After the First World War, many small railways had to modernise their rolling stock. In order to reduce the costs for the renovation, the decision was made to develop standardised locomotive types by an overall committee, the “Engeren Lokomotiv-Normen-Ausschuss (ELNA)”. As a result, the ELNA developed six locomotive types, which were built between 1922 and 1946, and one type was even included in the programme of the so-called austerity war steam locomotive (KDL4). The ELNA 6, one of which we have in our home, is one of the heaviest locomotives in the ELNA range and is suitable for mainline and heavy switching service.
Our locomotive was assembled at Henschel after the war from still existing individual parts and then came to the Farge-Vegesacker Railway as No. 203. In 1956 it was renamed No. 184. In 1966 it was loaned to the Bremen-Thedinghausen railway and in 1967 to the Rinteln-Stadthagen railway. In 1972, the machine was taken out of service and sold by the Deutsche-Eisenbahn-Gesellschaft (DEG) to the Railway Museum and has been in our museum ever since.
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Hop on the steam train, hauled by 23 042, at Darmstadt or Bensheim, and experience the German Grape Harvest Festival with Palatinate wine, local specialities and live music. Alternatively, railway enthusiasts can take the iconic ‘Kuckucksbähnel’ and the ‘Sissi’ steam locomotive through the idyllic Elmstein Valley – a special outing for connoisseurs and lovers of railway nostalgia!
On 7 and 8 November 2026, take a historic steam train from Darmstadt Central Station to the Dieburg St Martin’s Market!
The St Martin’s Market awaits you with the season’s first mulled wine and a wide range of other culinary and craft delights. The special train runs three times a day, there and back.
On the 3rd Sunday of Advent, 13 December 2026: Special steam train journey to the Heidelberg Christmas markets!
From Darmstadt or Bensheim, we’ll take you to the enchanting Christmas markets in the various squares along the Hauptstraße, with views of the illuminated Heidelberg Castle.
Mit unserem Jubiläumskalender feiern wir 50 Jahre Eisenbahnmuseum Darmstadt-Kranichstein – eines der bedeutendsten Eisenbahnmuseen Deutschlands. Die zwölf eindrucksvollen Motive zeigen dabei verschiedene Exponate im Kontext unvergesslicher historischer Meilensteine aus fünf Jahrzehnten gelebter Eisenbahnkultur.
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