Badische Urschiene

Probably manufactured in England, the “Badische Urschiene” was used in the first Baden railroad track Mannheim – Heidelberg – Karlsruhe – Offenburg in 1842 - 45. They were mounted on stringers of pinewood. In a distance of 1,5 m these stringers were connected by crossbars of oak. As the rails and the whole substruction were not suited for larger locomotives and wagons, they were soon (by 1854) replaced by more modern rails together with the change from 1600 mm broad gauge to standard gauge.

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