View source for Grand Duchy of Baden State Railway

{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2024}}
[[File:Baden Railwaymap 1870.png|thumb|right|Map of the railway lines in Baden 1870]]
The [[Grand Duchy of Baden]] was an independent state in what is now southwestern Germany until the creation of the [[German Empire]] in 1871. It had its own state-owned railway company, the '''Grand Duchy of Baden State Railways''' (''Großherzoglich Badische Staatseisenbahnen or G.Bad.St.E.''), which was founded in 1840. At the time when it was integrated into the [[Deutsche Reichsbahn]] in 1920, its network had an overall length of about {{convert|2000|km}}.
== History ==
=== Foundation ===
[[File:Baden premium bond.jpg|thumb|right|Baden premium bond from 1845/49 issued to finance railway construction.]]
[[Baden]] was the second German state after the [[Duchy of Brunswick]] to build and operate railways at state expense. In 1833 a proposal for the construction of a railway from [[Mannheim]] to [[Basel]] was put forward for the first time by Mannheim businessman, Ludwig Newhouse, but initially received no support from the Baden state government. Other proposals too by, for example [[Friedrich List]], were unsuccessful at first. Not until the foundation of a railway company in the neighbouring French province of [[Alsace]], for the construction of a line from Basel to [[Strasbourg]] in 1837, did any serious planning begin for the building of a railway in Baden in order to avoid the loss of trade routes to Alsace. At an extraordinary meeting of the state parliament, the Baden legislature passed three laws on 29 March 1838 for the construction of the first route between Mannheim and the Swiss border at Basel, as well as a stub line to [[Baden-Baden]] and a branch to Strasbourg. The construction of the railway line was to be funded by the state, something that had been championed especially by [[Karl Friedrich Nebenius]]. In September 1838 work started.
The Ministry of the Interior was responsible for the construction of the railway, setting up for that purpose its own authority, the 'Railway Construction Division'. Later the  railway construction authorities were incorporated into the 'Water and Road Construction Division'. Responsibility for the operation of the railway was, by contrast, given to the Foreign Ministry because it took over the running of the Postal Division, that from then on became the 'Post and Railway Division'. Not until the merger of the Baden Post Office into the Reichspost in 1872 did a separate railway administration emerge in Baden: the [[Grand Duchy of Baden State Railways]].
[[File:Heidelberg Station 1840.jpg|thumb|left|Departure of a train from Heidelberg station, 1840.]]
=== Development of the main lines ===
The first route, called the [[Baden Mainline]] (''Badische Hauptbahn''), was built in sections between 1840 and 1863. The first, 18.5&nbsp;km long, section between [[Mannheim]] and [[Heidelberg]] was taken into service on 12 September 1840. Other sections followed: to [[Karlsruhe]] in 1843, [[Offenburg]] in 1844, [[Freiburg im Breisgau]] in 1845, [[Schliengen]] in 1847, [[Efringen-Kirchen]] in 1848 and [[Haltingen]] in 1851. The branches to [[Kehl]] and [[Baden-Baden]] were opened as early as 1844 and 1845 respectively. The extension of the main line through Basel territory required negotiations with the [[Swiss Confederation]], during which differences of opinion over the best place for the junction of the Baden line to the Swiss network – Basel or Waldshut – led to delays.
[[File:Konstanz-Hauptbahnhof.jpg|thumb|Konstanz station still has today a slim clock tower typical of former Baden stations.]]
In the state treaty of 27 July 1852 an accommodation was reached which enabled the construction and operation of a line on Swiss sovereign territory by the Baden State Railways.
The Baden railway lines were initially laid to the {{RailGauge|1600mm|lk=on}}. After it turned out that all her neighbouring states had opted for {{RailGauge|sg|allk=on}} rail, the Baden State Railways [[Track gauge conversion|rebuilt]] all their existing routes and rolling stock to standard gauge within just one year during 1854/55.{{cn|date=October 2021}}<!-- After adding a citation here, please add it also to [[5 ft 3 in gauge railways#History]]. -->
The line reached [[Basel]] in 1855, [[Waldshut-Tiengen|Waldshut]] in 1856 and [[Konstanz]] in 1863. With that the 414.3&nbsp;km long Baden main line was completed.
After the all-important north–south axis as well as links to the Lake Constance region had been established by the Baden Mainline, the remaining network expansion plans concentrated on opening up the area of Pforzheim with the [[Karlsruhe]]–[[Pforzheim]]–[[Mühlacker]] route (opened 1859–1863), linking up the  Odenwald and Tauberfrankens with the [[Baden Odenwald Railway]] ([[Heidelberg]]–[[Mosbach]]–[[Würzburg]], opened 1862–1866) and forging a direct link from Karlsruhe to Konstanz, without the diversion via Basel, in the shape of the [[Black Forest Railway (Baden)|Black Forest Railway]] (opened 1866–1873).
