Veteranbanen Bryrup-Vrads

Veteranbanen Bryrup-Vrads (Foreningen JFMV — volunteer preservation society)
Denmark
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The Journey

Navigate from Bryrup Station (Midtjylland) to Vrads Station (Midtjylland) across a span of 5km.

Scenery Highlights
  • Snabe Igelsø and Kvind Sø lake shores — track runs within metres of the water through a string of glacial ribbon-lakes
  • Gliste forest straight — 1.2 km through old pine with the train gaining headroom only metres below the canopy
  • Bryrup Langdæmning halt — informal stop at the Bryrup Langsø wetland crossing (seasonal)
  • Historic Vrads Station (1920s preserved with original red-painted signal frame and waiting-room benches)
  • Authentic 1929 vintage HV M10 diesel railcars (no air-conditioning — open the sliding windows for the breeze and bird-song)
  • Gliste lakes glimpsed from the track at low speed; herons, kingfishers and white-tailed eagles reported on quiet days
  • Beech forest autumn colour in September/October (peak late September)
  • Karup å (Karup stream) crossing south of Bryrup — restored masonry arch bridge
Quick Facts
  • Duration

    0.5 hours

  • Distance

    5 km

  • Est. Price

    Affordable (60–270 DKK; steam specials 120 DKK; event charter from DKK 8,000)

Official Booking Provider
Classes & Accommodations

Meals: None

Ensuite: No

Meals: None

Ensuite: No

Meals: None

Ensuite: No

Meals: None

Ensuite: No

Meals: None

Ensuite: No

Meals: None

Ensuite: No

Meals: None

Ensuite: No

Meals: Optional catering at Vrads Café (extra)

Ensuite: No

Engine / Locomotive

1929 HV M10 diesel railcar (regular service); vintage steam locomotives (Maria, Hairy Mary, Lilly) on selected heritage days

Locomotive Weight

~12 tonnes (HV M10 railcar); ~22 tonnes (Maria 0-4-0 tender loco); ~14 tonnes (Hairy Mary / Lilly 0-4-0 saddle tank)

Track Gauge

750 mm narrow gauge

Braking Technology

Vacuum brake system (original Westinghouse-style) on heritage stock; Westinghouse-compatible air-over-vacuum retrofit on some trailers

Route Engineering Challenges

  • 5 km single-track heritage preservation on former Horsens–Bryrup–Silkeborg line (closed 1968)

  • Narrow forest corridor with limited passing loops — single return loop at Gårup

  • Heritage wooden bridges over the Karup å stream replaced 2014 with steel-and-timber composite (15 km/h temporary speed limit on heritage days)

  • Volunteer-maintained infrastructure — limited funding and a small paid staff of 2 (plus ~80 active JFMV volunteers)

  • 750 mm gauge rolling-stock sourcing — most spares fabricated in-house at the Bryrup workshop

  • 2026 track renewal programme: replacement of ~250 m of softwood sleepers between Gårup and Vrads (funded by ERIH / Midttrafik development grant)

  • Annual boiler-inspection scheduling for the three active steam locomotives (Maria, Hairy Mary, Lilly) — heritage days dependent on the inspection cycle

  • Ribbon-lake track-side drainage — high water-table from the Gudenå / Snabe Igelsø lake district requires seasonal ballast maintenance

Line length

5 km (Bryrup → Vrads) of the original 30 km Horsens–Bryrup–Silkeborg line

Former railway

Horsens–Bryrup–Silkeborg (operated 1901–1968 by DSB / De Danske Statsbaner)

Heritage railway since

1968 (one of the oldest narrow-gauge preservation railways in Denmark)

Rolling stock

1929 HV M10 vintage diesel railcars (passenger); Maria, Hairy Mary and Lilly steam locomotives (heritage days); matching vintage trailers

Heritage recognition

Anchor Site on the European Route of Industrial Heritage (ERIH) since 1995

Status

Operational seasonal heritage railway (May–October 2026)

Operator

Volunteer-run preservation society JFMV (Jernbaneforeningen Midtjylland Veteranbanen); 2 paid staff + ~80 volunteers

Workshop

On-site Bryrup works — heavy overhaul, axle turning, boiler work; shared tool pool with VLTJ and Veteranbanen Remisen

Highest point

~52 m above sea level between Gårup and Gliste

Operating speed

25 km/h maximum (line limit)

Bridges and gates

3 user-worked level crossings; 1 historic steel-and-timber composite bridge over Karup å (replaced 2014)

2026 sleeper-renewal programme

~250 m of softwood sleepers between Gårup and Vrads (ERIH / Midttrafik development grant)

Steam locomotive roster

Maria (0-4-0 tender locomotive, Prussian-style green, returned to active service 2017); Hairy Mary (0-4-0 saddle tank); Lilly (0-4-0 saddle tank)

Rail-pass acceptance

None — JFMV is a private preservation society; Eurail / Interrail / DSB Orange / Midttrafik rejsekort not accepted

Approximate annual ridership

~25,000 passengers (2024–2025 average for heritage operations May–October)

Quick Facts
  • Duration

    0.5 hours

  • Distance

    5 km

  • Est. Price

    Affordable (60–270 DKK; steam specials 120 DKK; event charter from DKK 8,000)

Official Booking Provider