Kleinbahn Haspe-Voerde-Breckerfeld
Encyclopedia
The Kleinbahn Haspe-Voerde-Breckerfeld was a narrow-gauge railway linking the cities of Breckerfeld
and Voerde
with Haspe to the Bergisch-Märkische railway. Construction lasted from 1901 to 1906. The original owners were:
This narrow-gauge railway was 18.39 km (11.43 mi) long and ran 2.4 km (1.5 mi) over publicly owned roads. The majority of the span was sub-graded. The line's most important role was the provision of goods services in the valley of Hasperbach and from the Breckerfeld plateau. For this purpose, a standard gauge was used. The railway passed over the Haspe Dam. One of the trains is now in display in a museum railway in Switzerland
(http://malletlok.de/ge/ge_ch/bc105.htm).
After World War I
, the company went into financial crisis and had to adjust its passenger load in 1921 due to the economic downturn.
To avoid bankruptcy, the company was bought in 1927 by Hagener Straßenbahn AG in Hagen
, and the city of Hagen expanded its services at that time. The railway was then electrified, using 1100 V
DC
.
Today only the station at Breckerfeld, the viaduct below the Haspe dam, the locomotive shed and the transformer works at Hagen-Haspe by the shooting range are left. The trackbed is now largely used as a walking route and cycle path. The inclines do not exceed 3 % at any point, so it is a very comfortable route for those cycling from the Ruhrgebiet into the Sauerland
.
The route of the Kleinbahn, together with the Herkulesbahn at Kassel is one of the most picturesque rural railway lines in Germany. It runs out of the narrow valley of the Hasperbach with a bend in the area of the Haspe Dam and again at Voerde station onto the broad plateau of Breckerfeld, that dominates the surrounding area at a height of 350 m above sea level (Normalnull).
Breckerfeld
Breckerfeld is a town in the district of Ennepe-Ruhr-Kreis, in North Rhine-Westphalia, . It is located in the southeastern-most part of the Ruhr area in northern Sauerland. The town is a member of Regionalverband Ruhr .-Geography:...
and Voerde
Ennepetal
Ennepetal is a town in the district of Ennepe-Ruhr-Kreis, in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany.The town was featured in the headlines when on April 12, 2005, a hostage taker snatched several school children from a school bus and took them as hostages, see Ennepetal hostage taking.- Division of the...
with Haspe to the Bergisch-Märkische railway. Construction lasted from 1901 to 1906. The original owners were:
- The country of PrussiaPrussiaPrussia was a German kingdom and historic state originating out of the Duchy of Prussia and the Margraviate of Brandenburg. For centuries, the House of Hohenzollern ruled Prussia, successfully expanding its size by way of an unusually well-organized and effective army. Prussia shaped the history...
- Provinzialverband Westphalia
- VoerdeVoerdeVoerde is a town in the district of Wesel, in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. It is situated on the right bank of the Rhine, approx. 10 km south-east of Wesel, and 20 km north of Duisburg.-City structure:According to art...
, formerly a municipality; now belongs to EnnepetalEnnepetalEnnepetal is a town in the district of Ennepe-Ruhr-Kreis, in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany.The town was featured in the headlines when on April 12, 2005, a hostage taker snatched several school children from a school bus and took them as hostages, see Ennepetal hostage taking.- Division of the...
This narrow-gauge railway was 18.39 km (11.43 mi) long and ran 2.4 km (1.5 mi) over publicly owned roads. The majority of the span was sub-graded. The line's most important role was the provision of goods services in the valley of Hasperbach and from the Breckerfeld plateau. For this purpose, a standard gauge was used. The railway passed over the Haspe Dam. One of the trains is now in display in a museum railway in Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
(http://malletlok.de/ge/ge_ch/bc105.htm).
After World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, the company went into financial crisis and had to adjust its passenger load in 1921 due to the economic downturn.
To avoid bankruptcy, the company was bought in 1927 by Hagener Straßenbahn AG in Hagen
Hagen
Hagen is the 39th-largest city in Germany, located in the federal state of North Rhine-Westphalia. It is located on the eastern edge of the Ruhr area, 15 km south of Dortmund, where the rivers Lenne, Volme and Ennepe meet the river Ruhr...
, and the city of Hagen expanded its services at that time. The railway was then electrified, using 1100 V
Volt
The volt is the SI derived unit for electric potential, electric potential difference, and electromotive force. The volt is named in honor of the Italian physicist Alessandro Volta , who invented the voltaic pile, possibly the first chemical battery.- Definition :A single volt is defined as the...
DC
Direct current
Direct current is the unidirectional flow of electric charge. Direct current is produced by such sources as batteries, thermocouples, solar cells, and commutator-type electric machines of the dynamo type. Direct current may flow in a conductor such as a wire, but can also flow through...
.
Today only the station at Breckerfeld, the viaduct below the Haspe dam, the locomotive shed and the transformer works at Hagen-Haspe by the shooting range are left. The trackbed is now largely used as a walking route and cycle path. The inclines do not exceed 3 % at any point, so it is a very comfortable route for those cycling from the Ruhrgebiet into the Sauerland
Sauerland
The Sauerland is a rural, hilly area spreading across most of the south-eastern part of North Rhine-Westphalia, in parts heavily forested and, apart from the major valleys, sparsely inhabited...
.
The route of the Kleinbahn, together with the Herkulesbahn at Kassel is one of the most picturesque rural railway lines in Germany. It runs out of the narrow valley of the Hasperbach with a bend in the area of the Haspe Dam and again at Voerde station onto the broad plateau of Breckerfeld, that dominates the surrounding area at a height of 350 m above sea level (Normalnull).