Narrow Gauge Trains in Hungery

Cited from Hungary's official touristical homepage
(Magyarorszag turisztikai honlapjan)

• Railway transportation is popular all over the world, and narrow gauge railways have an increasing role to play in many countries. There are several light railway lines inHungary, chiefly for the purposes of tourism and hiking.
  There are more than 15 small gauge trains, most running from May to September.
  
  MAV Rt. Szechenyi-hegyi Children’s Train(Huvosvolgy - Janos-hegy - Csilleberc - Normafa - Szechenyi-hegy - Normafa - Csilleberc - Janos-hegy - Huvosvolgy)
  This railway is very popular among the children ofBudapestand those visiting the capital. It is 11.2 kilometres long. What makes it special is that children between the ages of 10 and 14 do all the work except, of course, for the jobs of engineer and stationmaster. There are six stops between the two terminals, each leading to popular hiking destinations in the Buda Hills.
  
  Csomoderi Line(Csomoder - Kistolmacs - Csomoder)
  This 18-kilometre light railway goes through the rolling country of Southern Zala County and helps hikers reach the trails around thevillageofBazakerettye. The Arboretum of Budafapuszta can be found near the railway line.
  
  Kaszoi Line(Szenta - Kaszo - Szenta)
  
  Almamelleki Line(Almamellek - Lukafa - Sasret - Lukafa - Almamellek)
  
  Gemenci Line(Porboly - Gemenc - Baranyfok - Porboly)
  This line lets us get acquainted with the marvellous world of theGemencForest, which is famous for its wild life, especially its deer. The length of the line is 30 kilometres.
  
  Mesztegnyoi Line(Mesztegnyo - Felsokak - Mesztegnyo)
  
  Kiralyreti Line(Kismaros - Szokolya - Kiralyret - Szokolya - Kismaros)
  The Borzsony Hills’ Children’s Railway is very popular among hikers. The little train carries tens of thousands of passengers along its 12-kilometre-long track every year. Kiralyret (King Meadow) is an excellent point from which to enter the trails to High Borzsony, and it features a leisure centre with accommodation facilities.
  
  Nagyborzsonyi Line(Nagyborzsony - Nagyirtas - Nagyborzsony)
  
  Felsotarkanyi Line(Felsotarkany - Sziklaforras - Stimecz House - Sziklaforras - Felsotarkany)
  The railway reaches the Stimecz House at the end of its 5-kilometre-long run. From this point you can walk further into the Bukk hills on marked hiking trails. The “Oserdo” (“Jungle”) and the “Latokovek” are easily accessible from its upper terminus.
  
  Szilvasvaradi Line(The Riding Track of Szalajka-volgy - Fatyol-vizeses (Szalajka Valley - Veil Waterfall)
  This popular 5-kilometre-long railway line in the Bukk hills goes to the famous Trout Ponds and ends at one of the most beautiful sights in the Bukk National Park: the Fatyol-vizeses (Veil Waterfall), where the water of Szalajka-patak (the Szalajka Stream) descends through a 17-metre line of steps and evaporates in the air like a veil. From this point you can go on foot to the prehistoric Istallosko cave or move on to Bukk Plateau. If we decide to go back to Szilvasvarad on foot, we should be sure to visit theMuseumofForestry.
  
  The Matra Light Railway(Gyongyos - Gyongyossolymos - Lajoshaza - Gyongyossolymos - Gyongyos), (Gyongyos - Matrafured - Gyongyos)
  The station is situated near theMatraMuseumin Gyongyos. The line which goes to Matrafured is 7 kilometres long. The other line goes through Gyongyossolymos in Nagy-volgy (BigValley) and takes its passengers to Lajoshaza. The 11-kilometre distance is covered by the train in 35 minutes. >From Lajoshaza you can choose from several trails leading to the higher parts of the Matra Hills or a local circular route.
  
  The Light Railways of Miskolc(Miskolc - Diosgyor - Lillafured - Garadna - Lillafured - Diosgyor - Miskolc), (Miskolc - Diosgyor - Papirgyar - Taksalapa - Papirgyar - Diosgyor - Miskolc)
  The first is perhaps the most popular line among the light railways of the Bukk. The length of the track is 14 kilometres to Garadna-volgy (GaradnaValley). From within the Bukk, plenty of trails lead hikers to the higher parts of the hills. The other, 24-kilometre, line goes through less well-known, romantic parts of the hills. You can walk the trail between the two upper-end stations in a matter of hours, and so travel both lines.
  
  Palhazai Line(Palhaza - Kokapu - Rostallo - Kokapu - Palhaza)
  - Nagycenki Szechenyi Muzeumvasut (Fertoboz - Baratsag - Kastely - Baratsag - Fertoboz)
  This railway, situated in the Zemplen Hills, is the oldest forest railway inHungary. The train takes its passengers along its 10-kilometre track to the castle hill of Kokapu and then on to Rostallo. From the Rostallo station you can walk on along marked hiking trails in the direction of Telkibanya, Haromhuta and Regec.
  
  Csisztai Line(Balatonfenyves - Taska - Csiszta gyogyfurdo - Taska - Balatonfenyves)
  
  Balatonfenyvesi Light Railway(Balatonfenyves - Somogyszentpal - Balatonfenyves)
  
  Information: TOURINFORM Offices
  
  

Children's Railway in Budapest Hungary

• Hqvosvolgyi Gyermekvasut (Children's Railway)(Hqvosvolgy - Janos-hegy - Csilleberc - Normafa - Szechenyi-hegy - Normafa - Csilleberc - Janos-hegy - Hqvosvolgy)
• Csomoder line(Csomoder - Kistolmacs - Csomoder)
• Kaszo line(Szenta - Kaszo - Szenta)
• Almamellek line(Almamellek - Lukafa - Sasret - Lukafa - Almamellek)
• Gemenc line(Porboly - Gemenc - Baranyfok - Porboly)
• MesztegnyQ line(MesztegnyQ - FelsQkak - MesztegnyQ)
• Kiralyret line(Kismaros - Szokolya - Kiralyret - Szokolya - Kismaros)
• Nagyborzsony line(Nagyborzsony - Nagyirtas - Nagyborzsony)
• FelsQtarkany line(FelsQtarkany - Sziklaforras - Stimeczhaz - - Sziklaforras - FelsQtarkany)
• Szilvasvarad line(Szalajkavolgy-Lovaspalya - Szalajka-Fatyolvizeses - Szalajkavolgy-Lovaspalya)
• Gyongyos line(Gyongyos - Gyongyossolymos - Lajoshaza - Gyongyossolymos - Gyongyos)
  (Gyongyos - Matrafured - Gyongyos)
• Lillafured line(Miskolc - DiosgyQr - Lillafured - Garadna - Lillafured - DiosgyQr - Miskolc)
  (Miskolc - DiosgyQr - Papirgyar - Taksalapa - Papirgyar - DiosgyQr - Miskolc)
• Palhaza line(Palhaza - KQkapu - Rostallo - KQkapu - Palhaza)
• Nagycenki Szechenyi Muzeumvasut (Museum Railways)(FertQboz - Baratsag - Kastely - Baratsag - FertQboz)
• Csiszta line(Balatonfenyves - Taska - Csiszta gyogyfurdQ - Taska - Balatonfenyves)
• Balatonfenyvesi Gazdasagi Vasut (Forestry Railways)(Balatonfenyves - Somogyszentpal - Balatonfenyves)

Monday, November 17, 2003