Wuppertal-Steinbeck station
Encyclopedia
Wuppertal-Steinbeck station is a station on the Düsseldorf–Elberfeld railway
in the city of Wuppertal
in the German state of North Rhine-Westphalia
. The current station building was built in 1913 and it has been heritage-listed
since 1991. It replaced an older station building that was built between 1860 and 1870. It is classified by Deutsche Bahn
as a category 4 station
.
was openedi n 1841 by the Düsseldorf-Elberfeld Railway Company and was one of the first railways in western Germany. In order to avoid a steep climb, the line ended before Döppers Berg (hill), about one kilometre from the centre of the town of Elberfeld (now central Wuppertal). Originally a little station building was built at the railhead.
A few years later, the Elberfeld–Dortmund railway
of the Bergisch-Märkische Railway Company was built from Dortmund, which originally ended on the other side of the Döppers Berg. On 28 December 1848, a line was opened connecting the two lines together, making a continuous connection in the valley of the Wupper
and changing Steinbeck into a through station. In 1849, Elberfeld station was opened and it became the most important passenger station in Elberfeld.
Between 1860 and 1870 a station building was built. At the same time an extensive area was developed for rail freight, including a marshalling yard, loading tracks and a locomotive depot with a turntable and a roundhouse
because Elberfeld station had no room for such facilities.
Over the next few years Steinbeck station lost ground against the more centrally located Elberfeld station, which was only a kilometre away, and many of the inter-regional train services no longer stopped there. The construction of the Burgholz Railway in 1891 converted Steinbeck station into a junction station.
A water tower was built on the other side a bridge over the tracks next to the station, which is now called Südbrücke ("south bridge"). The water tower has recently been converted into a restaurant.
The redevelopment of the railway as a four-track line was completed in 1914. This was accompanied by a major redesign of the station area, including the replacement of the roundhouse by a rectangular building. Also, the old station building was replaced in 1913 by the current stately building. The turntable was dismantled in 1953 after the end of the stationing of steam locomotives in Steinbeck.
The darkest chapter in the history of the station occurred towards the end of the Nazi period: the deportation of over 1,000 Jewish citizens of Wuppertal via Eastern European ghettos to Nazi extermination camps took place from Steinbeck station. On the platform a labelled obelisk made of stone memorialises the five mass movements of deportees.
Air raids on Elberfeld
severely damaged the entrance building. The hipped roof with a gable over the entrance to the circulation area and the central clock tower were not rebuilt.
In the 1980s the station was rebuilt for the S-Bahn network and the redevelopment further reduced the station’s functions. The freight loading facilities and the freight terminal were abandoned completely. The extensive trackwork was mostly rebuilt as commercial sites and the Steinbecker Meile shopping centre.
In the second half of the 20th century quarterly shipments of conscripts of the district recruiting office in Wuppertal to places of military service began in Steinbeck. Also material used by troops stationed at Wuppertal barracks in the course of history, including units of the Wehrmacht
, the British armed forces and the Bundeswehr
was loaded and unloaded at Steinbeck.
At the beginning of the 21st century there was a proposal to develop the northern part of the station site under a project called Mediapark Wuppertal for companies in the media industry, but these plans were dropped in 2006. On 29 July 1991, the station building was heritage-listed as a monument. It was extensively renovated in 2007 and fitted with a redesigned roof. In addition an extensive organic supermarket now occupies the building.
The station is served by S 8 services between Mönchengladbach Hauptbahnhof
and Hagen Hauptbahnhof
(some terminating at Wuppertal-Oberbarmen
and some running on to Dortmund Hauptbahnhof
as line S 5). It has also been served since December 2003, by line S 9 to Bottrop
(some running to Haltern am See
).
Düsseldorf–Elberfeld railway
The Düsseldorf–Elberfeld railway is a 27 km long main line railway in Germany, originally built by the Düsseldorf-Elberfeld Railway Company, connecting Düsseldorf and Elberfeld via Erkrath, Hochdahl and Vohwinkel...
in the city of Wuppertal
Wuppertal
Wuppertal is a city in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. It is located in and around the Wupper river valley, and is situated east of the city of Düsseldorf and south of the Ruhr area. With a population of approximately 350,000, it is the largest city in the Bergisches Land...
