Celle-Soltau, Celle-Munster Light Railway
Encyclopedia
The Celle-Soltau, Celle-Munster Light Railway was until 1908 a publicly-owned company run by the district of Celle in North Germany and was originally named the Garßen–Bergen Light Railway (Kleinbahn Garßen-Bergen).
It was the builder and operator of the Celle–Soltau railway
and its branch line from Beckedorf to Munster
.
The initiative to build a railway to Bergen came from Celle district, who opened the first section from Garßen via Beckedorf to Bergen on 23 April 1902. The terminus had to be built at Garßen
because no agreement could be reached with the town of Celle about the routing of the line within the town limits. With the permission of the Celle–Wittingen Light Railway
a solution was found in the shape of a junction on their line. It was more than two years later, on 13 December 1904, that direct services from Bergen to Celle became possible when the line to Celle-Vorstadt on the Celle–Wittingen railway
was opened. As a result passenger trains no longer stopped at Garßen and goods trains (transferred to the state railway) followed suit on 1 September 1910. The railway facilities in Garßen were not dismantled until the 1930s.
In 1905 joint operations were agreed with the Celle-Wittingen Light Railway.
On 23 April 1910 the railway was extended from Bergen to Soltau and from Beckedorf to Munster. Two years earlier, in 1908 the Celle–Soltau, Celle–Munster Light Railway had been founded as a GmbH, supported by the district of Celle, the Kingdom of Prussia
, the Province of Hanover
and the districts of Fallingbostel and Soltau, the town of Celle
and several villages along the line.
During Germany's re-armament prior to the Second World War several sidings were built to serve military bases (Scheuen, Bergen) which caused a sharp rise in traffic. From 1940 the line was no longer handled as a light railway but as a public railway due to standardisation of the Reich's regulations. This was reflected in the company's new name: the Celle-Soltau, Celle–Munster Railway (Eisenbahn Celle-Soltau, Celle–Munster).
On1 March 1944 a merger agreement with the Celle-Wittingen Railway went into force to form the new company of Celle Railway Company (Celler Eisenbahn AG); this was merged in turn on 10 July 1944 into the East Hanoverian Railways (Osthannoversche Eisenbahnen).
The lines are still working today.
It was the builder and operator of the Celle–Soltau railway
Celle–Soltau railway
The Celle–Soltau railway is a standard gauge railway in the state of Lower Saxony in northern Germany that belongs to the East Hanoverian Railways . It is the OHE's busiest line.- History :...
and its branch line from Beckedorf to Munster
Beckedorf–Munster railway
The standard gauge Beckedorf–Munster railway in north Germany is owned by the East Hanoverian Railways .- History :The line was built by the Celle-Soltau, Celle-Munster Light Railway Company . It was intended as a branch of the Celle–Soltau railway that had been opened in 1902 as far as Bergen...
.
The initiative to build a railway to Bergen came from Celle district, who opened the first section from Garßen via Beckedorf to Bergen on 23 April 1902. The terminus had to be built at Garßen
Garßen
Garßen is a Lower Saxon village in the southern part of the Lüneburg Heath and, since 1973, part of the borough of Celle in Germany. It lies on the northeastern side of the town.- History :...
because no agreement could be reached with the town of Celle about the routing of the line within the town limits. With the permission of the Celle–Wittingen Light Railway
Celle–Wittingen Light Railway
The Celle–Wittingen Light Railway was founded on 21 June 1902 by the Prussian state, the town of Celle and 33 municipalities. On 15 August 1904 it opened the 51 km long, standard gauge line from Celle Stadt via Beedenbostel and Hankensbüttel to Wittingen West...
a solution was found in the shape of a junction on their line. It was more than two years later, on 13 December 1904, that direct services from Bergen to Celle became possible when the line to Celle-Vorstadt on the Celle–Wittingen railway
Celle–Wittingen railway
The Celle–Wittingen railway is a line belonging to the East Hanoverian Railways . Because its western portion runs along the River Lachte, it is also known as the Lachte Valley Railway ....
was opened. As a result passenger trains no longer stopped at Garßen and goods trains (transferred to the state railway) followed suit on 1 September 1910. The railway facilities in Garßen were not dismantled until the 1930s.
In 1905 joint operations were agreed with the Celle-Wittingen Light Railway.
On 23 April 1910 the railway was extended from Bergen to Soltau and from Beckedorf to Munster. Two years earlier, in 1908 the Celle–Soltau, Celle–Munster Light Railway had been founded as a GmbH, supported by the district of Celle, the Kingdom of Prussia
Kingdom of Prussia
The Kingdom of Prussia was a German kingdom from 1701 to 1918. Until the defeat of Germany in World War I, it comprised almost two-thirds of the area of the German Empire...
, the Province of Hanover
Province of Hanover
The Province of Hanover was a province of the Kingdom of Prussia and the Free State of Prussia from 1868 to 1946.During the Austro-Prussian War, the Kingdom of Hanover had attempted to maintain a neutral position, along with some other member states of the German Confederation...
and the districts of Fallingbostel and Soltau, the town of Celle
Celle
Celle is a town and capital of the district of Celle, in Lower Saxony, Germany. The town is situated on the banks of the River Aller, a tributary of the Weser and has a population of about 71,000...
and several villages along the line.
During Germany's re-armament prior to the Second World War several sidings were built to serve military bases (Scheuen, Bergen) which caused a sharp rise in traffic. From 1940 the line was no longer handled as a light railway but as a public railway due to standardisation of the Reich's regulations. This was reflected in the company's new name: the Celle-Soltau, Celle–Munster Railway (Eisenbahn Celle-Soltau, Celle–Munster).
On1 March 1944 a merger agreement with the Celle-Wittingen Railway went into force to form the new company of Celle Railway Company (Celler Eisenbahn AG); this was merged in turn on 10 July 1944 into the East Hanoverian Railways (Osthannoversche Eisenbahnen).
The lines are still working today.
Sources
- Gerd Wolff: Deutsche Klein- und Privatbahnen. Band 10: Niedersachsen 2. Zwischen Weser und Elbe. EK-Verlag, Freiburg 2007, S. 226–258, ISBN 978-3-88255-669-8