We ride the Thuringian Waldbahn from Gotha through forest and small towns, tracing its history and design while asking why systems like this are rare elsewhere. Along the way we test timed transfers, swap notes on fares, and weigh what rural mobility could look like in the US.

• route overview from Gotha to Waltershausen, Friedrichroda and Bad Tabarz
• single track operations with passing loops
• history from 1894 urban tram to 1929 Waldbahn
• fare simplicity with the Deutschlandticket
• regional rail links and service frequency
• lessons for rural transit in the US
• reflections on identity, tourism and everyday access

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