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...
. The current station building was built in 1913 and it has been heritage-listed
Heritage site
A Heritage Site is a location designated as important to the cultural heritage of a governing body such as a township, county, province, state, or country. It is a non-moveable object such as a historic site or national monument, but it may include several sites grouped together such as...
since 1991. It replaced an older station building that was built between 1860 and 1870. It is classified by Deutsche Bahn
Deutsche Bahn
Deutsche Bahn AG is the German national railway company, a private joint stock company . Headquartered in Berlin, it came into existence in 1994 as the successor to the former state railways of Germany, the Deutsche Bundesbahn of West Germany and the Deutsche Reichsbahn of East Germany...
as a category 4 station
German railway station categories
About 5,400 railway stations in Germany that are owned and operated by the Deutsche Bahn subsidiary DB Station&Service are assigned into seven categories, denoting the service level available at the station....
.
History
The Düsseldorf–Elberfeld lineDüsseldorf–Elberfeld railway
The Düsseldorf–Elberfeld railway is a 27 km long main line railway in Germany, originally built by the Düsseldorf-Elberfeld Railway Company, connecting Düsseldorf and Elberfeld via Erkrath, Hochdahl and Vohwinkel...
was openedi n 1841 by the Düsseldorf-Elberfeld Railway Company and was one of the first railways in western Germany. In order to avoid a steep climb, the line ended before Döppers Berg (hill), about one kilometre from the centre of the town of Elberfeld (now central Wuppertal). Originally a little station building was built at the railhead.
A few years later, the Elberfeld–Dortmund railway
Elberfeld–Dortmund railway
The Elberfeld–Dortmund railway is a major German railway. It is part of a major axis for long distance and regional rail services between Wuppertal and Cologne, and is served by Intercity Express, InterCity, Regional Express, Regionalbahn and S-Bahn trains....
of the Bergisch-Märkische Railway Company was built from Dortmund, which originally ended on the other side of the Döppers Berg. On 28 December 1848, a line was opened connecting the two lines together, making a continuous connection in the valley of the Wupper
Wupper
The Wupper is a right tributary to the Rhine river in the state of North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. Rising near Marienheide in western Sauerland it runs through the mountainous area of the Bergisches Land Berg County and enters the Rhine at Leverkussen, south of Düsseldorf...
and changing Steinbeck into a through station. In 1849, Elberfeld station was opened and it became the most important passenger station in Elberfeld.
Between 1860 and 1870 a station building was built. At the same time an extensive area was developed for rail freight, including a marshalling yard, loading tracks and a locomotive depot with a turntable and a roundhouse
Roundhouse
A roundhouse is a building used by railroads for servicing locomotives. Roundhouses are large, circular or semicircular structures that were traditionally located surrounding or adjacent to turntables...
because Elberfeld station had no room for such facilities.
Over the next few years Steinbeck station lost ground against the more centrally located Elberfeld station, which was only a kilometre away, and many of the inter-regional train services no longer stopped there. The construction of the Burgholz Railway in 1891 converted Steinbeck station into a junction station.
A water tower was built on the other side a bridge over the tracks next to the station, which is now called Südbrücke ("south bridge"). The water tower has recently been converted into a restaurant.
The redevelopment of the railway as a four-track line was completed in 1914. This was accompanied by a major redesign of the station area, including the replacement of the roundhouse by a rectangular building. Also, the old station building was replaced in 1913 by the current stately building. The turntable was dismantled in 1953 after the end of the stationing of steam locomotives in Steinbeck.
The darkest chapter in the history of the station occurred towards the end of the Nazi period: the deportation of over 1,000 Jewish citizens of Wuppertal via Eastern European ghettos to Nazi extermination camps took place from Steinbeck station. On the platform a labelled obelisk made of stone memorialises the five mass movements of deportees.
