Children's Railway

The Gyermekvasut runs eleven kilometres of narrow gauge through the Buda hills between Szechenyi-hegy and Huvosvolgy, and its distinction is who runs it: children between roughly ten and fourteen, selected from Budapest schools and trained for the work, sell and check the tickets, signal, announce the stops and manage the stations in uniform, with adults driving the locomotives and supervising. It opened in 1948 as a Pioneer Railway on the Soviet model, and unlike most such lines it survived the end of the system that created it and still operates as a scheduled service. The route runs through forest with stops for Normafa, Janos Hill and walking trails, so it works as transport rather than only as a ride.

History

In 1947 the Hungarian State Railways decided to build a railway run by children, and after sites such as Gödöllő, Margaret Island and the Népliget were considered, the Buda Hills were chosen in 1948. Construction began on 11 April 1948, the first section, from Széchenyi-hegy to today's Virágvölgy, opened on 31 July 1948, the second a year later, and the last, to Hűvösvölgy, on 20 August 1950 (Wikipedia, Budapest Children's Railway).

The main sights

• Children running the stations - ticketing, signalling and announcements.
• Eleven kilometres through forest - the line across the Buda hills.
• Stops at walking trailheads - Normafa, Janos Hill and the ridge paths.
• A surviving Pioneer railway - the 1948 line still on a timetable.

When to go

April to October for the best weather and the fullest timetable; it runs year round but with fewer trains and some closed days in winter. Half a day for the full line with a walk.

Good to know

Trains are infrequent, roughly hourly, so missing one costs an hour. Carriages are unheated in the cold months. Getting to the terminus needs the cogwheel railway and a walk. It is slow as transport.

Nearby

Normafa is a stop on the line; the Elisabeth Lookout is above Janos-hegy.

Key facts