Ever wonder how a fish gave its name to a place and a railway station? The story of the Egykori Vizafogó pályaudvar állomásépülete is deeply intertwined with the mighty Danube and its once plentiful sturgeon called “viza”.
Vizafogó translates to “sturgeon catch”. This area was known for the fishers who caught these enormous fish. They set traps each autumn to catch the viza seeking winter shelter. The German name for the area was Hausenwart meaning sturgeon guard.
The viza or sturgeon was once so abundant it even reached Vienna. Some weighed hundreds of kilograms. The largest viza caught in Hungary weighed 580 kg. Sadly the construction of the Iron Gate dam in 1972 prevented their migration up the Danube. Today the viza is a protected species.
Now let’s focus on the Egykori Vizafogó pályaudvar állomásépülete itself. The station building once served a vital purpose. It was part of the Danube bank Circular Railway built in 1889. This railway transported goods from the area’s factories and steam mills. The Vizafogó freight station played a key role.
Imagine trains carrying goods along the railway. This line ran above Váci út and along Cserhalom utca. It passed under the Árpád Bridge. The Egykori Vizafogó pályaudvar állomásépülete at Esztergomi út 48 was a central point.
Interestingly the Árpád Bridge even carried railway freight traffic until 1955. The Újpest railway bridge opened. This section made it possible.
However the construction of housing estates in the 1960s gradually pushed out the railway tracks. By the end of the 20th century freight traffic declined. Factories closed. The tracks were removed in the mid-2000s. Only the station building reminds us of the railway’s existence.
The Egykori Vizafogó pályaudvar állomásépülete was renovated. Today it stands as an office building. It is a testament to the area’s industrial past. The building serves as a reminder of Vizafogó’s rich history. It connects the story of the sturgeon. It connects the story of the railway. The station building links us to Budapest’s ever-evolving urban landscape.