Air raids on Elberfeld
Bombing of Wuppertal in World War II
Wuppertal, a city in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany, was bombed extensively by the RAF in the Battle of the Ruhr of World War II. More than 6,000 people died in two attacks on Wuppertal. The attack on the night of 29 May 1943, created a firestorm in the narrow streets of the city...
severely damaged the entrance building. The hipped roof with a gable over the entrance to the circulation area and the central clock tower were not rebuilt.
In the 1980s the station was rebuilt for the S-Bahn network and the redevelopment further reduced the station’s functions. The freight loading facilities and the freight terminal were abandoned completely. The extensive trackwork was mostly rebuilt as commercial sites and the Steinbecker Meile shopping centre.
In the second half of the 20th century quarterly shipments of conscripts of the district recruiting office in Wuppertal to places of military service began in Steinbeck. Also material used by troops stationed at Wuppertal barracks in the course of history, including units of the Wehrmacht
Wehrmacht
The Wehrmacht – from , to defend and , the might/power) were the unified armed forces of Nazi Germany from 1935 to 1945. It consisted of the Heer , the Kriegsmarine and the Luftwaffe .-Origin and use of the term:...
, the British armed forces and the Bundeswehr
Bundeswehr
The Bundeswehr consists of the unified armed forces of Germany and their civil administration and procurement authorities...
was loaded and unloaded at Steinbeck.
At the beginning of the 21st century there was a proposal to develop the northern part of the station site under a project called Mediapark Wuppertal for companies in the media industry, but these plans were dropped in 2006. On 29 July 1991, the station building was heritage-listed as a monument. It was extensively renovated in 2007 and fitted with a redesigned roof. In addition an extensive organic supermarket now occupies the building.
Rail services
After the optimisation of long-distance tracks in the late 20th century, including the replacement of the platform and the closure of the Burgholz line on 29 May 1988, only Rhine-Ruhr S-Bahn line S9 stopped at the station. Since 14 December 2003, the newly created S-Bahn line S9 also stops at the station. A staircase leads from the south bridge (Südbrücke) to the platform.The station is served by S 8 services between Mönchengladbach Hauptbahnhof
Mönchengladbach Hauptbahnhof
is a railway station in the city of Mönchengladbach in western Germany.-Overview:The station is the largest railway station in the city and, along with Rheydt Hbf, one of the two Hauptbahnhof stations in Mönchengladbach...
and Hagen Hauptbahnhof
Hagen Hauptbahnhof
is the Hauptbahnhof for the city of Hagen in western Germany. It is an important rail hub for the southeastern Ruhr area, offering regional and long distance connections....
(some terminating at Wuppertal-Oberbarmen
Wuppertal-Oberbarmen station
Wuppertal-Oberbarmen station is a station in the city of Wuppertal in the German state of North Rhine-Westphalia. It was long an important railway junction, connecting to four railway lines...
and some running on to Dortmund Hauptbahnhof
Dortmund Hauptbahnhof
is the central station for the city of Dortmund in Germany.The station's origins lie in a joint station of the Köln-Mindener Eisenbahn and Bergisch-Märkische Eisenbahn which was built north of the city centre in 1847. That station was replaced by a new station, erected in 1910 at the current site....
as line S 5). It has also been served since December 2003, by line S 9 to Bottrop
Bottrop Hauptbahnhof
Bottrop Hauptbahnof is a railway station in Bottrop, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. It is located on the Oberhausen-Osterfeld Süd – Hamm railway and Essen–Bottrop railway and is served by RE, RB and S-Bahn services operated by DB and NordWestBahn.-History :...
(some running to Haltern am See
Haltern am See station
Haltern am See station is a station in the town of Haltern am See in the German state of North Rhine-Westphalia on Wanne-Eickel–Hamburg railway from Wanne-Eickel to Hamburg. It is the northern terminus of Rhine-Ruhr S-Bahn line S 9....
).