Nikolausfahrten — Museums-Eisenbahn Bruchhausen-Vilsen

The Deutscher Eisenbahn-Verein (DEV) was founded in 1964, and the first train of its Museums-Eisenbahn ran on 2 July 1966; the operator calls it Germany's first museum railway. The steam-operated 1,000 mm narrow-gauge line runs between Bruchhausen-Vilsen and Asendorf via Heiligenberg in Lower Saxony; the operator places Bruchhausen-Vilsen midway between Bremen, Hannover and Osnabrück. Its Nikolausfahrten run on all four Advent weekends.

The operator describes a romantic Advent journey: the trains at dusk are wrapped in a warm atmosphere, and some carriages are lit by paraffin lamps. The Nikolaus boards at Vilsen Ort station with a full sack and gives every child a small present.

At Bruchhausen-Vilsen station a Christmas-decorated goods shed sells mulled wine, cocoa and waffles, and a small Christmas "Schlemmerdorf" (indulgence village) stands beside it. Mulled wine and cocoa are also sold on the train during the ride. The Nikolaus trains require a seat reservation. All steam trains carry a car for passengers with reduced mobility.

A return ride on a steam train, with the Nikolaus boarding at Vilsen Ort and giving each child a small present. Some cars are lit by paraffin lamps. Mulled wine, cocoa and waffles are sold in the decorated goods shed at Bruchhausen-Vilsen station, and mulled wine and cocoa on the train.

Trains leave from Bruchhausen-Vilsen station (Bahnhof 1, 27305 Bruchhausen-Vilsen). The Nikolaus trains require a seat reservation. Tickets are sold in the operator's online ticket shop (with shipping and handling fees added) and at the Nordwest-Ticket advance-sale points; the ticket counter at Bruchhausen-Vilsen can only offer remaining seats from the part of the quota not sold in advance, so a ride there is not guaranteed. The operator reserves the right to change the type of traction or the times. All steam trains carry a car for passengers with reduced mobility; the extra diesel trains run on the Asendorf Christmas market day do not. The operator suggests arriving by public transport (bus line 150 and rail links; information at vgh-hoya.de and vbn.de). Station office phone: 04252 9300-0.