Forest Railway Welschbruch
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 Map of the Waldeisenbahn Welschbruch | |
 Four trucks at the Welschbruch forester's house | |
| Overview | |
|---|---|
| Locale | Near Barr |
| Dates of operation | 1889–1906 |
| Technical | |
| Length | 6.3 km (3.9 mi) |
The Forest Railway Welschbruch (French: Le chemin de fer forestier de la forêt de Barr, German: Waldeisenbahn Welschbruch) was a narrow gauge forest railway near Barr in the Bas-Rhin department of France.
The 6,3 km (3.9 mi) long track started at the Welschbruch forester's house and lead with an average gradient of 7% through several hairpin turns and along the river Kirneck via Fontaine Laquiante to the logging siding 445 m below. From there the logs were transported by oxcarts to the nearby railway station of Barr.[1]
Rolling stock
Initially six trucks with wooden frames were used, which could transport up to 30 m long logs or up to four cubic metres of cut logs. 1887 the number of trucks was increased to 16. Empty trucks were hauled by horses from the logging siding to the forester's house. After loading they descended by gravity within 30 min to the valley controlled by a brake operator.[1]