Zittau – Oybin - Jonsdorf Bahnstrecke

Description
The starting point for a trip to the Zittau Mountains is smaller station to the right of the reception hall of the main train station. The narrow gauge line crosses under the Zittau-Reichenberg (Liberec, Czech Republic) line and then continues around the city of Zittau to the old part of Zittau with its churches and the tower of the town hall. Then the line ascends steadily and winds through some viaducts and over two steel bridges via the village of Olbersdorf to Bertsdorf. On the right-hand side the new urban recreational center "Olbersdorfer See" (Lake of Olbersdorf), cultivated from a former brown coal strip mine, is being developed. Next to the Bertsdorf station the traditional hotel "Am Bahnhof Bertsdorf" has been reconstructed according to old plans and shines in its former beauty. A miniature - "little sister" of the Zittau steam train even rides along the hotel bar and serves beer directly to the guests!
The departure of two trains leaving at health resorts of Oybin and Jonsdorf is a special happening unique to the place!
The train stops of Oybin Niederdorf, Teufelsmühle ("Devil's Mill") and Jonsdorf Haltestelle are the ideal starting points for tours to the rocky Zittau Mountains.
The idyllic Oybin dale will be crossed before the train reaches its final stop in Oybin. The train station is right to the craggy Oybin Mountain, surrounded by impressive scenery. On top of the Oybin Mountain there are the impressive ruins of the ancient "Coelestiner Monastery".
The railway line from Bertsdorf to the health resort of Jonsdorf leads from the cleft "Weißer Stein" (White Stone) via dense woods to the mountainside of the Jonsberg, then passes by scenic "Umgebindehäuser" (half-timbered houses which are typical and specific to the Oberlausitz region) and the newly-built ice rink and continues on to Jonsdorf. In Jonsdorf visits are recommended to the former millstone-quarries, the open-air theater in the forest and to the "Nonnenfelsen" (Nun's rocks) - where a recently reopened restaurant can be found in the midst of the rocks.

Introduction
With its home station of Zittau, the narrow-gauge railroad Zittau – Oybin/Jonsdorf is the easternmost of the narrow-gauge railroads of Saxony but also the only one that extends on its narrow tracks into the smallest mountain range of Germany. The steam railroad has been traveling into the Zittau Mountains since 1890. The unusual aspect of the line is the three terminus's. Starting at Zittau Central, the train first stops at Bertsdorf with the only narrow-gauge junction in Saxony, taking the passengers to either of the spa towns of Oybin and Jonsdorf. The narrow-gauge railroad used to be nicknamed ‘Zug ohne jegliche Eile’, which means ‘Train without any hurry’. The speed of 16 mph allows the passengers enough time to enjoy the beautiful countryside of the Upper Lusatian hills and the Zittau Mountains.

The narrow-gauge railway line was established in 1890. For 16 years it was the only regional (narrow-gauge) railway line in Saxony run by a private company - the Zittau-Oybin-Jonsdorfer Railway Company (ZOJE). After that period it became state-owned.

History

Saxon State Railways determined because of the small industrial development in the communities Oybin and Jonsdorf there was no interest in building a rail line. Nevertheless on 28 August 1888 in Zittau private Zittau-Oybin-Jonsdorfer Eisenbahn-Gesellschaft (ZOJE) was initiated. On 28 March 1889, the license is granted, construction began on 26 June 1889.

Modelling Interest

The Station at Zittau is quite elaborite with separate Schmalspur station and parallel lines, however this area is quite large and difficult to model. The terminal stations at Oybin and Jonsdorf are small and have interesting architecture. Oybin in particular is quient with hotels behind the station and the Oybin cliff directly across the tracks.
En-route from Zittau the line branches to Oybin/Jonsdorf at the station Bertsdorf which includes a Lokschuppen (Locomotive Shed), Stellwerk and passenger canopies. Bertsdorf has an interesting schedule of passenger train departures with a dual parallel departing train which would be interesting to emulate.