Eisenbahnwochenende Mansfelder Bergwerksbahn & Parkeisenbahn

Railway Nostalgia in the Mansfelder Land

For centuries, the Mansfelder Land was a center of copper shale mining — and thus also an important railway region. The industrial and narrow-gauge railways that once transported ore, slag, and miners between the shafts are now museum railways, kept alive by dedicated associations. Once a year, they gather for a grand joint weekend: the Railway Weekend on October 10th and 11th, 2026.

The motto for 2026 is: "Three Railways, Three Gauges". Three narrow-gauge railway associations are cooperating — the Mansfelder Bergwerksbahn, the Wipperliese, and the Parkeisenbahn Vatterode. They operate three different gauges and three different railway systems, all of which have their own roots in the historical industrial and transport heritage of Mansfeld.

Program and Locations

The event runs from 10 AM to 4 PM on both days, with highlights at individual stations. Mansfelder Bergwerksbahn: Running days with historic steam and diesel locomotives on the original route; demonstration workshops; guided tours of the engine sheds. Wipperliese: Special trips on the route of the Wipper narrow-gauge railway from Hettstedt. Parkeisenbahn Vatterode: Operation at the Vatteröder Teich, catering, family program.

A special feature in 2026: The association is once again inviting to a Vintage Car Meet. Following the successful debut in 2025, a vintage car meet will also take place this year as part of the historic Railway Weekend. Owners of classic vehicles can register with the association (by September 30th, 2026, max. 50 vehicles per day).

In the State of Saxony-Anhalt: Industrial Culture Alive

The Mansfelder Land, with Lutherstadt Eisleben, Hettstedt, Sangerhausen, and Klostermansfeld, is an important hub of Central German Industrial Culture. Mining, smelting, railway technology — all of this shaped the region for centuries. With the closure of the Mansfeld works after reunification, the region lost its economic base, but railway culture lives on in the museum associations. For railway fans from all over Germany, the Railway Weekend is therefore a must-visit destination.

An Event by and for Enthusiasts

The Railway Weekend is organized entirely on a voluntary basis by Mansfelder Bergwerksbahn e.V. The association members are often former railway workers themselves or local historians who have been involved for decades. Visitors to the weekend will meet people who know every detail of their locomotives and families who have been working to preserve railway culture for generations.