The weathered bricks whisper tales. They stand as silent witnesses to the ehemaliger Bahnhof Pöppendorf’s rich history. This unassuming building once pulsed with life. Passengers hurried through its doors. Luggage rattled. The rhythmic chug of trains filled the air.
The ehemaliger Bahnhof Pöppendorf opened its doors on August 1 1882. It served as a vital link along the Lübeck to Travemünde-Strand railway line. Initially operated by the Lübeck-Büchener Eisenbahn the station later passed to the Deutsche Reichsbahn and then the Deutsche Bundesbahn. Its location was carefully chosen. It was near the Waldhusener Forst a popular recreational area for Lübeck’s citizens.
Initially the station sat about 140 meters northwest of Surenfeld Street. Its position changed in 1899. It was moved approximately 750 meters northeast towards Travemünde. This relocation placed it closer to Ivendorf than Pöppendorf. Despite its official name it served the latter community more effectively. It was located at kilometer 15.70 from Lübeck’s main station.
A single through track served this stop. A passing loop was never added. Around 1898 discussions arose regarding the expansion of the railway between Kücknitz and Travemünde. Plans included building a switch near the Bahnhof Pöppendorf. Around 1909 there were suggestions to replace the stations of Waldhusen and Pöppendorf. A new Kücknitz station was proposed. However these plans were ultimately never fully realized despite Kücknitz station being constructed.
In 1935 the station building was rebuilt. It contained a service room. A ticket office and goods handling facilities were also built. There was a waiting room. Toilet facilities and storage for lamps and coal were added. A house nearby provided housing for railway employees. Pöppendorf’s incorporation into Lübeck in 1935 led to the station’s official renaming in 1937 to Lübeck-Pöppendorf.
Despite its new name the station’s importance gradually declined. It was reduced to a mere halt. Eventually it was abandoned in the early 1960s. Today the former station building serves as a private residence. The former station name is still visible on the gable walls. The ehemaliger Bahnhof Pöppendorf stands as a testament. It’s a reminder of a bygone era of railway travel and the evolution of transportation in this corner of Lübeck. The stones themselves seem to echo with the sounds of the past. The ghosts of travelers still linger here.