Fröndenberg–Kamen railway
Encyclopedia
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The Fröndenberg–Kamen railway is a single-track, partially electrified and partially disused railway line in the German state of North Rhine-Westphalia
North Rhine-Westphalia
North Rhine-Westphalia is the most populous state of Germany, with four of the country's ten largest cities. The state was formed in 1946 as a merger of the northern Rhineland and Westphalia, both formerly part of Prussia. Its capital is Düsseldorf. The state is currently run by a coalition of the...
. It runs from Fröndenberg
Fröndenberg
Fröndenberg is a town in the district of Unna, in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany.-Geography:Fröndenberg is situated in the Ruhr valley, approx...
via Unna
Unna station
Unna station is the main passenger station in the Westphalian city of Unna in the German state of North Rhine-Westphalia. The other stations in the city that are served by regular passenger services are Unna-Königsborn, Unna West, Massen, Lünern and Hemmerde....
to Unna-Königsborn
Unna-Königsborn station
Unna-Königsborn station is located in the city of Unna in the German state of North Rhine-Westphalia. It is at the end of the remaining section of the line from Dortmund. Line S 4 trains of the Rhine-Ruhr S-Bahn reverse here on their way to and from Unna station...
and formerly on to Kamen
Kamen station
Kamen station is a station in the city of Kamen in the German state of North Rhine-Westphalia. It is on the Dortmund–Hamm railway.The line has only two tracks through Kamen, although quadruplication is planned, but its realisation is far away. Kamen station is an architectural monument built by the...
.
History
The Fröndenberg-Kamen line was built at the turn of the 20th Century as a railway branch line by the Royal railway divisionsRailway divisions in Germany
In Germany and Austria, the running of railway services for a railway administration or the regional network of a large railway company was devolved to railway divisions, variously known as Eisenbahndirektionen , Bundesbahndirektionen or Reichsbahndirektionen ...
of Elberfeld
Elberfeld
Elberfeld is a municipal subdivision of the German city of Wuppertal; it was an independent town until 1929.-History:The first official mentioning of the geographic area on the banks of today's Wupper River as "elverfelde" was in a document of 1161...
and Essen
Essen
- Origin of the name :In German-speaking countries, the name of the city Essen often causes confusion as to its origins, because it is commonly known as the German infinitive of the verb for the act of eating, and/or the German noun for food. Although scholars still dispute the interpretation of...
of the Prussian state railways
Prussian state railways
The term Prussian state railways encompasses those railway organisations that were owned or managed by the State of Prussia...
to connect, in the form of an S-shaped curve, four stations on major east-west routes, which were built in the second half of the 19th century by three competing major private railway companies in Westphalia
Westphalia
Westphalia is a region in Germany, centred on the cities of Arnsberg, Bielefeld, Dortmund, Minden and Münster.Westphalia is roughly the region between the rivers Rhine and Weser, located north and south of the Ruhr River. No exact definition of borders can be given, because the name "Westphalia"...
(from north to south):
- Kamen stationKamen stationKamen station is a station in the city of Kamen in the German state of North Rhine-Westphalia. It is on the Dortmund–Hamm railway.The line has only two tracks through Kamen, although quadruplication is planned, but its realisation is far away. Kamen station is an architectural monument built by the...
on the Dortmund–Hamm line, opened by the Cologne-Minden Railway CompanyCologne-Minden Railway CompanyThe Cologne-Minden Railway Company was along with the Bergisch-Märkische Railway Company and the Rhenish Railway Company one of the railway companies that in the mid-19th century built the first railways in the Ruhr and large parts of today's North Rhine-Westphalia.-Founding :The founding of the...
in 1847, - Unna-Königsborn stationUnna-Königsborn stationUnna-Königsborn station is located in the city of Unna in the German state of North Rhine-Westphalia. It is at the end of the remaining section of the line from Dortmund. Line S 4 trains of the Rhine-Ruhr S-Bahn reverse here on their way to and from Unna station...
on the Welver–Sterkrade line, opened by the Royal Westphalian Railway CompanyRoyal Westphalian Railway CompanyThe Royal Westphalian Railway , was a German rail company established in 1848 with funding from the Prussian government, which later became part of the Prussian State Railways...
in 1876, - Unna stationUnna stationUnna station is the main passenger station in the Westphalian city of Unna in the German state of North Rhine-Westphalia. The other stations in the city that are served by regular passenger services are Unna-Königsborn, Unna West, Massen, Lünern and Hemmerde....
on the Dortmund–Soest line, opened by the Bergisch-Märkische Railway Company in 1855, - FröndenbergFröndenbergFröndenberg is a town in the district of Unna, in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany.-Geography:Fröndenberg is situated in the Ruhr valley, approx...
station on the Hagen–Warburg line, also opened by the Bergisch-Märkische Railway Company in 1870.
