The 'Black Jule': Lokomotive celebrates comeback in the textile museum Forst!

The 'Black Jule': Lokomotive celebrates comeback in the textile museum Forst!

Forst, Deutschland - On July 18, 2025, an important chapter of railway history in Forst (Lausitz) was opened. The locomotive of the former city railway, known as the "Black Jule", was transported to the Brandenburg Textile Museum in Forst. The move was carried out on Friday morning and was planned for several years, but the implementation was made up for challenging. A city council decision from 2016 had already initiated the expansion of the museum for the locomotive, but there were difficulties in procuring the necessary funding and suitable premises.

The "Black Jule" must be accommodated in a dry, suitable building, which is why the textile museum represents the ideal new home. Here the locomotive receives a special place in the newly designed locomotive hall and becomes part of the permanent exhibition. In addition to the locomotive, multimedia material is also presented via the track network and the operation of the city railway, which introduces visitors to the history of this important transport connection.

a piece of history comes alive

As part of a Germany-wide museum day, the "Black Jule" recently celebrated its 130th anniversary. There were numerous guests, including Kristian Schmidt, the chairman of the museum association, Mayor Simone Taubenek and the Rosenkönigin Martyna I. The mayor announced the move of the locomotive to the textile museum and referred to the funding that the city of Forst received from the federal government to be able to accommodate the listed locomotive.

diverse presentation and high number of visitors

A commemorative publication and an exhibition with display boards and color recordings of the "Jule" were presented for the celebration. Spectators were also able to experience film screenings in the volunteer fire brigade's meeting room, which included both cartoon films and amateur recordings. The museum association took care of the physical well-being of the visitors with grilled, coffee and cake, while a “Jule” trabi drove through the area and offered an entertaining supporting program.

The high number of visitors in the morning speaks for the interest in the history of the "Black Jule", although the presence of city councils in the afternoon was low and could be seen as a sign of a little less commitment. The commemorative publication is also available online in the shop of the Forster Museum Association.

The "Black Jule" not only represents the industrial past of the region, but also the identity of the city of Forst. With the arrival in the textile museum, awareness of the local history and the importance of the railway will continue to be promoted. Railway museums, such as this in Forst, play an important role in the preservation and imparting of this cultural heritage, since they show exhibits such as rail vehicles, technical facilities and historical documents that contribute to the interdisciplinary history of the industrial revolution. The most famous railway museums in Germany include, for example, the Süddeutsche Railway Museum Heilbronn and the Transportmuseum Karlsruhe.

The opening of the new permanent exhibition with the "Black Jule" in the textile museum is planned for early October 2025. Another chapter is opened in the history of the former city railway and the historical legacy of the region's textile and industrial history is kept alive.