History

From 1930
The miniature railway was constructed to transport visitors to large exhibitions between the exhibition site and the Great Garden. It soon became a very popular attraction. A ride on the miniature railway lasted 14 minutes. The whole railway was temporary and had to be dismantled at the end of each exhibition. During the Second World War the railway was stored in a quarry near Kamenz and was all but forgotten.

1950
1. June – dedication of the Children's Railway on "International Children's Day" when the first stretch of track - 1.3 km long - went into operation. Just a month later operation ceased again, as the Dresden Transport authority had only planned for a limited period of operation.

1951
In its first year there had been efforts to keep the Children's Railway in Dresden running and the decision was made to operate it as an educational railway for Pioneers. It was renamed "Pioneer Railway". Children and Young people ensured that everything ran smoothly. Dresden municipal council operated the railway. The track was extended to 5.6 km and the new stations Carolasee, Palaisteich and Karcherallee were inaugurated. In the first year there were 295,000 passengers.

1962
An electronic rechargeable locomotive with ten carriages completed the vehicle park. Visitor figures rose again significantly. In 1962 there were just 457,000 passengers: just a year later this figure had risen to half a million.

1982
The Railway employees of the German State Railways gave the pioneer railway another train, consisting of eight carriages and a rechargeable electric engine to celebrate the Pioneer's meeting.

1990
The "Pioneer railway" was renamed "Dresden Park Railway"

1992
The support association "Dresdner Parkeisenbahn e.V." was formed.

1993
The railway became the property of the state of Saxony and was entrusted to the care of "Schlössern und Gärten Dresden".

1996
Four closed carriages, made in Great Britain, were used for the first time

1998
Twelve covered wagons were used for the first time: the park railway employees received their own mascot: "Parkolino" the squirrel.

2000
Opening of the new railway station of the park railway "Am Straßburger Platz" because of the construction of the "Gläsernen Manufaktur" of Volkswagen AG.
The railway has two stem trains from engine makers Kraus & Co AG, Munich (built in 1925) and two electronic rechargeable engines from RAW Dresden (built in 1962 and 1982).

2005
We were glad to welcome our 22 millionth passenger on Dresden Park railway.