=== Links to neighbouring states ===
Even when the Baden Mainline was being built, plans were already being  formulated to link up with the Swiss railway network. This was not achieved until the bridge at Waldshut over the river Rhine, built by [[Robert Gerwig]], was completed on 18 August 1859. Other links were made in 1863 at [[Schaffhausen]], in 1871 at Konstanz and in 1875 at [[Singen]]. The Basel link line, which connected Baden station on the east of the Rhine with the Central station west of the Rhine, was opened in 1873. Today it is the most important railway connexion between Germany and Switzerland.
The connexion to the north towards [[Weinheim]]-[[Darmstadt]]–[[Frankfurt]] had been established since 1846 by the [[Main-Neckar Railway|Main-Neckar Line]], in which the Grand Duchy of Baden participated. In 1879 the [[Darmstadt–Worms railway|Ried Railway]] (''Riedbahn'') followed, although Baden did not own any section of it.
From 1861 there had also been a direct route to France after the completion of the Rhine bridge between Kehl and Strasbourg. The opening up of the [[Palatinate (region)|Palatinate]] (''Pfalz'') was first realised in 1865 with a pontoon bridge from Karlsruhe–Maxau as well as a link between [[Mannheim]] and [[Ludwigshafen]] in 1867. A connexion with [[Kingdom of Bavaria|Bavaria]] followed the opening of the [[Baden Odenwald Railway]] (''Baden Odenwaldbahn'') in 1866.
Negotiations for a route to [[Württemberg]] were particularly difficult because both states were competing for traffic between Germany and the Alpine passes. While Baden favoured a line via Pforzheim, Württemberg was interested in a more direct connexion at [[Bruchsal]]. An agreement was finally reached in the state treaty of the 4  December 1850, whereby Württemberg was granted the right to build the direct [[Stuttgart]]–[[Mühlacker]]–[[Bretten]]–[[Bruchsal]] route ([[Württemberg Western Railway]]) even on Baden territory, while Baden was permitted to build and operate the [[Karlsruhe–Mühlacker railway|Karlsruhe–Mühlacker line]], which ran partly in Württemberg. The connexion with Bruchsal was taken into service in 1853.
=== Further expansion ===
[[File:Strategischer Bahnbau in Südbaden.png|thumb|upright=1.4|Construction of the strategic railway line in south Baden and the Danube valley between 1887 and 1890]]
The subsequent expansion of Baden's railway network was either aimed at opening up the regions or carried out from a military perspective. Worth mentioning are:
* The [[Neckar Valley Railway]] (''Neckartalbahn''), [[Neckargemünd]]–[[Eberbach (Baden)|Eberbach]]–[[Jagstfeld]], opened in 1879
* The [[Höllentalbahn (Black Forest)|Höllental Railway]] (''Höllentalbahn''), [[Freiburg im Breisgau]]–[[Titisee-Neustadt|Neustadt (Schwarzwald)]], opened in 1887
* The strategic diversions on the Upper Rhine: [[Weil am Rhein]]–[[Lörrach]], [[Wehra Valley Railway]] (''Wehratalbahn'') and the completion of the [[Wutach Valley Railway]] (''Wutachtalbahn'') all between 1887 and 1890
* The strategic [[Rhine Railway (Baden)|Rhine Railway]], [[Mannheim]]–[[Graben-Neudorf]]–[[Karlsruhe]]–[[Rastatt]]–Roeschwoog (Elsass), opened in 1895
Around 1895, Baden's railway network was more or less finished bar a few small sections. In 1900 it had a track length of 1996&nbsp;km, of which 1521&nbsp;km was owned by the State Railways. In the succeeding years the main effort was the expansion of stations which formed railway hubs. The most important conversions were:
* New [[marshalling yard]] at Karlsruhe, 1895
* New station at Rastatt, 1895
* New goods relief line at Freiburg im Breisgau, 1905
* New [[goods station]] at Basel, 1905
* New goods relief line at Bruchsal, 1906
* New marshalling yard in Mannheim, 1906–1907
* New station at Offenburg with a marshalling yard, 1911
* New [[Basel Badischer Bahnhof|Baden station]] in Basel with new adjoining marshalling yard to the north at [[Weil am Rhein]], 1913
* New [[central station]] at Karlsruhe, 1913
* New marshalling yard and goods station at Heidelberg, 1914
The newly built Heidelberg central station could not be completed due to the start of the  [[First World War]]. Its completion had to be delayed until 1955.
=== State-run private railways ===
Several routes in Baden were built by private concerns, but operated by the State Railways and, in most cases, subsequently taken over. These were not just branch lines of purely local significance like the [[Wiese Valley Railway]] (''Wiesentalbahn'') ([[Basel]]–[[Schopfheim]]–[[Zell im Wiesental]]), opened in 1862, but also main lines. In addition to attempts by towns, that still had no railway connexion and wanted better access to the railway network, the large cities in the state also got involved in railway line construction, in order to open up their environs and to strengthen their position as transport hubs. For example, the city of Mannheim built a direct railway line to Karlsruhe without having to go via Heidelberg, in order to step out of the shadows into which they had fallen when the Badische Haupt Railway was married up at Friedrichsfeld and Heidelberg with the Main-Neckar Line that ran on northwards. In a countermove the city of Heidelberg pressed for the construction of the Heidelberg–[[Schwetzingen]]–[[Speyer]] route, in order to secure its importance as a transport hub.
