Rheinischer Esel Rail Trail

From railway donkey to bike

As early as the 1980s, a railway line cycle path was built on the eastern part. In 2012, the western section also became a cycle path - the different old sections can be distinguished by the path surface, which does not change quite halfway along the path. Individual relics such as the platform edges of train stops, sections with rails and switches, switch boxes at former level crossings, telephone boxes or whistle boards and kilometer markers are still there or have been recreated, reminding us of the original use of the route and making the cycle path thematically authentic.

ruhrgebiet-industriekultur.de/rheinischer-esel

If you believe the numerous corresponding legends, the extremely unusual name of the route comes from the numerous market women who carried their goods with them like donkeys with their packs. Passenger traffic was discontinued in 1979, and the eastern section between Löttringhausen and Witten-Ost was shut down and dismantled in 1982. Freight traffic on the western section was also discontinued in 2001, first between Stockum and Witten-Ost and finally also from Langendreer to Stockum in 2004, and the route was dismantled.

ruhrgebiet-industriekultur.de/rheinischer-esel

Great route to drive.
A lot of green and also some other things to see.