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Saxon Narrow-Gauge Museum
Rittersgrün
Sächsisches Schmalspurbahn-Museum
ABOVE: Vintage railroad cars and
the former station at the Saxon Narrow-Gauge Museum in Rittersgrün, Germany.
INSET BELOW: The museum's official sign, and homemade mushroom soup in the
Museumskeller.
by Durant Imboden
 From
1889 until 1971, the small town of Rittersgrün was the terminus of the
Pöhlwassertalbahn,
a narrow-gauge railway that offered scheduled service between Grünstädtel
and Oberrittersgrün near Saxony's border with the Czech Republic. The railroad
no longer exists, but the Oberrittersgrün station, sheds, and marshalling yards
are now the Saxon Narrow-Gauge Museum, which has a collection of 750-mm
(29½-inch) steam locomotives, diesel engines, and
rolling stock.
Although the museum is popular with
railfans, it also targets families, with a small model railroad, station
exhibits, and occasional special events for visitors of all ages. (The museum
shop, located on the upper floor of the old station, has an eclectic assortment
of books, gifts, and souvenirs, including woodcarvings from the region.)
 The
Museumskeller, or Museum Cellar, deserves special mention: The tavern and
restaurant, which is located in the station's former coal bins, puts most museum
cafés to shame. During a recent visit, I had a wonderful bowl of soup made from mushrooms
that the cook had gathered herself in the local forest. The Gaststätte is
open during the museum's normal hours, and its menu includes a full range of
drinks, meals, and snacks.
For more
information about the Saxon Narrow-Gauge Museum in Rittersgrün, visit
www.ssmo.de. The text
is in German, but the photos and opening hours don't require translation. (For
maps that show how to reach the museum, see the
Anfahrt page.)
Note: The Saxon Narrow-Gauge
Museum is near Oberwiesenthal, an end station on the
Fichtelbergbahn Steam Railroad and the site of
the Fichtelberg Schwebahn aerial cable car.
(Public bus no. 414 connects Rittersgrün with the Oberwiesenthal station.) The
Ore Mountains Model Railway Park and
the Wolkeinsteiner Zughotel train hotel
and restaurant are within easy driving distance.
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Durant
& Cheryl Imboden's