The most important of the privately built lines operated by the State Railways were:
* The [[Maxau Railway]] (''Maxaubahn'') at Karlsruhe an den Rhein, built by the city of Karlsruhe, opened in 1862, was the first link between Baden's railways and those of the Palatinate. It was nationalised in 1906.
* The [[Rhine Railway]] (''Rheinbahn'') [[Mannheim]]–[[Schwetzingen]]–[[Graben-Neudorf]]–[[Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen|Eggenstein]]–[[Karlsruhe]], built by the city of  Mannheim, opened in 1870 and taken over by the Baden State Railways on the day it opened.
* The [[Kraichgau Railway]] (''Kraichgaubahn'') [[Karlsruhe]]–[[Bretten]]–[[Eppingen]] with its extension to [[Heilbronn]], built by the city of Karlsruhe, opened in 1879 and taken over by the Baden State Railways on the day it opened.
=== Merger into the Reichsbahn ===
[[File:Baden Railwaymap.png|thumb|Plan of the railway lines built before 1945 in Baden]]
On the formation of the [[Deutsche Reichsbahn]] on 1 April 1920 the Baden State Railways were merged into it. The head office in Karlsruhe became the Karlsruhe Reichsbahn Division. The foundation of the Reichsbahn meant that a wish list of routes in Baden was cancelled and only four new lines were built:
* The extension of the [[Rench Valley Railway]] (''Renchtalbahn'') to [[Bad Peterstal-Griesbach|Bad Peterstal]] in 1926 and [[Bad Griesbach im Schwarzwald|Bad Griesbach]] in 1933
* The [[Three Lakes Line]] [[Titisee-Neustadt|Titisee]]–Seebrugg in 1926
* The gap in [[Murg Valley Railway]] (''Murgtalbahn'') in 1928
* The [[Neckarsteinach]]–[[Schönau (Odenwald)]] stub line in 1928
Construction work on a railway connexion from [[Bretten]] to [[Kürnbach]] (with a planned junction to the [[Zabergäu Railway]] (''Zabergäubahn'') at [[Leonbronn]]) was begun, but the line was never completed.
=== Electric operations ===
The Baden State Railways began electric railway operations on 13 September 1913 with opening of the 15 KV AC, 16{{fraction|2|3}}&nbsp;Hz [[Wiese Valley Railway]], [[Basel]]–[[Zell im Wiesental]], and on its [[Schopfheim]]–[[Bad Säckingen]] branch. In addition to an experimental Class A¹ locomotive, eleven Class A² and A³ ([[DRG Class E 61]]) electric locomotives were procured. All had side-rods driving three axles. The electrification of the Wiesen valley line was mainly done in order to trial electric traction; it had no great significance in terms of traffic. No further expansion of electric services was carried out after the [[First World War]] due to the serious economic situation and it was not until 1952 that the electrification of Baden's railway network was begun in earnest.
== The network ==
The railway lines in Baden State Railway network were opened as follows:
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Section
! As part of the route:
! Opened on
|-
| [[Mannheim]]–[[Heidelberg]] || [[Rhine Valley Railway]] || align="right" | 12 September 1840
|-
| [[Heidelberg]]–[[Karlsruhe]] || [[Rhine Valley Railway]] || align="right" | 10 April 1843
|-
| [[Karlsruhe]]–[[Ettlingen]]–[[Rastatt]] || [[Rhine Valley Railway]] || align="right" | 1 May 1844
|-
| [[Rastatt]]–[[Oos (Baden-Baden)|Baden-Oos]] || [[Rhine Valley Railway]] || align="right" | 6 May 1844
|-
| [[Oos (Baden-Baden)|Baden-Oos]]–[[Offenburg]] || [[Rhine Valley Railway]] || align="right" | 1 June 1844
|-
| [[Appenweier]]–[[Kehl]] || [[Appenweier–Strasbourg railway]]|| align="right" | 1 June 1844
|-
| [[Oos (Baden-Baden)|Baden-Oos]]–[[Baden-Baden]] || – || align="right" | 27 July 1845
|-
| [[Offenburg]]–[[Freiburg im Breisgau]] || [[Rhine Valley Railway]] || align="right" | 1 August 1845
|-
| [[Freiburg im Breisgau]]–[[Müllheim (Baden)]] || [[Rhine Valley Railway]] || align="right" | 1 June 1847
|-
| [[Müllheim (Baden)]]–[[Schliengen]] || [[Rhine Valley Railway]] || align="right" | 15 June 1847
|-
| [[Schliengen]]–[[Efringen-Kirchen]] || [[Rhine Valley Railway]] || align="right" | 8 November 1848
|-
| [[Efringen-Kirchen]]–[[Haltingen]] || [[Rhine Valley Railway]] || align="right" | 22 January 1851
|-
| Port line [[Mannheim]] || – || align="right" | 9 November 1854
