The Neumünster–Heide–Weddinghusen–Karolinenkoog line was opened on 22 August 1877 by the Westholsteinische Eisenbahn-Gesellschaft (West Holstein Railway Company).
In Karolinenkoog a steam ferry connected to the port of Tönning in Eiderstedt (see Heide–Karolinenkoog railway).
In 1878, the company built a branch line was built from Weddinghusen to Wesselburen.
This line was extended to Büsum in 1883.
The Western Holstein railway company was taken over by the Prussian state railways on 1 July 1890.

In 1892, the Grünental high bridge was built over the Kiel Canal, which was under construction.
It was a road bridge with the railway track running down the centre.
When rail traffic needed to run over the bridge, it was closed to road traffic by barriers at short notice.

In Hohenwestedt, there were connections to the Rendsburg District Railway (Rendsburger Kreisbahn) until 1954 (towards Schenefeld) and until 1956 (towards Rendsburg).

In the late 1950s, passenger services included, in addition to stopping trains, a pair of express services on the route from Büsum via Heide and Neumünster to Eutin.
The Neumünster–Heide–Weddinghusen–Karolinenkoog line was opened on 22 August 1877 by the Westholsteinische Eisenbahn-Gesellschaft (West Holstein Railway Company). In Karolinenkoog a steam ferry connected to the port of Tönning in Eiderstedt (see Heide–Karolinenkoog railway). In 1878, the company built a branch line was built from Weddinghusen to Wesselburen. This line was extended to Büsum in 1883. The Western Holstein railway company was taken over by the Prussian state railways on 1 July 1890.
In 1892, the Grünental high bridge was built over the Kiel Canal, which was under construction. It was a road bridge with the railway track running down the centre. When rail traffic needed to run over the bridge, it was closed to road traffic by barriers at short notice.
In Hohenwestedt, there were connections to the Rendsburg District Railway (Rendsburger Kreisbahn) until 1954 (towards Schenefeld) and until 1956 (towards Rendsburg).
In the late 1950s, passenger services included, in addition to stopping trains, a pair of express services on the route from Büsum via Heide and Neumünster to Eutin.
Neumünster–Heide railway