10.07.2026 14:00 - 17:00
Bürgerhaus Pratteln, Hauptstrasse 29, 4133 Pratteln
Free admission
Pratteln's railroad history and Kurt Alder's model railroad made from recycled materials - a combination of technology, creativity and the fascination of travel.
"Alder & Bahn" invites you on a journey of discovery on tracks large and small. The exhibition combines the history of the railroad in Pratteln with the unique model railroad of Pastor Kurt Alder, which was built by hand from recycled materials from the 1950s onwards and is now housed in the museum. It tells of technology and inventiveness, of industry and movement. Between the railroad and model making, new perspectives open up on a place that was shaped by the railroad - and how fascinating it is to be at home and still feel on the move.
The exhibition project is being realized by Bürgerhaus Pratteln, together with Karin Vidensky (scenography) and Beatrice Jäggi (design).
The exhibition is part of the exhibition series "At home - on the road" organized by Netzwerk Museen. An association of museums from France, Germany and Switzerland that work together on a project-related basis.
It invites visitors on a journey through time on rails - between arrival and departure, between everyday life and wanderlust. It tells of Pratteln as a railroad town and of the railroad as a force that has shaped landscapes, lives and memories. The focus is on two closely linked stories: the development of rail and public transport in Pratteln and the Alderbahn - an extraordinary model railroad that Pastor Kurt Alder built by hand from recycled materials in his spare time from the 1950s onwards.
The exhibition brings these stories to life in a multimedia, interactive and emotional way. Voices of contemporary witnesses recall Pastor Alder, his railroad and personal experiences with him. Historical facts are combined with individual memories, technical developments with biographical traces.
The exhibition space itself becomes a nostalgic train ambience and a meeting place. A specially designed model train track runs through the room and connects the themes visually and spatially. Audio stations tell of everyday life as an engine driver and train conductor and the days of the railroad mail.
"Alder & Bahn" is an exhibition for families, railroad enthusiasts, nostalgics and history buffs - and for all those who enjoy being at home on small and large railroad lines.
Note: This text was translated by machine translation software and not by a human translator. It may contain translation errors.
The exhibition project is being realized by Bürgerhaus Pratteln, together with Karin Vidensky (scenography) and Beatrice Jäggi (design).
The exhibition is part of the exhibition series "At home - on the road" organized by Netzwerk Museen. An association of museums from France, Germany and Switzerland that work together on a project-related basis.
It invites visitors on a journey through time on rails - between arrival and departure, between everyday life and wanderlust. It tells of Pratteln as a railroad town and of the railroad as a force that has shaped landscapes, lives and memories. The focus is on two closely linked stories: the development of rail and public transport in Pratteln and the Alderbahn - an extraordinary model railroad that Pastor Kurt Alder built by hand from recycled materials in his spare time from the 1950s onwards.
The exhibition brings these stories to life in a multimedia, interactive and emotional way. Voices of contemporary witnesses recall Pastor Alder, his railroad and personal experiences with him. Historical facts are combined with individual memories, technical developments with biographical traces.
The exhibition space itself becomes a nostalgic train ambience and a meeting place. A specially designed model train track runs through the room and connects the themes visually and spatially. Audio stations tell of everyday life as an engine driver and train conductor and the days of the railroad mail.
"Alder & Bahn" is an exhibition for families, railroad enthusiasts, nostalgics and history buffs - and for all those who enjoy being at home on small and large railroad lines.
Note: This text was translated by machine translation software and not by a human translator. It may contain translation errors.
Opening hours
The museum is closed during the school vacations (with some exceptions). Further opening hours on request.More dates
Contact
Museum im Bürgerhaus
Hauptstrasse 29
4133 Pratteln