|-
| [[Haltingen]]–[[Basel Badischer Bahnhof|Basel Baden station]] || [[Rhine Valley Railway]] || align="right" | 20 February 1855
|-
| [[Basel Badischer Bahnhof|Basel Baden station]]–[[Bad Säckingen]] || [[High Rhine Railway]] || align="right" | 4 February 1856
|-
| [[Bad Säckingen]]–[[Waldshut-Tiengen|Waldshut]] || [[High Rhine Railway]] || align="right" | 30 October 1856
|-
| [[Durlach]]–[[Remchingen|Wilferdingen-Singen]] || [[Karlsruhe–Mühlacker railway|Karlsruhe–Mühlacker]] || align="right" | 10 August 1859
|-
| [[Waldshut-Tiengen|Waldshut]]–[[Koblenz AG|Koblenz]] ¹ || [[Turgi–Koblenz–Waldshut railway|Waldshut–Turgi]] || align="right" | 18 August 1859
|-
| [[Kehl]]–[[Straßburg]] ¹ || [[Appenweier–Strasbourg railway]] || align="right" | 11 May 1861
|-
| [[Remchingen|Wilferdingen-Singen]]–[[Pforzheim]] || [[Karlsruhe–Mühlacker railway|Karlsruhe–Mühlacker]] || align="right" | 4 July 1861
|-
| [[Heidelberg]]–[[Meckesheim]]–[[Mosbach]] || [[Baden Odenwald Railway]] || align="right" | 23 October 1862
|-
| [[Pforzheim]]–[[Mühlacker]] || [[Karlsruhe–Mühlacker railway|Karlsruhe–Mühlacker]] || align="right" | 1 June 1863
|-
| [[Waldshut-Tiengen|Waldshut]]–[[Schaffhausen]]–[[Singen]]–[[Konstanz]] || [[High Rhine Railway]] || align="right" | 13 June 1863
|-
| [[Offenburg]]–[[Hausach]] || [[Black Forest Railway (Baden)]] || align="right" | 2 July 1866
|-
| [[Mosbach]]–[[Osterburken]]–[[Lauda-Königshofen|Lauda]]–[[Heidingsfeld]] || [[Baden Odenwald Railway]] || align="right" | 25 August 1866
|-
| [[Singen]]–[[Engen, Germany|Engen]] || [[Black Forest Railway (Baden)|Black Forest Railway]] || align="right" | 6 September 1866
|-
| [[Radolfzell]]–[[Stockach]] || [[Hegau-Ablachtal Railway]] || align="right" | 20 July 1867
|-
| [[Mannheim]]–[[Ludwigshafen am Rhein]] ¹ || [[Palatine Ludwig Railway|Mannheim–Ludwigshafen]] || align="right" | 10 August 1867
|-
| [[Lauda-Königshofen|Lauda]]–Hochhausen || [[Tauber Valley Railway]] || align="right" | 10 October 1867
|-
| Engen–[[Donaueschingen]] || [[Black Forest Railway (Baden)|Black Forest Railway]] || align="right" | 15 June 1868
|-
| [[Meckesheim]]–[[Bad Rappenau]] || [[Elsenz Valley Railway]] || align="right" | 25 June 1868
|-
| Hochhausen–[[Wertheim am Main|Wertheim]] || [[Tauber Valley Railway]] || align="right" | 15 October 1868
|-
| [[Bad Rappenau]]–[[Jagstfeld]] || [[Elsenz Valley Railway]] || align="right" | 5 August 1869
|-
| [[Donaueschingen]]–[[Villingen-Schwenningen|Villingen]] || [[Black Forest Railway (Baden)|Black Forest Railway]] || align="right" | 16 August 1869
|-
| [[Lauda-Königshofen|Königshofen]]–[[Bad Mergentheim]] || [[Tauber Valley Railway]] || align="right" | 23 October 1869
|-
| [[Stockach]]–[[Meßkirch]] || [[Hegau-Ablachtal Railway]] || align="right" | 3 February 1870
|-
| [[Weil am Rhein]]–[[Saint-Louis (Haut-Rhin)|Saint-Louis]] ¹ || – || align="right" | 11 February 1872
|-
| [[Schwackenreute]]–[[Pfullendorf]] || [[Altshausen–Schwackenreute railway]] || align="right" | 11 August 1873
|-
| [[Meßkirch]]–[[Mengen, Germany|Mengen]] || [[Hegau-Ablachtal Railway]] || align="right" | 6 September 1873
|-
| [[Krauchenwies]]–[[Sigmaringen]] || [[Sigmaringen–Krauchenwies railway]] || align="right" | 6 September 1873
|-
| [[Hausach]]–[[Villingen-Schwenningen|Villingen]] || [[Black Forest Railway (Baden)|Black Forest Railway]] || align="right" | 1 November 1873
|-
| [[Bruchsal]]–[[Graben-Neudorf]]–Rheinsheim || [[Bruhrain Railway|Bruchsal–Germersheim]] || align="right" | 23 November 1874
|-
| [[Lauchringen]]–[[Stühlingen]] || [[Wutach Valley Railway]] || align="right" | 22 April 1875
|-
| [[Stühlingen]]–Weizen (bei Stühlingen) || [[Wutach Valley Railway]] || align="right" | 15 October 1876
|-
| Rheinsheim–[[Germersheim]] ¹ || [[Bruhrain Railway|Bruchsal–Germersheim]] || align="right" | 15 May 1877
|-
| [[Müllheim]]–[[Neuenburg am Rhein]]–[[Mülhausen]] ¹ || [[Müllheim–Mulhouse railway]] || align="right" | 6 February 1878
|-
| [[Hausach]]–[[Wolfach]] || [[Kinzig Valley Railway (Black Forest)|Kinzig Valley Railway]] || align="right" | 15 July 1878
|-
| [[Neckargemünd]]–[[Eberbach (Baden)|Eberbach]]–[[Jagstfeld]] || [[Neckar Valley Railway]] || align="right" | 24 May 1879
