The railway Updated Photo galleries Updated
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 During
a visit to Berlin, Germany over Easter 2003, I visited the
Berliner
Parkeisenbahn, a 600mm gauge railway around a park to the
south-east of the city. I had previously sent an email to them
asking if it was possible to have a look around the locoshed or
other parts of the system not normally open to the public. I
received a reply that this could be arranged so on the day of my
visit I made myself known to the staff at the main station, and we
then proceeded to receive a tour of the sheds and signal box.
Herr Kohlrusch (our guide) had been with the railway since he was 11 years old and was happy to spend over 2 hours of his time showing us around. At this point it is probably good to explain the background to the railway, and why it is that someone of 11 could work on it. In former Communist Eastern European countries, railways were set up in a number of public parks. On these "Pioniereisenbahnen", children as young as 9 could start working up through different jobs to get experience of most of the roles involved in running a real railway. These railways were typically 15" or 600mm gauge but were run according to full-size railway practice. Since the collapse of the former Communist states, most of these railways are now run purely on a voluntary basis and sometimes by enthusiasts. For instance, there are 3 full-time, paid staff at the Berliner Parkeisenbahn who perform administrative roles, but there are over 200 volunteers ranging in age from 9 years to adult. Drivers, guards and signalmen have to be at least 18 years old, but younger children are to be seen collecting tickets and working as station staff. An adult is in overall charge. Unfortunately, during our visit, the ground was so dry the fire-service had asked that they not run the steam locos as had been advertised due to the risk of starting fires. For operational reasons, not all of the circuit was in use during our visit. The route marked in red on the map below was being used for normal trains, although the Draisine (hand powered "pump" inspection trolley) was seen on the circuit near the Betriebsbahnhof. All trains were running Hauptbahnhof - Eichgestell - Badesee - Wuhlheide (reverse direction) - Badesee - Freilichtbühne - Hauptbahnhof. I can thoroughly recommend a visit to the railway.
This is the trackplan of the Berliner Parkeisenbahn. The main station (Hauptbahnhof) is located at the bottom of the map and there is a tram stop outside the main gate. The loco works and sheds (Betriebswerk) are on the far left. The branch at the top of the map is to the S-Bahn (mainline) railway station at Wuhlheide, about a 15 minute ride from the centre of Berlin. Map courtesy of the Berliner Parkeisenbahn and used with permission. The route in use and the Betriebswerk have been highlighted in red.
Before our trip round the sheds we took a ride on the railway starting our journey at the Hauptbahnhof (main station). Two trains were in operation this day and due to the circuit in use, were being turned every trip at Wuhlheide station. The following photos show both trains in service on a "virtual" trip around the line, so you will see two different trains, and locos facing in both directions.
Both trains in use on the day were formed of three carriages, two closed, one open. The "yellow" diesel in these views is number 199 103, a type "Ns 4" built by VEB Lokomotivbau Karl Marx, Babelsberg in 1957
Bahnhof Eichgestell. All the stations are fully staffed
Entering Bahnhof Badesee from Bahnhof Eichgestell
Running round the train at Bahnhof Wuhlheide. The "blue" loco is number 199 102, a type "V 10 C". She is one of two locos built new by VEB Lokomotivbau Karl Marx, Babelsberg for the Berliner Parkeisenbahn, one in 1969, this one in 1971
Not a very good photo, but it does show the proximity of Bahnhof Wuhlheide on the Parkeisenbahn to Bahnhof Wuhlheide on the Berlin S-Bahn
Trains running from Bahnhof Wuhlheide do not stop at Bahnhof Badesee (they only stop there running to Bahnhof Wuhlheide)
Some scenes in the woods between Bahnhof Badesee and Bahnhof Freilichtbühne
Bahnhof Freilichtbühne
Where the line crosses one of the tracks through the park just north of Bahnhof Freilichtbühne there is a level-crossing with fully working barriers and warning bells
And back to Hauptbahnhof
Parked up outside the loco shed when we arrived was "Luise", an 0-6-0 built by Fablok Chrzanow in Poland in 1952
Inside the shed was locomotive number 44 of the Berliner Trümmerbahnen (rubble railways). This was used after the war to move the vast quantities of rubble from the bombing of Berlin. Much of this was used to form the foundations for new buildings and sports stadiums
Outside, round the back of the sheds where the public do not get to visit, was a DEUTZ OMZ 117 built in 1939. These smaller locos are used on works trains as they are too small for passenger duties
A lot of stock has been acquired which is in various stages of restoration or in some cases is being used for parts. Although not shown in any of these views, the Parkesienbahn has some bogie coaches and freight stock from the former Mecklenburg-Pommersche Schmalspurbahn
Outside the shed all was quiet and shows the tranquil environment the railway runs in
The Stellwerke (signalbox/switch-tower) uses full-size signalling equipment to control the signals and points around the Betriebswerk A lot more information on the history of the line and rollingstock is available on the Berliner Parkeisenbahn's website (mostly in German). BPE logo and map ©Copyright Berliner Parkeisenbahn and used with permission
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© Copyright 2007 - 2010 | Site last updated: 7th November 2011 | Page last updated:
7th November 2008
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Berliner Parkeisenbahn - 600mm gauge
