Harkort Coal Railway – Rail Trail Cycling

Only about three kilometers long, this path is over part of the route of the former railway line from Hagen to the coal mine Schlebusch in Gevelsberg-Silschede. The surface is relatively loose, rather dirt road, as a smooth bike path - no problem in the summer, in the winter or when it is wet, you are very nice. But the route is really beautiful and a great bypass of the main road from Wetter-Grundschöttel to Gevelsberg-Silschede. From the western terminus it is only a few hundred meters to the route "Alte Kohlenbahn" to Schee and thus to the northern railway line through Wuppertal.

The first section of the Schlebusch-Harkort coal railway was put into operation as a horse-drawn tram with a gauge of 655 mm as early as 1828, as one of the first railways in Germany. The route was lengthened several times, switched to steam operation and the track gauge increased.

You can find information about the history here: de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schlebusch-Harkorter_Kohlenbahn

Very nice former railway line with a great panorama. Very varied with forest sections, beautiful views of meadows and fields and the Ruhr Valley. The route passes Cafe Kännchen, which is worth a visit and will reopen its doors on April 30th.