12 interesting facts about the Guinness World Records Children’s Railway Budapest

Construction of the Children’s Railway Budapest (Gyermekvasút) began on 11 April 1948, seventy-six years ago. Today, the Guinness World Record Children’s Railway brings smiles to faces of all ages.

The Children’s Railway is one of the capital’s unique attractions, linking the most beautiful hiking spots in the Buda Hills. The line runs from Széchenyi Hill to Hűvösvölgy, but on the way it passes through Normafa, Csillebérc, János Hill and Szépjuhászene. The viewpoints, forest playgrounds, shrines and other places of interest in the Buda hills are also close to the stations, making the Children’s Railway the perfect way to enjoy a day out.

It gets its name from the fact that school-age children’s train passengers, in various ranks, are on board.

10 interesting facts about this extraordinary means of transport.

1. It was unclear whether the Children’s Railway would be built on Svábhegy. When choosing the location, the Gödöllő Royal Castle, Népliget and Margit Island were also discussed.

2. According to the original plans, the Children’s Railway route would have been built up to Zugliget. However, due to the significant level differences, this would have been a huge challenge, so in the end, it was decided that it would go all the way to Hűvösvölgy.

3. Work began on April 11, 1948, and amazingly, not long after, on July 31, the first three-kilometer section was handed over.

4. The last station of the first construction phase was named Előre.

5. On the Children’s Railway, formerly known as the Pioneer Railway, only students with grades of four or five could serve, the advertised places were continuously oversubscribed.

6. The entire line of the Children’s Railway was handed over on August 20, 1950.

7. Its entire route is 11.2 kilometers long.

8. There is a 198 m-long horseshoe tunnel where you can scream.

9. In 2015, the Children’s Railway Budapest entered the Guinness Book of Records as the longest railway line in the world on which commercial and traffic services are provided exclusively by children.

10. The Children’s Railway travels at a speed of 20 kilometers per hour through the Buda forests.

11. About 450 children serve on the Children’s Railway

12. The country’s first open-air escalator was built at the terminus in Küyüvölgy. The roughly twenty-meter-long escalator made a ten-meter level difference in 14 seconds, carrying up to 140 people.

Read more details HERE.

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