Name: Bebra macht Dampf – Double Anniversary of the Cornberger Tunnel 2026
Start: 2026-03-14T00:00:00+00:00
End: 2026-03-14T00:00:00+00:00
Location: Bahnhof Bebra / Cornberger Rampe

Bebra macht Dampf

About Bebra macht Dampf

An exceptional railway spectacle: On March 14, 2026, two legendary steam locomotives – the 01 1104 (express train, formerly Bebra) and the 58 311 (freight, the only operational example of its series) – will run parallel on the historic Cornberger Ramp. Festival program around Bebra station, special trains from Fulda, Kassel, and Reichensachsen/Sontra. Double anniversary 150 years Cornberger Tunnel + 75 years Cornberger Ramp: Two steam locomotive legends – the 01 1104 (express train) and the 58 311 (freight, the only operational example worldwide) – will run parallel on the historic ramp. Special trains from Fulda, Kassel, and Reichensachsen/Sontra. Festival program at Bebra station.

Dates 14 Mar — 14 Mar 2026

Venue Bebra (06632)

Prices Free

Status Confirmed

Edition 2026

Bebra macht Dampf — edition 2026

Major railway event for the double anniversary of 150 years Cornberger Tunnel + 75 years Cornberger Ramp. Parallel runs of steam locomotives 01 1104 (ex-Bebra) and 58 311 (only operational example) on the historic ramp. Festival program at Bebra station with catering, information stands, and access to the 'Bahnhof Bebra' exhibition. Special trains from Fulda, Kassel, and Reichensachsen/Sontra.

The parallel runs are the railway historical highlight of the day. The 58 311 is a Württemberg freight locomotive and is considered the only operational example of its series worldwide. The 01 1104 (01.10 series) was stationed in Bebra in the 1950s.

Highlights Bebra macht Dampf 2026

150 years Cornberger Tunnel + 75 years Cornberger Ramp
Parallel runs of two steam locomotive legends
58 311 – only operational example worldwide
Special trains from Fulda, Kassel, Reichensachsen/Sontra
Festival program at the historic railway hub of Bebra

Programme Bebra macht Dampf 2026

Saturday, March 14, 2026 — Bebra macht Dampf

Morning — Festival opening at Bebra station, catering stands, information stands
Arrival of special trains from Fulda, Kassel, and Reichensachsen/Sontra
11:11 AM — First parallel run of steam locomotives 01 1104 and 58 311 on the Cornberger Ramp
Afternoon — Festival program, access to the permanent exhibition 'Bahnhof Bebra' in the Inselgebäude
3:11 PM — Second parallel run on the Cornberger Ramp
Afternoon/Evening — Departure of special trains, festival winding down at the station

Participating Locomotives

01 1104 – Express train locomotive (01.10 series), former Bebra home locomotive
58 311 – Württemberg freight locomotive, only operational example of its series

Special Trips

Special train from Fulda
Special train from Kassel
Special train from Reichensachsen / Sontra

Prices Bebra macht Dampf 2026

Festival area at the station: Free admission. Tickets for special trains online and at the Bebra Tourist Information.

Practical information

Practical information — Bebra macht Dampf

Getting There

Train: Bebra is an ICE stop on the Frankfurt–Erfurt–Berlin line. Special trains to the event from Fulda, Kassel, Reichensachsen/Sontra. Car: A4 or B27, Bebra station is within walking distance of the city center.

Tickets

Tickets for the special trains are available online and at the Bebra Tourist Information. Admission to the festival area at the station is generally free.

Date

Saturday, March 14, 2026. Parallel runs approx. 11:11 AM and 3:11 PM.

Tip

For the best photo: Position yourself above the Cornberger Ramp (hiking parking lot), not in the track area. A safety distance from the rails is mandatory.

A Double Anniversary for Railway Fans

On March 14, 2026, a double anniversary will be celebrated in Bebra, unparalleled in the railway world: 150 years of the Cornberger Tunnel (opened 1876) and 75 years of the Cornberger Ramp (double track since 1951). Both structures are part of the 'backbone' of the Bebra – Eichenberg – Göttingen line, connecting the Hessian low mountain range with Lower Saxony. The day is organized by Stadtentwicklung Bebra GmbH together with Eisenbahn-Nostalgiefahrten Bebra (Railway Nostalgia Trips Bebra).

Two Steam Locomotive Legends in Parallel

The highlight will be the historic parallel runs on the Cornberger Ramp – one of the steepest inclines in the Hessian railway network. Two legendary steam locomotives will be in operation in parallel:

01 1104 – an express train locomotive of the 01.10 series, which was stationed in Bebra in the 1950s, symbolically returning home.
58 311 – a Württemberg freight train locomotive, the only operational example of its series worldwide, a national railway cultural asset.

The parallel runs will take place at approximately 11:11 AM and 3:11 PM – a photo opportunity that has rarely been presented in this form in recent decades.

Festival Program at Bebra Station

Around Bebra Station, a festival program will unfold with information stands, catering, and access to the permanent exhibition 'Bahnhof Bebra' (Bebra Station) in the Inselgebäude (Island Building). For decades, Bebra was one of Germany's most important railway hubs ('Railway Town'), and the exhibition tells this story.

Special Trains from the Surrounding Area

Those not arriving by regular train can come on one of the announced special trains:

from Fulda
from Kassel
from Reichensachsen / Sontra

Tickets are available online and at the Bebra Tourist Information. For railway enthusiasts, the special trips themselves are part of the experience.

Railway Town with History

Bebra, in the Hersfeld-Rotenburg district, was one of Germany's largest railway marshalling yards from the mid-19th century until German reunification. Locomotive drivers, train attendants, signal box operators – the entire town lived off rail traffic towards Berlin and Central Germany. Even though the hub is much smaller today, the railway identity has remained – 'Bebra macht Dampf' (Bebra Makes Steam) is more than just a slogan.