right for 1.3 km through the built-up area of Ilmenau to Ilmenau Bad station. From there, the line follows the Ilm Valley along the foot of the Kickelhahn to Manebach. The station is located in the lower part of a linear settlement, which is about two kilometres long. The line follows the Ilm Valley through Meyersgrund, where there was another halt until 1920, to Stützerbach. The station is at the top of the valley. The line here separates from Bundesstraße 4 (B 4). The continues up the Ilm valley and then takes hairpin turns on the way to Rennsteig. The first steep section of the route starts after Stützerbach. On a stretch of 4.4 km it climbs through a difference in height of 156 m. The Rennsteig line follows the Lengwitz. In the valley of the Göpfersbach, the steepest section north of Rennsteig follows with a gradient that is in parts over 6.0%. The highest point of the line is on the zig zag in Rennsteig station at an altitude of 747.7 m. Beyond Rennsteig station the line runs down the next steep section (5.9%) to reach Schmiedefeld am Rennsteig after two kilometres. Beyond Schmiedefeld, the line runs along the right (western) slope of the Nahe valley. There are two further steep sections with a gradient of 5.9%. Near Schleusingerneundorf, the line reaches the valley floor of the Nahe and runs alongside the B 4 to the station. Beyond Schleusingerneundorf the valley widens and the line continues next to the road. It then runs directly through Hinternah, where the foothills begin. Shortly before the halt at Schleusingen Ost, the railway leaves the Nahe. This is where the last steep section (5.9%) begins, running down the Erle valley. Here the line meets the tracks of the Suhl–Schleusingen railway and runs into Schleusingen station. History The first plans for a railway line from Ilmenau via Stützerbach to Suhl were made in 1868. This project failed due to the need for complex engineering structures as well as the need to gain the approval from different countries. Schleusingen had belonged to Prussia since 1815. In the vicinity there were many glass and porcelain factories. After the line from Schleusingen to Themar had been built in 1888, Schleusingen tried to persuade the Prussian government of the necessity and profitability of a railway to Ilmenau in order to promote further economic development. Approval was given for