Introduction

The Children's Railway is located in the west of the city of Budapest, the capital city of Hungary. Its eleven-kilometre-long, narrow gauge line runs through the woods of the hills of the city on the Buda side.

It is often called "the greatest child toy of the world," but it is not entirely true. Children aged 10 to 14 control the traffic and commercial services provided but strictly according to regulations of any other railway line of the State Railways of Hungary (MÁV Rt).

The engines are driven by adult engineers, and children on duty, are continuously supervised by adult railway employees. Apart from that, children do their jobs, operate the switches and signals, print tickets and keep passengers informed, on their own.

The Children's Railway in Budapest is not a unique institution of its kind. But it has always been by far the largest, most popular and serious one of them all in the world.

The railway operates throughout the year, except for Mondays from September to April. Trains run from 9 o'clock in the morning until 5 o'clock in the winter and until 7 o'clock in the summer.

Steam
engine
(running
at weekends)

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For those, who are interested in an excursion by the Children's Railway and do not intend to visit any of the nearby tourist destinations, a one-way or return journey can be recommended starting at Széchenyi-hegy Station.

Széchenyi-hegy Station can be reached by Tram Line 56 from Moszkva tér, the centre of the Buda side of Budapest, changing over to the Rack Railway at Városmajor ('Fogaskerekű Vasút' stop). The single journey, descent route, ends in Hűvösvölgy, nearby the terminal of the city's public transport company and from where Tram Line 56 runs back to Moszkva tér.

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The line of the Children's Railway runs past numerous sites of tourists' interest.

Normafa Halting and Virágvölgy Station are located adjacent to Budapest's most frequented sledge and ski resort called Normafa.

There is a pleasant path in the forest from Virágvölgy Station to Makkosmária, a Christian pilgrimage site.

The look-out tower atop János-hegy, the highest point in Budapest at 529 m, named after Erzsébet, the beloved Queen Consort of the Hungarians during the Austo-Hungarian Empire in the 19th century, can be reached with a few minutes' walk uphill from János-hegy Station. The path goes past the starting point of the chair lift of Zugliget which offers a beautiful sight of the city.

The Budakeszi Game Preserve is accessible from Szépjuhászné Station on foot in the woods or by Bus Line 22 from nearby the railway station. It is the closest preserve to the city of Budapest, just outside of it. Games live in their natural surrounding within the boundaries of the forest. Guided tours are available.

Ruins of a mediaeval monastery can be found just a few hundred metres from Szépjuhászné Station.

Paths in the forest lead to the look-out towers of Hárs-hegy. They offer an excellent view on parts of the city and the hills around.

Cycle path
by the
railway line

View
of Budapest
from the train

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Most of the line of the Children's Railway runs in the park forests of the hills of Budapest.

The forests are mostly made up of oak, ash and beech trees and thick undergrowth.

Despite of the closeness of the city and the great number of day-trippers, the wildlife of the area is still quite rich. Among other birds, long-eared owls, buzzards, hawks, titmice and blackbirds live in the foliage.

Squirrels and hedgehogs are the most common small games. Outside the game preserve, usually only their footprints or other marks can be noted. Big games, such as foxes, deer and wild boars can sometimes be viewed from the train's windows taking shelter from the noise.

The area belongs to the Danube-Ipoly National Park. All plants and animals are under strict protection regardless of their uniqueness.

Zoo
within the Budakeszi
Game Preserve

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