Alsfeld under steam!Opening of the railway line

Finally, it was there: the long-awaited and hoped-for connection to the railway network and to national and international passenger and trade traffic in Germany and Europe. However, this event, so vital for the city, was not properly celebrated. In January 1868, the financing of the state construction had been secured by private banks. On March 25, 1868, after lengthy negotiations, the Second Chamber of the Grand Duchy in Darmstadt decided on the construction of an “Upper Hessian Railway” via Alsfeld to Fulda, and on July 24, the first train arrived.

“25.7.1870 Alsfeld. Yesterday, the first locomotive with 11 carriages of the Upper Hessian Railway arrived here…” With these brief words, the “Allgemeine Intelligenzblatt – Amts- & Anzeigenblatt für den Kreis Alsfeld” informed its readership one day later. However, due to France’s declaration of war against Prussia on July 19 and the beginning of the Franco-Prussian War of 1870/71, all festivities were canceled.

The opening of the line from Alsfeld to Lauterbach followed on November 22, 1870. The opening of the entire Gießen–Fulda line had to be postponed “due to unexpected difficulties during the construction of the section between Lauterbach and Fulda” and finally took place with the completion of the last section to Fulda on July 31, 1871. (MNic)