The scary history of the Katzbachbahn: a train accident in Eichelberg
The scary history of the Katzbachbahn: a train accident in Eichelberg
The Katzbachbahn, an unforgettable railway line in the Kraichgau, rattled through the picturesque hill and village landscape, always accompanied by an unmistakable steam and a certain charm. But the train also had its dark sides, which should not be forgotten.
In November 1953, this charming stroller railway became the scene of an almost catastrophic accident. On the day of penance and bed, the spring derailed shortly before the imposing viaduct in Eichelberg. Only a few meters were missing, and the well -occupied wagons would have fallen from the 15 -meter -high bridge to the Katzbach Gorge. The last wagon tipped over, but fortunately there were no serious injuries among passengers. This mixture of showers and railway romance has shaped people's memory to this day.
The stories behind the Katzbachbahn
At the end of the 19th century, the city of Bruchsal and the "Badische Local Eisenbahn AG" (BLEAG) began an outrageous plan: they wanted to open up the Kraichgau hinterland by rails. The opening trip of the Katzbachbahn between Bruchsal and Odenheim took place on March 5, 1896, and the anticipation was great. Two years later, the Eichelberg Viaduct was built, a masterpiece at the time engineering at the time, which enabled train traffic to Hilsbach.
The railway itself was not only worshiped, but also mocked. The abbreviation Bleag noticed particularly negatively. Welters were not stingy with funny remarks about the "Badisch Lahm, also done feathered", the connection between Bruchsal and the neighboring villages. Sometimes the slow travel times activated the imagination of passengers and ensured one or two crooked comments such as "Belt slowly, also likes to slip".
In retrospect, the alleged misfortune of 1953 became legend. While railway romantics still hold up the Katzbachbahn, the piece of railway history also shows the challenges and the dangers associated with rail traffic. The Eichelberg-Viaduct, with its three arches made of limestone and sandstones, is now a popular photo motif and a symbol for the revitalization of this old railway line.
The events around the Katzbachbahn are more than just anecdotes - they are part of the cultural identity of the Kraichgau. The small railway has crossed the charming landscapes and is deeply interwoven with the stories of the people who live in this region. Even if the Katzbachbahn is now in the shade of more modern means of transport, it remains the charming name "ducker" or "duck murderer", shaped by their slow journey and the steam that rises through the fireplace.