It is the most important means of transport on the island and is the only narrow gauge railway operated today by the Deutsche Bahn.

In 1901 a 1.9 kilometre long stub line was built from the Saline, the half-way point on the route towards the western part of the island in order to link the military base there.

The number of holidaymakers (and thus passengers) fell to a low level around 1930, but had risen again by 1939 almost sixfold to 65,500, of which two thirds arrived at the East Pier.

From 1939 to 1952 a tramway or 'box' locomotive (Kastenlokomotive), number 99 081, ran on Wangerooge, and was nicknamed Treibhaus ('boiler house') by the crews due to the amount of heat generated in the driver's cab.

On 25 April 1945 there was a major air attack on Wangerooge with heavy bombing which destroyed the line between Saline and the village, the station hall and many passenger and goods wagons.

After the Second World War, the number of passengers arriving at the East Pier and using the eastern section of the island railway was very high.

From 1997 for several years there were museum steam trips on Wangerooge every summer hauled by a Franzburg locomotive from the DEV which was brought across from the mainland for that purpose.

Since 2002 it has belonged to the DB AutoZug business area, so short-distance excursion offers, like the 'Have a great weekend ticket' (Schönes-Wochenende-Ticket) are not valid.

There is a standard fare charged for a journey by ferry and rail to the island and large items of luggage must be handed in.

Part of the line between the (West) Pier and Saline runs through salt beds that flood at high water.

From the youth hostel of Westturm there is a good all-round view of the whole route and in the high season you can see a lot of activity.

There are also services via Saline to Westen as required, but these are not open to the general public and mainly serve the schools field centre there.

The rolling stock is in good condition, the line has been modernised and most of the ferry passengers use the railway, not least because of the lack of alternatives.

In addition there were vehicles for Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine that, up to 1945, had its own railway stock on Wangerooge, including a locomotive and draisine belonging to the Waterway and Shipping Office (neither of which has survived).