The first section was opened by the Royal Railway Division of Elberfeld on 2 January 1899 between Fröndenberg and Unna.
The next section from Unna to Unna-Königsborn was a joint project with the Royal Railway Division of Essen and built in just over a year. It was opened on 1 April 1900, originally for freight only.
The last part, from Unna-Königsborn to Kamen was the responsibility of the Essen Division alone. Only half a year later ,the line was completed on 1 November 1900 and opened for freight. Almost a year later, on 1 October 1901, the first passenger train ran between Unna and Kamen.
Closures
In early 1926, passenger traffic was discontinued on the northern section between Unna and Kamen. The Unna-Kamen-Werne light railway was opened in 1909 on a similar route as an overland tramway (interurbanInterurban
An interurban, also called a radial railway in parts of Canada, is a type of electric passenger railroad; in short a hybrid between tram and train. Interurbans enjoyed widespread popularity in the first three decades of the twentieth century in North America. Until the early 1920s, most roads were...
). It closed on 14 December 1950.
On 3 June 1955, freight traffic between Königsborn and Kamen was also discontinued and the line was subsequently dismantled. The former line can easily be identified from aerial photographs.
Current operations
Electrification of the Unn–Königsborn section was completed on 25 May 1984. The Fröndenberg–Unna section is still a non-electrified branch line with a top speed of 60 km/h. To increase speeds, level crossings are being upgraded. It is served only by the Hönnetal-Bahn (RB 54), which continues over the Letmathe–Fröndenberg line via MendenMenden (Sauerland)
Menden is a town in the district Märkischer Kreis, in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. It is located at the north end of the Sauerland near the Ruhr river.-History:...
and the Hönne Valley Railway to Neuenrade
Neuenrade
Neuenrade is a town in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany, located in the hills of the Sauerland in the Märkischer Kreis.-Geography:The highest elevation in the town area is the Kohlberg with an altitude of 514 m above sea level. The lowest elevation is at Hölmecke with 190 m...
at 60 minute intervals.
Prior to the closure of the Westphalian line between Welver
Welver
Welver is a municipality in the district of Soest, in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany.-History:The town was once known as Villinghausen or Vellinghausen. The Seven Year's War Battle of Villinghausen was fought nearby.-Geography:Welver is situated approx...
and Unna-Königsborn in 1968, passenger services were established on the line between Unna and Unna-Königsborn on 26 May 1963, continuing to Dortmund Stadthaus station
Dortmund Stadthaus station
Dortmund Stadthaus is a railway station on the Welver–Sterkrade railway situated in Dortmund in western Germany. It is served by the S4 line of Rhine-Ruhr S-Bahn. A Dortmund Stadtbahn underground station is located underneath the station....
.
In 1972 a regular interval regional service was established from Unna via Unna-Königsborn, Dortmund Stadthaus and Dortmund-Dorstfeld
Dortmund-Dorstfeld station
Dortmund-Dorstfeld is a railway station situated in Dortmund in western Germany. It is served by the S1, S2 and S4 lines of Rhine-Ruhr S-Bahn. It has an important role as an interchange point since the trains of the S4 line do not serve Dortmund Hauptbahnhof...
to Dortmund-Marten Süd, which was extended in 1983 to Dortmund-Lütgendortmund
Dortmund-Lütgendortmund station
Dortmund-Lütgendortmund station is a single-track, underground terminal station in the city of Dortmund in the German state of North Rhine-Westphalia. The platform is accessible by stairs, escalator or lift. It was opened in 1993 at the end of an extension of Line S 4 trains of the Rhine-Ruhr...
. This was a direct precursor of line S 4 of the Rhine-Ruhr S-Bahn. In preparation for the S-Bahn, electrification of the line from Unna to Unna-Königsborn was completed on 25 May 1984 and on 28 June 1984 it was upgraded with a top speed of 80 km/h. S-Bahn services commenced on 3 June 1984 and operates at 20 minute intervals.