Ever wondered where the backbone of Germany’s railway infrastructure is forged? It’s right here at DB Werk Oberbaustoffe Witten. This factory isn’t just any ordinary plant. It is the heart of German rail. For over 160 years, this Witten factory has been producing railway switches.
DB Werk Oberbaustoffe Witten stands as the sole production site for Deutsche Bahn switches since 1965. Imagine that. Every time a train smoothly changes tracks somewhere in Germany, there is a high chance the switch was made here. The DB Werk Oberbaustoffe Witten makes two-thirds of all newly installed switches for DB InfraGO each year.
Founded in 1863, the DB Werk Oberbaustoffe Witten started as the Central-Werkstätte. It belonged to the Bergisch-Märkische Eisenbahn. Initially, it repaired wagons and locomotives. It also built signal equipment and switches. As demand grew, the plant expanded rapidly. By 1865, new workshops were already needed.
Interestingly, the main Witten–Dortmund line once ran through the factory grounds from 1885 to 1901. This was before the new Witten main station was built.
During World War I, the factory played a crucial role. It supported troop and horse transport. Women and prisoners of war replaced drafted workers. This ensured production continued.
In 1930, the DB Werk Oberbaustoffe Witten specialized in switches. Locomotive repair halls were replaced with the Weichenrichthalle between 1937 and 1942. This hall still exists today. During the Nazi era, the factory used forced laborers. In March 1945, an air raid severely damaged the Weichenrichthalle. Regular production only resumed in the late 1940s.
The DB Werk Oberbaustoffe Witten became the sole switch supplier for the Deutsche Bundesbahn in 1965. In 1974, the “Neue Coburger” switch blade planing machine was commissioned. It remains the DB’s most expensive machine.
In 2015, a major fire broke out. Welding work on the roof of the Weichenrichthalle caused the blaze. Over 400 firefighters responded. Part of the hall was destroyed. However, production was quickly moved to another hall. Despite the fire, DB Werk Oberbaustoffe Witten delivered 160 switches. These were for the new Berlin-Munich high-speed line.
Today, the DB Werk Oberbaustoffe Witten continues to innovate. They developed the Klappweiche and bainite steel frogs. Bainite steel is extremely wear-resistant. The DB Werk Oberbaustoffe Witten is the only factory worldwide that produces switch frogs from this steel.
Each year, around 1,300 new switches are produced here. That is not all. DB Werk Oberbaustoffe Witten produces 100 crossings and complex switches. The factory also manufactures over 16,000 switch components. These include frogs, switch blades, and expansion joints.
With about 500 employees, the DB Werk Oberbaustoffe Witten operates nearly around the clock. The company invests in modern technology. A welding robot now produces around 2,400 frogs annually. These frogs are the point where two rails meet.
So, as you travel across Germany by train, remember the DB Werk Oberbaustoffe Witten. It stands as a testament to German engineering. It also is a commitment to keeping the nation moving.