Railway stories - experiencing tracks

Former railway lines, which have been converted into ideal cycle paths away from road traffic, are becoming more and more popular among cyclists. This circular route of around 33 kilometers introduces several important railway cycle paths in the Ruhr area. The Railway Museum in Bochum-Dahlhausen tells many stories about the importance of the railway in earlier times.

The starting point
The Jahrhunderthalle Bochum, as a point of reference on the Route of Industrial Heritage, is an ideal starting point for this bike tour. Parking spaces are located directly nearby. You can arrive by tram, and high-quality bikes can be rented at the RevierRad station on site. Those arriving by long-distance or regional transport can also start the tour directly at the main train station.

Start of the tour - the Erzbahntrasse
The tour leaves the grounds of Westpark at the northwestern end via the impressive Erzbahnschwinge. This is the entrance to the Erzbahntrasse, an important north-south connection in the Ruhr area for cyclists. The route passes by the pit frame and the Malakow tower of the Zeche Vereinigte Carolinenglück 2/3. At the popular Erzbahnbude, the circular route turns west.

The Kray-Wanner Railway
From junction 46 at the Erzbahnbude, the tour now follows the Kray-Wanner Railway. Once a particularly important railway connection for industry in the Ruhr area, the route now belongs to the central cycle paths in the radrevier.ruhr region. The Halde Rheinelbe with the Himmelstreppe (stairway to heaven) is a worthwhile detour along the way.

Agricultural fields
Now the route runs through the extensive fields of the region to the south. Large farms and many equestrian farms are located along the way. A steep descent at the end leads down into the Ruhr valley.

The Railway Museum
Here in the Ruhr valley near Dahlhausen lies Germany's largest privately run railway museum. A special highlight is the 14-track locomotive shed with a 20-meter turntable. Many historical locomotives and trains can be visited. Each of these exhibits tells its own story of the heyday of industrialization and the subsequent structural change in the Ruhr area.

The Springorum Trasse
From the Railway Museum, a cycle path leads into the district, from where the well-developed Springorum Trasse leads up to Bochum. The route passes many informational signs detailing the history of early mining. A worthwhile short detour is the Weitmar Castle, whose origins date back to the 8th/9th century and now attracts art enthusiasts from near and far with the Situation Kunst art exhibition and the Museum unter Tage.

The center of Bochum
From the end of the Springorum path, it is not far to the main train station. The tour leads directly through the city center and finally back to Jahrhunderthalle Bochum in Westpark. If you still haven't heard enough railway stories, you can watch the World Championship of Trains at STARLIGHT EXPRESS in the evening.