A railway bridge arches overhead. It’s a testament to time. This is Am Südbahnhof in Hanover.
Am Südbahnhof isn’t just a street. It’s a living memory. A street named for a former railway station. This station played a vital role in Hanover’s past. It served as the city’s southern railway station.
The Hannover-Altenbekener Eisenbahn-Gesellschaft built the station around 1872. It was originally called the Localbahnhof or Altenbekener Bahnhof. It wasn’t just a railway station though. A horse-drawn tram line connected it to Aegidientorplatz. This extended Hanover’s streetcar network. The horse-drawn tram added 8.3 kilometers to the existing routes.
Later the Südbahnhof became temporary. This happened from 1875 to 1879. The city was building its impressive central station. Trains of the city railway also used this temporary station. Passengers had to use a makeshift building opposite the Südbahnhof during this time.
When the new central station opened in 1880. The Altenbekener line continued to the new station. The Südbahnhof was no longer a passenger station. It became a freight station. It was important for loading and unloading goods. A water tower was also part of the station’s facilities. Businesses established themselves near the Südbahnhof. Schwemann & Stücke a large iron and metal company had a warehouse there. They even had a rail connection and a crane. Another iron and steel trader P H Brauns established a warehouse at the same time.
The Südbahnhof played a role during WWII and its aftermath. A coal train from Barsinghausen reached the Südbahnhof in May 1945. This was vital for supplying the city. During the harsh winter of 1945-1946. Families even resorted to stealing coal from the Südbahnhof to survive the extreme cold.
After the war the Rasensportverein Hannover a sports club. They converted an old railway workshop into a sports hall. They later added a bowling alley.
The water tower was demolished in 1979. As businesses moved away from the area. The Südbahnhof ceased operations. Today Am Südbahnhof stands as a reminder of its rich and vital history. A modern residential and office building was built there in 2017. The street is a reminder of Hanover’s railway past. It bears witness to the city’s growth. It has moved from a bustling railway hub to a vibrant residential area. Remember that next time you walk down Am Südbahnhof.