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Felsőtárkány Forest RailwayPhoto: Abelovszky Tamás, Hungarian Hiking Association
The Felsőtárkány Forest Railway was created over a hundred years ago to transport the harvested timber of the Bükk Mountains. Like many other forest railways, new branch lines were established for a long time (not only for transporting wood in this case), but at the end of the 1960s, decline began, resulting in today only a short section operating compared to the earlier network.
The forest railway was forced to take a two-year break during which most of the track was renovated and the cars modernized for comfort. The trains started running again on the usual route from June 2023.
The history of the forest railway began in 1915 with the construction of the first line from Felsőtárkány toward the Hidegkúti Valley, and soon after the line toward Stimecz House was also laid in the Vöröskő Valley. (Today, trains still run partly on these tracks: first up to Varróház, then on the second built track to Stimecz House). Initially, horses provided the pulling force, and timber was transported further from Felsőtárkány by cart. After World War I, the role of the Bükk in timber harvesting gained importance, and the forest railway began rapid development, first extended to Eger-Felnémet, then Eger-Faraktár, thus establishing a connection to the main railway, with branch lines built successively in the valleys of the Bükk.
At the beginning, besides four steam locomotives, so-called motor locomotives operated in Felsőtárkány but only uphill: downhill, the railway operated as a gravity railway, with loaded trains rolling down through the forest valleys. Back then, the tracks ran through Felsőtárkány's main street, causing numerous conflicts with locals. Initially, brakemen signaled the train's approach with a bell, then for a while—evoking the railway’s heyday—a horseback trumpeter galloped ahead of trains. However, disaster happened in 1923 when a train ran over a herd of cattle, provoking the enraged local population—like modern Luddites—to tear up the tracks under cover of night. In an emergency effort over a few weeks, a new railway line bypassing the village was built (today there is a bike path where this line once ran, allowing for continuous travel).
The next major step for the forest railway was the start of stone transport: by 1938, a branch line was built to the quarry in Berva Valley—with increasingly more stone and less timber transported by the trains, so the 46-kilometer network began shrinking in 1946.
Traffic ceased first between Eger-Felnémet and Eger-Fatelep, but in 1954, passenger transport started first between Felnémet and Stimecz House, then between Felnémet and Berva quarry. In 1961, the first diesel locomotive arrived on the forest railway, soon followed by three more C50 locomotives. The last major development was in 1969, when a 2.5-kilometer branch line was built to a dolomite quarry near Várhegy close to Felsőtárkány. At the same time, track removal began in the forest valleys, marking the most visible phase of slow decline, with the removal of the track between Felnémet and Felsőtárkány.
Fortunately, the tracks remained between Felsőtárkány and Stimecz House, so one of the two C50 diesel locomotives runs on weekends on the approximately 5-kilometer-long line, pulling open or closed four-axle passenger cars depending on the season and weather, much to the delight of hikers.
Stations:
Prices:
- Adults: 1500 HUF for one way, 2500 HUF for round trip
- Children (3-14 years old, or with a student card for day students): 1000 HUF for one way, 1600 HUF for round trip
- Under 3 years old: free
- Dog: 1000 HUF for one way, 2000 HUF for round trip (guide dogs travel free)
- Bicycle (can be transported without disturbing other passengers): 1500 HUF for one way, 3000 HUF for round trip
Timetable:
Trains run from mid-March to early November; the timetable is available on the forest railway’s website.
The data is for informational purposes and reflects the status as of March 2025. Always check the provider’s website before arrival and inform us if you find any discrepancies!
Author’s recommendation
- From Stimecz House, it is possible to return to Felsőtárkány on foot in a comfortable hiking frame, parallel to the forest railway, stopping briefly at the game park along the way.
- The area around Stimecz House and Felsőtárkány Lake is also excellently suited for picnics.
Derived from the technical difficulty and the stamina requirements.
Track types
Show elevation profileSafety information
- While walking between the railway tracks, remember that a special train or track maintenance vehicle can arrive at any time, and the forest is surprisingly good at soundproofing. Always keep a safe distance: the widest vehicles can be up to 2.5 meters wide, so they extend approximately 70 cm on both sides from the rail, with possible overhanging loads or open doors.
- Do not walk between the tracks, on points and their ten-meter vicinity: these areas are generally oily, the sleepers slippery, and points have many tripping hazards, often hidden at night or under snow.
- Never switch a point yourself: the weight lever can fall on your foot, the moving rail can pinch others’ limbs, and a train arriving on a misaligned point can cause an accident even at low speed.
- Keep a few meters’ distance in front of or behind stationary vehicles when crossing rails: the train or its locomotive may start moving without special signals at any time.
- The rail surfaces remain slippery in wet weather, even if covered with a thin layer of rust.
Roadbook
Approaching the forest railway on the Main Street, the track seemingly appears out of nowhere, and the small station is nestled under a huge pine tree. Those who arrive on time can also observe the shunting movements, part of which are carried out using gravity—in other words, the cars roll to the proper place on the sloped track with the help of the brakes. After everyone has taken their seat, the small C50 diesel locomotive starts puffing, the train rolls through the tiny traction yard, and almost immediately arrives at the Felsőtárkány Szikla-forrás stop, which is essentially a dead-end siding near the Felsőtárkány Lake. The Barát Valley line once continued from here through the Rock Gorge to Határ-lápa.
From there, the small train reverses back to the gate of the traction yard, then after switching the points, continues its route in front of the houses on Bocskai István Street, overcoming occasionally very steep sections. After the last houses disappear, the landscape opens up on the left side of the direction of travel thanks to a meadow, offering long views of the high peaks of the Bükk Mountains.
After passing the Egeresvölgy-Varróház stop, it is worth looking to the right side, where mouflons and roe deer watch the rattling train from a small game park, and then the real forest railway experience begins upon reaching the Vöröskő Valley. The track running parallel to the stream ascends steadily in an ever deeper valley, while century-old trees arch overhead, forming a natural tunnel—much to the delight of the passengers.
Approaching the Stimecz House, the train suddenly reaches a meadow, passes through a turnout (here the locomotive can turn around before heading back to Felsőtárkány), with only one curve left before the upper terminus, where passengers can disembark at a cozy small stop. Resting places, fire pits, and marked hiking trails await travelers, who can also continue on foot following the old track of the forest railway from here.
Felsőtárkányi Erdei Vasút (Felsőtárkány Szikla-forrás megállóhely)
Felsőtárkányi Erdei Vasút (Egeresvölgy-Varróház megállóhely)
Varróház vadaskert
Felsőtárkányi Erdei Vasút (Stimecz-ház megállóhely)
Public transport
Public-transport-friendly
- Regarding intercity bus services, it is advisable to get off at Felsőtárkány, fűtőház stop.
Get Timetable to destination
Directions
- The Felsőtárkány, fűtőház stop is located directly next to the forest railway station.
Parking
- The forest railway has its own (limited capacity) parking lot—if this fills up, it is worth parking at the nearby village hall’s parking lot.
Coordinates
Author’s map recommendations
Equipment
- You don't need any special equipment to travel the entire forest railway.
- If you plan to walk along the railway tracks, strong, closed shoes are definitely needed due to the crushed stone bed.
Localization
Derived from the technical difficulty and the stamina requirements.
User Questions