Alte Bahntrasse

English

For some reason I have a soft spot for closed railway lines. I could wander along disused rail tracks for hours on end, climb rusty bridges… that’s why it was a special treat for me to hide a cache in such a place. But that’s enough of an introduction.

The path leads along the former railway line from Schopfheim to Bad Säckingen which was officially opened in 1890 and closed in 1971.

This railway has two distinctive features:
· As one of the first railways of the former Reichsbahn it was electrified from 1910 to 1913.
· With a total length of 3,170 meters, the Fahrnau tunnel used to be DB’s third longest tunnel before the new high-speed tracks were built. For more information please click here.

Start at the former level crossing at position N47°39.620 E007°50.473. Apart from some 150 meters, you can reach the cache on paved trails. The tracks are heavily overgrown, so better don’t try to walk on them.
Lifting the cache takes some effort. Be careful not to squeeze your fingers!

IMPORTANT NOTE REGARDING THE TUNNEL:

The tunnel holds its own special attractions: Standing before the entrance, you can hear water gurgling inside (which is very impressive in the silence of the woods). By the way, this water inleakage is one of the reasons why the line has been closed. When I was there, the tunnel was barred, but the grid was damaged so that it is possible to enter the tunnel anyway. Nevertheless I strongly advise against entering the tunnel, the portals and their supporting walls and am not liable for possible accidents!
I am not sure whether the south east exit of the tunnel in Hasel is closed or not.