Damals 4

A new story from the small country: Among the most scenic and architecturally impressive railway lines in Thuringia was undoubtedly Triptis - Lobenstein, which extended to the Bavarian Marxgrün until 1945. This provided a direct connection from Gera to Hof, avoiding the detour through Werdau or the transfer in Plauen, which involved a two-kilometer walk from the lower to the upper station. However, there were no direct trains from Gera to Hof; these only came later from Saalfeld via Leutenberg and Wurzbach. As a result, travelers had to endure approximately one-hour waits either in Unterlemnitz, the junction with the Saalfeld - Lobenstein - Marxgrün line, or in Lobenstein. The station restaurants in both locations benefited from this, with the one in Unterlemnitz being built immediately after the opening of the Saalfeld railway in 1908. Through the Plothener pond area, continuing along the Saale - through forests and tunnels, over bridges and viaducts, past castles and palaces, a mundane train ride became an unforgettable experience. For those seeking relaxation, it offered pure deceleration, but the few passenger trains hardly served the small number of people living along the line who needed to travel to school or work daily. Thus, what seemed inevitable happened: on May 23, 1998, the last passenger trains ran, and soon after, freight traffic also ceased. Yet, it is not forgotten - and today it can be experienced in the truest sense on the most beautiful section by rail bike. About 300 mostly large-format photographs bring the magic and charm of the Oberlandbahn back to life.