The Budapest Children’s Railway
The Gyermekvasút (Children’s Railway) is a 7-mile-long rail line in Budapest that’s operated by children aged 10-14 (aside from the train’s driver).
Children’s Railway, Budapest is one of Budapest’s most unique attractions. Like any other railway, it has ticket offices, diesel locomotives, signals, switches and a timetable. Unlike other railways though, this one is run by children. The line stretches among the Buda hills from Széchenyihegy to Hűvösvölgy, crossing the Cogwheel Railway and serving Normafa as well as the highest point of Budapest: Jánoshegy.
The project, then called the Pioneer’s Railway, was started in 1947 as a part of a three-year Communist plan. This video shows how the railway operates and includes interviews with current workers as well as former workers from the Communist era:
Seems like all the kids are big train nerds…adorable.
Comments 3
There's something really interesting about a state-run youth programme that aims to get the next generation passionate about transport infrastructure, as opposed to more nationalistic / militaristic pursuits. Uniforms and salutes aside, it's almost wholesome.
Thanks for this inspiration! Going to check it out in June.
Oh, hey, this is such a nice surprise! This railway runs almost literally in our backyard! (I live in Budapest, on the Buda side where the hills are.) It really is a very charming program for kids and adults alike. I rode it multiple times and it was always a blast.
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