# Zug, Zug, Zug, die Eisenbahn

"Zug, Zug, Zug, die Eisenbahn" is a short German children's movement song about a train — here bound for the city of Herne — that children act out by forming a chugging line like a locomotive.

## At a glance

| | |
|---|---|
| Country of origin | Germany |
| Sung in | German |
| Words by | Traditional |
| First known | traditional children's song; author unknown |
| Best for ages | 2–7 |
| Mood | dancing, playful |
| Page | https://littlesongbook.com/songs/zug-zug-zug-die-eisenbahn/ |

## Lyrics

### Verse 1 (de)

Zug, Zug, Zug, die Eisenbahn,
wer will mit nach Herne fahren?
Herne ist 'ne schöne Stadt,
die so tolle Kinder hat.

### English translation (en)

Train, train, train, the railway,
who wants to ride to Herne?
Herne is a lovely town,
that has such wonderful children.

## Common questions

**What is "Zug, Zug, Zug, die Eisenbahn" about?**

A train ride. It calls out for the railway — "who wants to ride to Herne?" — and praises the destination as a lovely town with such wonderful children in it. In this version the town named is Herne, in Germany's Ruhr region.

**Why Herne?**

Because place-names in this kind of song are swapped for the local town. "Herne" here simply makes it a local song for children there; sung elsewhere, the last lines would name another town instead.

**How is "Zug, Zug, Zug, die Eisenbahn" played?**

As a movement game. Children usually line up one behind another with hands on the shoulders in front, then chug around the room like the carriages of a train while they sing.

## Sources

- [Stadt Herne — Liedersammlung (family activities, PDF)](https://www.herne.de/PDF/familienangebote/basteln/Liedersammlung.pdf)