In 1925, a series of three identical 381 mm (15 in) gauge miniature steam locomotives and matching trains were designed by the engineer Roland Martens, following a study trip to England.

Trains ran between the exhibition grounds, on the site now occupied by the Gläserne Manufaktur, and the Großer Garten.

[1][2] In June 1950, the railway was reinstated to commemorate International Children's Day, using two of the 1925-built locomotives and eight of the passenger cars of the earlier lines.

Initially it was known as the Kindereisenbahn and had one 1.3 kilometres (0.81 mi) long track, between Zoo and Stübelplatz (which later became Fučíkplatz and then later still Straßburger Platz), with turning loops at both stations.

The line was only planned to last a few weeks, and in July the locomotives and wagons had to be handed over to a horticultural exhibition in Erfurt.

Later in the year the station Karcherallee was opened and the line reached its current length of 5.6 kilometres (3.5 mi).

[5] In October 1998, the steam locomotives River Mite and Northern Rock, together with the dieser Cyril, visited from the Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway, in the English Lake District.

The two steam locomotives operated passenger trains on the railway, although Northern Rock was limited by its inability to pass through the station at Strassburger Platz.

Finally there are four enclosed cars that were built in 1996 by Winson Engineering in the UK and are equipped with heating for use in winter.