Budapest Children's Railway or The Gyermekvasút - Budapest Hungary - ECTV

The Gyermekvasút (English: Children's Railway) or Line 7 is a narrow gauge railway line in Budapest, which connects Széchenyihegy [hu] and Hűvösvölgy and is 11.2 kilometres (7.0 mi) long. The former name of the line was Úttörővasút (Pioneer Railway, in reference to the communist scouts), and now the official designation is MÁV Zrt. Széchenyi-hegy Gyermekvasút. Except the train driver, all of the posts are operated by children aged 10–14[1] under adult supervision.[2] It is the world's largest children's railway.[2] The Széchenyihegy terminus of the Gyermekvasút is a 250-metre (820 ft) walk from the upper terminus of the Budapest Cog Railway, whilst the Hűvösvölgy terminus is adjacent to the Budapest tram terminus of the same name. History In 1947, the Hungarian State Railways (MÁV) company decided that a railway operated by children would be built. For the railway construction several sites were considered, including the neighbourhood of the Gödöllő Palace, Margaret Island, and the Népliget, but finally in 1948 the Hungarian Communist Party chose the Buda Hills. The construction started on 11 April 1948. The first section, from Széchenyi-hegy to Előre station (now Virágvölgy) was inaugurated on 31 July 1948. The second section, to Szépjuhászné station [ hu] (now Szépjuhászné), was completed one year later, and the last section, to Hűvösvölgy, was opened on 20 August 1950.[3] During the Hungarian Revolution of 1956 the railway was closed but was not damaged. It reopened on 3 February 1957.[4] A museum at Hűvösvölgy station displays some items from the Communist period. In the green hills above Budapest, a train line runs between stations buried deep in the woodland. It’s not the rail fastest service in the world, but it’s one of the cutest. Like any other railway it has ticket offices, diesel locomotives, signals, guards and a timetable. Unlike any other, this one is run by children. With their smart red, blue and white uniforms, the youngsters of the Gyermekvasút railway, which marks its 70th anniversary in 2018, look the part. They efficiently sell and check tickets and salute trains as they depart stations. They also look like they’re having lots of fun. Under blue Hungarian skies, this retro little railway easily resembles something from a Wes Anderson film. In fact, it’s a throwback to the days of communism, when Hungary, as a satellite state of the Soviet Union, created the Pioneer Railway to give children the chance to learn teamwork and responsibility. Minors worked the railway under the supervision of adults. The engineers and the train drivers are grownups. It still operates the same way today, just without the communist principles, rebranding itself as the Gyermekvasút, or Children’s Railway in English. Local kids get to work on the railway approximately every 15 days, even getting some lucky days off school. For many Hungarian visitors, a trip on the narrow-gauge service is a reminder of their own childhoods. On one recent trip with my Hungarian mother, we rode the last train of the day as the light began to fade. At each station, the kids hopped onto the red, blue and white train, filling up the carriage as their shifts ended. One boy had a guitar and the railway children, their normally smart uniforms slightly disheveled after a day’s work on the line, started to sing. My name is Eric Clark and I am a world traveler. I have been around the world a few times and decided to help fund my travels by sharing my videos and pictures. I have been to almost every country and would be glad to give tips and pointers. Drop me a note. = )