Fond-de-Gras, near Niederkorn and Differdange in the south-west corner of the Grand Duchy, will host a special weekend of historic locomotives, rare machines and entertainment for everyone, on Saturday 6 and Sunday 7 September 2025.
Those attending the "Festival Vapeur, Train 1900" event will be able to admire the trains of the Train 1900, from miniature models to standard gauge locomotives, including a small steam train for children. International "guests" will include the majestic Elna 158 from the Chemin de Fer des Trois Vallées (Belgium) and Tubize 2069 from the Stoomtrein Dendermonde-Puurs association (Belgium), as well as the Förderverein Dampfmaschinenmuseum Hanau-Großauheim (Germany) which will be making the trip with exceptional machines: steam tractors, sawmills and even a steam balloon blower.
Workshops, walks and a unique mine train tour will complete this unique journey into the heart of railway heritage.
Hours: 10:00 - 18:00 both days (free entrance).
For details, see https://minettpark.lu
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Fond-de-Gras was once one of the most important mining centres in Luxembourg. However, underground ore extraction ended in 1955. In 1964, a landslide on the Fond-de-Gras - Pétange railway line permanently put an end to all railway activity. Volunteers quickly stepped up to run a tourist train with historic steam locomotives. The first "Train 1900" whistled in 1973.
A few years later, an old mine was reopened and can be visited thanks to the "Minièresbunn" mining train, which today offers an impressive experience during a visit to the bottom of the mine.
Now known as Minett Park Fond-de-Gras, this open-air museum offers numerous complementary activities, the central theme of which is iron ore. It includes: Fond-de-Gras, the village of Lasauvage, the former open-cast mine “Giele Botter” and the Celtic oppidum of Titelberg.
