From this vantage point the Kohlehochbunker Typ Hilbersdorf looms. A silent giant it stands a testament to a bygone era. This isn’t just a coal bunker. It’s a vital piece of Chemnitz-Hilbersdorf’s industrial past.
Before this towering structure existed only Hunte were used to fuel the steam locomotives of the Chemnitz-Hilbersdorf railway depot. Imagine the backbreaking work of shoveling coal by hand into these containers. Twelve coal workers toiled per shift. Sometimes even the workshop staff had to lend a hand. This laborious method could only manage to load up to 450 tons of coal daily.
By 1956 this was no longer sufficient. The decision was made to construct a high-capacity coal bunker. The VEB Leipziger Stahlbau und Verzinkerei built this impressive structure. For over thirty years from March 27 1957 until the end of steam operation on December 31 1987 the Kohlehochbunker Typ Hilbersdorf diligently served its purpose. Even after the main steam operations ceased it was occasionally used to coal heating locomotives.
An EDK6 a railway rotary crane was used to fill the bunker. This remarkable machine didn’t only fill the bunker. It could also directly coal steam locomotives. The scene must have been quite spectacular. The EDK6 a mechanical marvel at work against the backdrop of the growing industrial landscape.
The Kohlehochbunker Typ Hilbersdorf is more than just bricks and mortar. It represents the ingenuity and determination of the workers who built and operated it. It’s a reminder of a time when steam ruled the railways. This sturdy structure a silent observer of the changes that have reshaped Chemnitz-Hilbersdorf. A visit to the Kohlehochbunker Typ Hilbersdorf offers a glimpse into the heart of this city’s industrial heritage. It’s a story etched in steel and coal dust a tale waiting to be discovered.