Remember the year 1849. The Prussian state decided to construct its first railway. This is the Trasse der Preußischen Eisenbahn Plaque. It commemorates this pivotal moment in Prussian history.
The Preußische Ostbahn or Prussian Eastern Railway became one of the most important projects. It connected Berlin with remote eastern provinces. These provinces included Brandenburg, Pomerania, Posen, West Prussia and East Prussia.
But why was this railway so important? The Prussian Army wanted a direct link to the Russian border. Also, the railway offered opportunities for the underdeveloped eastern regions. However, financing the Ostbahn proved difficult.
In 1847, the Landtag refused King Friedrich Wilhelm IV’s request for a loan. A deputy, David Hansemann, famously said, “When it comes to money, sentiment ends.” The March Revolution of 1848 and 1849 changed everything. August Freiherr von der Heydt became Trade Minister and put the project back on track.
The law for the construction of the Ostbahn passed on December 7, 1849. The Königliche Direction der Ostbahn was established in Bromberg in November. Von der Heydt used funds from the “Eisenbahnfonds” to restart construction. The first section from Lukatz to Schneidemühl to Bromberg opened in 1851.
In 1852, the line extended to Danzig. To reach Königsberg, the Ostbahn ran from Dirschau. Further construction linked Marienburg, Elbing and Braunsberg. By 1857, bridges over the Weichsel and Nogat rivers were complete.
The line reached the Russian border by 1860. Trains from Germany traveled to Wirballen, the Russian border station. Passengers changed to Russian trains there. Russian trains traveled to Eydtkuhnen, the German border station.
The western section to Küstrin also opened. Berlin was accessible via Küstrin, Frankfurt/Oder using the Niederschlesisch-Märkische Railway. Prussia bought shares of this railway company.
In 1866 and 1867, the line extended to Berlin. The endpoint in Berlin was the Ostbahnhof north of the Schlesischer Bahnhof. This station later became today’s Ostbahnhof.
The Ostbahn significantly boosted the Prussian economy. Goods traffic surpassed all expectations. Agricultural products like livestock, grain and vegetables were transported. The Ostbahn created jobs and stimulated local industry.
In 1855, Union Gießerei Königsberg started building locomotives. Ferdinand Schichau’s Schichau-Werke in Elbing followed in 1860. The railway became a major transportation route in Europe. It facilitated trade and travel between East and West.
In 1882, the Ostbahn connected to the Stadtbahn via the Schlesischer Bahnhof. The old Ostbahnhof closed to passenger traffic. The Ostbahn played a crucial role during World War I. It served as a transit route to East Prussia. In 1939, a fast train covered the 590 km from Königsberg to Berlin in six and a half hours.
After World War II, the Ostbahn divided due to border changes. Some stations disappeared or became insignificant. Today, regional trains operate between Germany and Poland on parts of the Ostbahn.
The Trasse der Preußischen Eisenbahn Plaque reminds us of this railway’s rich past. The Preußische Ostbahn facilitated economic growth. It connected people and regions. It shaped the history of Prussia and beyond.