Gyermekvasút Children’s Railway, Budapest

Posted 11 February 2016 by Jane

Gyermekvasút is a 11km long narrow gauge railway line in the hills of Budapest. What sets it apart is it’s completely operated by children (except the train driver). Built in the 1940s it was modeled after the Pioneer Railways in the Soviet Union. The Young Pioneers was a youth movement of the Communist Party, similar to Scouts. After 1989 the line was modernised, the communist red star emblems were replaced with blue ones and the line was made available for public use.

We boarded at Széchenyi-hegy and braved the open carriage to make the most of the views and fresh air. The train journey took about an hour weaving through the woods in the Buda hills with the stunning views of the city below. At each station on route the passing train was enthusiastically saluted at by a member of staff.