|-
| [[Neu-Edingen/Mannheim-Friedrichsfeld station|Mannheim-Friedrichsfeld]]–[[Schwetzingen]] || – || align="right" | 1 June 1880
|-
| [[Wolfach]]–[[Schiltach]] || [[Kinzig Valley Railway (Black Forest)|Kinzig Valley Railway]] || align="right" | 4 November 1886
|-
| [[Freiburg im Breisgau]]–[[Titisee-Neustadt|Neustadt (Black Forest)]] || [[Höllentalbahn (Black Forest)|Höllental Railway]] || align="right" | 23 May 1887
|-
| [[Weil am Rhein]]–[[Lörrach]] || – || align="right" | 20 May 1890
|-
| [[Schopfheim]]–[[Bad Säckingen]] || [[Wehra Valley Railway]] || align="right" | 20 May 1890
|-
| Weizen (near Stühlingen)–[[Immendingen]] || [[Wutach Valley Railway]] || align="right" | 20 May 1890
|-
| [[Seckach]]–[[Walldürn]] || Seckach–Miltenberg || align="right" | 1 December 1887
|-
| [[Graben-Neudorf]]–[[Blankenloch]]–[[Karlsruhe]]–<br />[[Durmersheim]]–[[Rastatt]]–[[Roppenheim]] (Alsace)¹ || [[Rhine Railway (Baden)|Rhine Railway]] || align="right" | 1 May 1895
|-
| New [[Karlsruhe]] [[marshalling yard]] || – || align="right" | 1 May 1895
|-
| Karlsruhe marshalling yard–Karlsruhe West–Knielingen || – || align="right" | 1 May 1895
|-
| [[Stahringen]]–[[Überlingen]] || [[Stahringen–Friedrichshafen railway]] || align="right" | 18 August 1895
|-
| [[Walldürn]]–[[Amorbach]] ¹ || Seckach–Miltenberg || align="right" | 20 September 1899
|-
| [[Sinsheim|Steinsfurt]]–[[Eppingen]] || – || align="right" | 15 November 1900
|-
| [[Waldkirch]]–[[Elzach]] || [[Elz Valley Railway]] || align="right" | 20 August 1901
|-
| [[Titisee-Neustadt|Neustadt (Black Forest)]]–[[Donaueschingen]] || [[Höllentalbahn (Black Forest)|Höllental Railway]] || align="right" | 20 August 1901
|-
| [[Überlingen]]–[[Friedrichshafen]] ¹ || [[Stahringen–Friedrichshafen railway]] || align="right" | 1 October 1901
|-
| [[Oberuhldingen]]–[[Unteruhldingen]] || – || align="right" | 2 October 1901
|-
| Marbach (near [[Villingen-Schwenningen|Villingen]])–[[Bad Dürrheim]] || – || align="right" | 31 July 1904
|-
| [[Freiburg im Breisgau]] goods relief line || – || align="right" | 4 September 1905
|-
| [[Mannheim]]-[[Rheinau (Baden)|Rheinau]]–[[Brühl (Baden)]] || Rheinau–Ketsch || align="right" | 1 October 1905
|-
| Mimmenhausen-Neufrach–[[Frickingen]] || – || align="right" | 1 December 1905
|-
| New [[Basel]] goods station  || – || align="right" | 15 December 1905
|-
| [[Bruchsal]] goods relief line || – || align="right" | 29 January 1906
|-
| New [[Mannheim]] [[marshalling yard]], southern section || – || align="right" | 1 October 1906
|-
| New [[Mannheim]] [[marshalling yard]], northern section || – || align="right" | 1 May 1907
|-
| [[Kappel-Gutachbrücke]] – Lenzkirch – Bonndorf || – || align="right" | 24 September 1907
|-
| [[Weisenbach]]–[[Forbach (Baden)|Forbach]] || [[Murg Valley Railway]] || align="right" | 15 June 1910
|-
| New [[Offenburg]] station and Windschläg–Offenburg goods line || – || align="right" | 6 November 1911
|-
| [[Walldürn]]–[[Hardheim]] || [[Walldürn]]–[[Hardheim]] || align="right" | 23 November 1911
|-
| [[Brühl (Baden)]]–[[Ketsch]] || Rheinau–Ketsch || align="right" | 1 July 1912
|-
| New [[Basel Badischer Bahnhof|Basel Baden station]] || – || align="right" | 13 September 1913
|-
| New [[Karlsruhe]] [[central station]] || – || align="right" | 23 October 1913
|-
| [[Singen]]–Beuren-Büßlingen || – || align="right" | 21 November 1913
|-
| New [[Heidelberg]] goods station || – || align="right" | 2 March 1914
|-
| [[Tauberbischofsheim]]–[[Königheim]] || [[Tauberbischofsheim]]–[[Königheim]] || align="right" | 1 December 1914
|-
| [[Forbach (Baden)|Forbach]]–Raumünzach || [[Murg Valley Railway]] || align="right" | 4 June 1915
|}
On the cross-border lines marked with ''¹'' only the section as far as the border belonged to the Baden State Railways. The Basel link line was built by the [[Swiss Central Railway]] and co-financed by the Baden State Railway. The state railway had a special role for the only [[narrow gauge]] line, from [[Mosbach]]–[[Mudau]], that opened on 3 June 1905. The firm of [[Vering & Waechter]] were contracted to build and run this line.
