Pfingstdampf bei der Selfkantbahn

Steam in the Selfkant

In the far west of North Rhine-Westphalia — right on the border with the Netherlands — lies the Selfkantbahn, one of the last operational narrow-gauge railways in Germany. Over 5.5 kilometers of narrow-gauge track, it runs between Gangelt-Schierwaldenrath and Geilenkirchen-Gillrath — and at Whitsun, it transforms every year into a grand steam event: the Pfingstdampf.

May 24th-25th, 2026 — Whitsun in Steam

The 2026 edition runs on the Whitsun weekend — Saturday, May 23rd to Whit Monday, May 25th, 2026 (special timetable focus on Whit Sunday, May 24th, and Whit Monday, May 25th). Steam locomotives will be in special operation on the route: more frequent trains, additional trips, longer train compositions. The historic road vehicles traditionally come to visit:

• Historic tractors and agricultural machinery will be exhibited at Schierwaldenrath and Gillrath stations
• Vintage cars from various eras
• 2026 Special: historic emergency vehicles — fire engines, ambulances, and police vehicles from past decades
• In the engine shed: Market with wood crafts, railway items, jewelry, greeting cards, books, souvenirs

Selfkantbahn since 1971

The Selfkantbahn has been operated since 1971 by the Interessengemeinschaft Historischer Schienenverkehr e.V. (Association for Historic Rail Transport) — as a purely volunteer-run museum railway. It uses part of the former Geilenkirchen — Tüddern narrow-gauge light railway, which operated commercially until 1971. Today, it runs as a tourist attraction with steam and diesel locomotives, restored historic carriages, and a meticulously maintained engine shed with a workshop.

Pfingstdampf since 1980

The Pfingstdampf has been running since 1980 — for over 45 years — and is one of the traditional railway events in West Germany. Over the decades, the format has become established: special timetable with more frequent journeys, accompanying market in the engine shed, vintage car meet at the stations, often with a thematic focus (2026: historic emergency vehicles).

Gangelt and Schierwaldenrath

Gangelt is a municipality in the Heinsberg district, in the far west of North Rhine-Westphalia. With around 12,000 inhabitants, it is a rural collective municipality, characterized by agriculture and the nearby Dutch border. The district of Schierwaldenrath is located in the north of the municipality and houses the main station of the Selfkantbahn. The western terminus is Geilenkirchen-Gillrath. Visitors to Pfingstdampf can combine the train ride with walks through the hilly Selfkant region or a visit to the nearby Dutch side.