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The historical railway Bentheim - Coevorden( Netherlands) , running through Grafschaft( County) Bentheim, Niedersachsen ( Lower Saxony), Germany, is being reactivated since 4 years, last phase underway, for passenger transport.

The railway yard in Emlichheim Station has 1 main track and 3 rusty unused sidings, one is shown here in 2013.

We had the opportunity to do a trajectory travel along the former railway Borken - Bocholt, 17 km . It became defunct last century before and after WW 2, and never reopened for passenger trains. Quite adventurous was the looking for tracks in the bushes and relics like buffer stops- see the pics. The old bridge just before Borken Hbf was just splendid. Another bridge along the old bedding was found halfway. Rails were there the first time( 2014) but gone in 2019. I do nit think that a successor of the Niederländisch- Westfälische Eisenbahgesellschaft , e, g the Deutsche Bahn, will ever think about reactivation.

The museum hosts an impressing amount of Railway memorabilia, like diesel- electric and electric locomotives, trains, carriages, dating back to the first days in 1830. , when the first track was opened between Amsterdam and Haarlem . There are items from WW2, and more, like uniforms and the like. Trains can be viewed inside.Every item is well preserved! Worthwhile a visit.Cheap good restaurant on the premises.

In July 2023 , we explored the interesting Eifelbahn, of which Station Gerolstein was a major hub with 4 directions. At present, only The main N- S track remains fully functional with 1-2 trains a day, connecting Köln( Cologne) via Gerolstein with Trier. Also the Eifelquerbahn from Gerolstein east to Andernach, remains open.
The Westeifelbahn existed from 1883 till 2025, with parts already in disuse since 2001, gradual decline. The Landkreis ( Authorities) was not able to revive the 53 km track- see the map. We have been to the former bridge at Lissingen, half a mile from Gerolstein , walked and drove or way via Müllenborn and Hillesheim ( bridge) to Prüm. There is a nice but short track spared in Pronsfeld, now a small museum with an old locomotive and carriage.Worthwhile!

Some of the tracks are still in use , normal gauge and narrow gauge. The track via Drei Annen Hohne till the top of Brocken, is still functional. In Quedlinburg , part of the DDR in the past, one sees 1-2 trains a day but most of the tracks are rusty and in disuse. — To become continued.