which still are in their original condition from 1887.[1] Since 1982, the Chiemsee-Bahn also has a Deutz diesel engine, which was built in 1962 and was bought from the Halbergerhütte in Saarland.[6]