State-operated private lines:
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Section
! As part of the route
! Opened on
! Built by
|-
|| [[Basel Badischer Bahnhof|Basel Baden station]]–[[Schopfheim]] || [[Wiese Valley Railway]] || align="right" | 7 June 1862 || Wiesental Railway Company
|-
|| [[Karlsruhe]]–[[Maxau]] || [[Maxau Railway]] || align="right" | 5 August 1862 || City of Karlsruhe
|-
|| [[Maxau]]–[[Maximiliansau]] ¹ || [[Maxau Railway]] || align="right" | 8 May 1865 || City of Karlsruhe
|-
|| Dinglingen–[[Lahr]] ([[Black Forest]]) || – || align="right" | 15 November 1865 || Lahr Railway Company
|-
|| [[Rastatt]]–[[Gernsbach]] || [[Murg Valley Railway]] || align="right" | 1 June 1869 || Murgthal Railway Company
|-
|| [[Mannheim]]–[[Schwetzingen]]–[[Graben-Neudorf]]–<br />[[Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen|Eggenstein]]–[[Karlsruhe]] || [[Rhine Railway]] || align="right" | 4 August 1870 || City of Mannheim
|-
|| [[Freiburg im Breisgau]]–[[Breisach]] || – || align="right" | 6 February 1871 || City of Freiburg, Town of Breisach
|-
|| [[Heidelberg]]–[[Schwetzingen]] || Heidelberg–Speyer || align="right" | 17 July 1873 || N.N.
|-
|| [[Schwetzingen]]–[[Speyer]] || Heidelberg–Speyer || align="right" | 10 December 1873 || N.N.
|-
|| [[Denzlingen]]–[[Waldkirch]] || [[Elz Valley Railway]] || align="right" | 1 January 1875 || Town of  Waldkirch
|-
|| [[Schopfheim]]–[[Zell im Wiesental]] || [[Wiese Valley Railway]] || align="right" | 5 February 1876 || Schopfheim-Zeller Railway Company
|-
|| [[Appenweier]]–[[Oppenau]] || [[Rench Valley Railway]] || align="right" | 1 June 1876 || Renchtal Railway Company
|-
|| [[Breisach]]–[[Colmar]] ¹ || Freiburg–Colmar || align="right" | 5 January 1878 || City of  Freiburg, Breisach, Baden
|-
|| [[Grötzingen]]–[[Bretten]]–[[Eppingen]] || [[Kraichgau Railway]] || align="right" | 15 October 1879 || Town of Karlsruhe
|-
|| [[Ettlingen]] West–Ettlingen Erbprinz || [[Alb Valley Railway]] || align="right" | 25 August 1885 || Town of Ettlingen
|-
|| [[Ettlingen]] Erbprinz–Ettlingen Stadt  || [[Alb Valley Railway]] || align="right" | 15 July 1887 || Town of Ettlingen
|-
|| [[Gernsbach]]–[[Weisenbach]] || [[Murg Valley Railway]] || align="right" | 1 May 1894 || Murgthal Railway Company
|}
Apart from the Ettlingen West–Ettlingen Stadt line, taken over by the [[Baden Lokalbahnen|B.L.E.A.G.]] (Baden Branch Lines) on 1 January 1899, all state-operated private lines went into state ownership over the course of time. In addition to those lines run by the Baden State Railways there were also fully private lines after 1889 that are not listed.
