The first tracks were laid in 1895.
Operation began as a horse-drawn railway, with the switch to steam locomotives beginning in 1896.

Tracks and rolling stock were damaged in the Second World War, after which reparations further restricted the operation of the Waldeisenbahn Muskau.

In 1951 the Waldeisenbahn was incorporated into the Reichsbahn.
On March 21, 1978 the Minister of Transport ordered the closure of the Waldeisenbahn Muskau, which was followed by an order on March 29 to cease operation by the Cottbus railway directorate (German: Reichsbahndirektion Cottbus).

After 1978 only 10 km (6 mi) of track remained in use between Weißwasser and a brickyard, with occasional special services run by rail enthusiasts.
First efforts to preserve the Waldeisenbahn Muskau were made by rail enthusiasts beginning in the 1980s.
A construction staff was established by the district of Weißwasser in 1991.
The line between Weißwasser and Kromlau reopened in 1992, with tourist services beginning the same year.
The line to Bad Muskau was reopened in 1995.
In the 1990s many people, as many as 100 simultaneously, were involved in the Waldeisenbahn as part of Arbeitsbeschaffungsmaßnahmen (job creation programs).

The Waldeisenbahn Muskau took over the Tonbahn (clay railway) between Weißwasser and the Mühlrose clay pit in 2010.
Operations on the Tonbahn ceased in 2014 due to the expansion of the Tagebau Nochten open pit mine.
A new 3.5 km (2 mi) alignment of the Tonbahn was inaugurated in April 2017, with the former alignment being dismantled to make way for the open pit mine.
The new terminus is located near the Schwerer Berg observation tower.

A new maintenance workshop was inaugurated in 2019, eliminating the need to transport the locomotives to maintenance companies with lowboy trailers.
The first tracks were laid in 1895. Operation began as a horse-drawn railway, with the switch to steam locomotives beginning in 1896.
Tracks and rolling stock were damaged in the Second World War, after which reparations further restricted the operation of the Waldeisenbahn Muskau.
In 1951 the Waldeisenbahn was incorporated into the Reichsbahn. On March 21, 1978 the Minister of Transport ordered the closure of the Waldeisenbahn Muskau, which was followed by an order on March 29 to cease operation by the Cottbus railway directorate (German: Reichsbahndirektion Cottbus).
After 1978 only 10 km (6 mi) of track remained in use between Weißwasser and a brickyard, with occasional special services run by rail enthusiasts. First efforts to preserve the Waldeisenbahn Muskau were made by rail enthusiasts beginning in the 1980s. A construction staff was established by the district of Weißwasser in 1991. The line between Weißwasser and Kromlau reopened in 1992, with tourist services beginning the same year. The line to Bad Muskau was reopened in 1995. In the 1990s many people, as many as 100 simultaneously, were involved in the Waldeisenbahn as part of Arbeitsbeschaffungsmaßnahmen (job creation programs).
The Waldeisenbahn Muskau took over the Tonbahn (clay railway) between Weißwasser and the Mühlrose clay pit in 2010. Operations on the Tonbahn ceased in 2014 due to the expansion of the Tagebau Nochten open pit mine. A new 3.5 km (2 mi) alignment of the Tonbahn was inaugurated in April 2017, with the former alignment being dismantled to make way for the open pit mine. The new terminus is located near the Schwerer Berg observation tower.
A new maintenance workshop was inaugurated in 2019, eliminating the need to transport the locomotives to maintenance companies with lowboy trailers.
Waldeisenbahn Muskau