Here, on the Jan-Reiners-Weg in Findorff, stands a sculpture that speaks volumes about Bremen’s history. It’s called “Mit Jan Reiners unterwegs,” created by Andreas Thomsen in 1994, and it’s a touching tribute to the “Jan Reiners,” a narrow-gauge railway that once connected Bremen to Tarmstedt. The sculpture is a stack of rails piled up like a stack of Mikado sticks. It’s a reminder of the time when the railway was a vital part of the local economy, transporting goods and people through the region.
The “Jan Reiners” was more than just a railway; it was a lifeline for the people of the moors. Before its arrival in 1900, they relied on peat barges to transport their goods, a slow and laborious process. The “Jan Reiners” revolutionized transportation, allowing farmers to get their goods to market quickly and efficiently. But the railway’s days were numbered. The rise of automobiles and the decline of peat as a fuel source led to its eventual closure in 1954.
Today, the “Jan Reiners” is remembered as a vital part of Bremen’s past. The “Mit Jan Reiners unterwegs” sculpture is a fitting reminder of its legacy, a testament to the railway’s impact on the region. The sculpture’s simple design is both evocative and poignant, reminding us of the railway’s vital role in Bremen’s story.