The [[Deutsche Reichs Railway]] completed the following routes within the Baden railway network by 1945:
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Section
! As part of the route
! Opened on
|-
|| [[Oppenau]]–[[Bad Peterstal]] || [[Rench Valley Railway]] || align="right" | 28 November 1926
|-
|| [[Titisee-Neustadt|Titisee]]–Seebrugg || [[Three Lakes Line]] || align="right" | 1 December 1926
|-
|| Raumünzach–[[Klosterreichenbach]] || [[Murg Valley Railway]] || align="right" | 13 April 1928
|-
|| [[Neckarsteinach]]–[[Schönau (Odenwald)]] || [[Neckarsteinach–Schönau]] || align="right" | 21 October 1928
|-
|| [[Bad Peterstal]]–[[Bad Griesbach]] || [[Rench Valley Railway]] || align="right" | 25 May 1933
|-
|| [[Tuttlingen]]–Hattingen (Baden) || [[Tuttlingen–Hattingen railway line]] || align="right" | 15 May 1934
|-
|| [[Freiburg im Breisgau]]–[[Wiehre|Freiburg-Wiehre]] || [[Höllentalbahn (Black Forest)|Höllental Railway]] || align="right" | 8 November 1934
|}
In addition several routes were built by foreign state railways that ran through Baden territory. The section from Bretten to Bruchsal was transferred in 1878 to the ownership of the Baden State Railways.
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Section
! As part of the route
! Opened on
! Operator
|-
|| [[Heidelberg]]–[[Weinheim]]–[[Frankfurt]] || [[Main-Neckar Line]] || align="right" | 1 August 1846 || [[Main-Neckar Line]]
|-
|| [[Mühlacker]]–[[Bretten]]–[[Bruchsal]] || [[Württemberg Western Railway]] || align="right" | 1 December 1853 || [[Royal Württemberg State Railways|K.W.St.E.]]
|-
|| [[Pforzheim]]–[[Bad Wildbad]] || [[Enz Valley Railway]] || align="right" | 11 June 1868 || [[Royal Württemberg State Railways|K.W.St.E.]]
|-
|| [[Rottweil]]–[[Villingen-Schwenningen|Villingen]] || – || align="right" | 26 August 1869 || [[Royal Württemberg State Railways|K.W.St.E.]]
|-
|| [[Jagstfeld]]–[[Osterburken]] || – || align="right" | 27 September 1869 || [[Royal Württemberg State Railways|K.W.St.E.]]
|-
|| [[Tuttlingen]]–[[Immendingen]] || [[Plochingen–Immendingen railway]] || align="right" | 26 July 1870 || [[Royal Württemberg State Railways|K.W.St.E.]]
|-
|| [[Konstanz]]–[[Kreuzlingen]] Hafen–[[Romanshorn]] || [[Seelinie]] || align="right" | 1 July 1871 || [[Swiss Northeast Railway]]
|-
|| [[Basel Badischer Bahnhof|Basel Baden station]]–Basel Central station || [[Basel Link Line]] || align="right" | 3 November 1873 || [[Swiss Central Railway]]
|-
|| [[Pforzheim]]–[[Calw]] || [[Nagold Valley Railway]] || align="right" | 1 June 1874 || [[Royal Württemberg State Railways|K.W.St.E.]]
|-
|| [[Singen]]–Etzwilen–[[Winterthur]] || – || align="right" | 17 July 1875 || [[Swiss National Railway]]
|-
|| [[Konstanz]]–[[Kreuzlingen]]–Etzwilen || – || align="right" | 17 July 1875 || [[Swiss National Railway]]
|-
|| [[Pfullendorf]]–[[Aulendorf]] || – || align="right" | 14 August 1875 || [[Royal Württemberg State Railways|K.W.St.E.]]
|-
|| [[Mannheim]] Neckarstadt–[[Biblis]] || [[Mannheim–Frankfurt railway|Ried Railway]] || align="right" | 15 October 1879 || [[Hessian Ludwig Railway]]
|-
|| [[Mannheim-Waldhof]]–[[Käfertal]]–Mannheim Haupt station || [[Mannheim–Frankfurt railway|Ried Railway]] || align="right" | 1 May 1880 || [[Hessian Ludwig Railway]]
|-
|| [[Schwaigern]]–[[Eppingen]] || [[Kraichgau Railway]] || align="right" | 18 August 1880 || [[Royal Württemberg State Railways|K.W.St.E.]]
|-
|| [[Lohr on the Main|Lohr]]–[[Wertheim am Main|Wertheim]] || [[Main Valley Railway]] || align="right" | 1 October 1881 || [[Royal Bavarian State Railways|K.Bay.Sts.B]]
|-
|| [[Erbach an der Donau|Erbach]]–[[Eberbach (Baden)|Eberbach]] || [[Baden Odenwald Railway|Odenwald Railway]] || align="right" | 27 May 1882 || [[Hessian Ludwig Railway]]
|-
|| [[Freudenstadt]]–[[Schiltach]] || [[Kinzig Valley Railway (Black Forest)|Kinzig Valley Railway]] || align="right" | 4 November 1886 || [[Royal Württemberg State Railways|K.W.St.E.]]
|-
|| [[Tuttlingen]]–[[Sigmaringen]] || [[Tuttlingen–Inzigkofen railway|Tuttlingen–Sigmaringen railway]] || align="right" | 27 November 1890 || [[Royal Württemberg State Railways|K.W.St.E.]]
|-
|| [[Schramberg]]–[[Schiltach]] || – || align="right" | 9 November 1892 || [[Royal Württemberg State Railways|K.W.St.E.]]
|-
|| [[Weinheim]]–[[Fürth (Odenwald)]] || [[Weschnitz Valley Railway]] || align="right" | 1895 || [[Prussian-Hessian Railway Company]]
|-
|| [[Schaffhausen]]–[[Jestetten]]–[[Eglisau]] || – || align="right" | 1 June 1897 || [[Swiss Northeast Railway]]
|-
|| [[Weinheim]]–[[Lampertheim]] || [[Weinheim–Worms railway]] || align="right" | 1905 || [[Prussian-Hessian Railway Company]]
|-
|| [[Miltenberg]]–[[Wertheim am Main|Wertheim]] || [[Main Valley Railway]] || align="right" | 1 October 1912 || [[Royal Bavarian State Railways|K.Bay.Sts.B]]
|}
== Running and rolling stock ==
[[File:SBB Historic - F SIG 06 001 007 Eisenbahnwagen der Schweizerischen Industrie-Gesellschaft SIG.tif|thumb|Composite Coach. Built 1878 by [[SIG_Combibloc_Group|Swiss Industrial Company]].]]
The first two [[steam locomotives]] for the Baden State Railways were built by the English locomotive works of [[Sharp, Roberts and Company]] and delivered in 1839. They were given the names ''Löwe'' and ''Greif'' (''Lion'' and ''Griffin''). As the railway network expanded the size of the fleet grew rapidly. When the railways were converted from broad to standard gauge in 1854/55, there were already 66 locomotives, 65 tenders and 1,133 wagons in the fleet. At the end of the [[First World War]] the vehicle inventory included 915 locomotives, 27,600 goods wagons and 2,500 passenger coaches, of which 106 locomotives, 7,307 goods wagons and 400 passenger coaches had to be given to the victorious powers as [[World War I reparations|reparations]] in accordance with the [[Versailles Treaty]]. An overview of Baden's locomotive classes may be found in the [[List of Baden locomotives and railbuses]].
The Baden State Railways fostered  the growth of an indigenous railway vehicle industry in Baden, because they preferred to buy from local firms such as the engineering works of [[Emil Keßler|Kessler]] and Martiensen in Karlsruhe, which later became the [[Maschinengesellschaft Karlsruhe]] ('Karlsruhe Engineering Company'). And two coach manufacturers emerged in Baden in the shape of [[Waggonfabrik Fuchs]] founded in [[Heidelberg]] in 1862 and [[Waggonfabrik Rastatt]] in 1897. Some coaches were also purchased by the [[SIG_Combibloc_Group|Swiss Industrial Company]].
== See also ==
* [[List of Baden locomotives and railbuses]]
* [[History of rail transport in Germany]]
* [[Grand Duchy of Hesse State Railways]]
* [[Prussian state railways]]
== References ==
{{Reflist}}
* {{cite book| first1=Wolfgang| last1=von Hippel| first2=Joachim| last2=Stephan| first3=Peter| last3=Gleiber| first4=Hans-Jürgen| last4=Enzweiler| title=Eisenbahn-Fieber: Badens Aufbruch ins Eisenbahnzeitalter| publisher=Verlag Regionalkultur| year=1990| language=de}}
* {{cite book| first=Albert| last=Kuntzemüller| title=Die Badischen Eisenbahnen| publisher=Verlag G. Braun| location=Karlsruhe| year=1953| language=de}}
* {{cite book| first=Karl| last=Müller| title=Die badischen Eisenbahnen in historisch-statistischer Darstellung| publisher=Heidelberger Verlagsanstalt und Druckerei| location=Heidelberg| year=1904| url=http://www.digitalis.uni-koeln.de/Mueller/mueller_index.html| via=Digital Texts at the Inst. of Economic and Business history| language=de}}
* {{cite book| first=Fridolin| last=Schell| title=110 Jahre Eisenbahndirektion Karlsruhe| publisher=Eisenbahn-Kurier Verlag| year=1982| language=de}}
== External links ==
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20080915132013/http://home.arcor.de/mhdoerfler/ghzmbaden/index.htm Laws and state treaties concerned with the Baden railways]
*[http://diehugs.de/ Vehicles of the Baden state railways]
{{German railway companies}}
{{Authority control}}
[[Category:Grand Duchy of Baden State Railway| ]]
[[Category:History of Baden]]
[[Category:Transport in Baden-Württemberg]]
[[Category:Railway companies established in 1841]]
[[Category:Railway companies disestablished in 1871]]
[[Category:Grand Duchy of Baden]]
[[Category:1841 establishments in the German Confederation]]