“Unschätzbar” someone once called it. This invaluable relic stands before us the Rundlokschuppen Pankow-Heinersdorf. It whispers tales from the dawn of the railway age. Today we will explore the history of this unique industrial monument.
The Rundlokschuppen Pankow-Heinersdorf is a piece of Berlin’s industrial past. It is located between the Heinersdorf S-Bahn station and Prenzlauer Promenade. This roundhouse was once part of the now-demolished Pankow marshalling yard.
In 1893 the Royal Railway Directorate commissioned the construction. The Rundlokschuppen Pankow included 24 storage and repair tracks. These tracks encircled a central turntable. Above it all rose an impressive dome with a filigree steel structure. Together with the equally dilapidated Rundlokschuppen Berlin-Rummelsburg it is one of the last of its kind in Germany. The ensemble of roundhouse and semi-circular ring locomotive shed next to it is unique.
These roundhouses solved a key problem. Early trains could only travel in one direction. The turntable allowed trains to be spun around. This was essential for efficient operations.
Until reunification the Pankow freight and shunting station was a key hub. It handled food and building materials. A waste transfer facility also operated here. Freight traffic ceased in 1997. The station closed.
But let’s return to our Rundlokschuppen Pankow. Imagine steam engines hissing. Workers bustle about repairing locomotives. The air is thick with smoke and the smell of oil. This was a place of constant activity. The 24-track locomotive hall was served by a ring switch. This switch allowed access to all tracks in a star shape.
After the 1990s operations ceased. Until 2001 historic trains were serviced here. Even the “Blue Lady” visited. This streamlined steam locomotive was a special design. Built in 1935 it was one of a kind. The locomotive reached 150 km/h.
Investor Kurt Krieger bought the area in 2009. His plans changed over time. The Rundlokschuppen Pankow was supposed to be removed. In 2019 the administrative court ordered preservation measures. Restoration began in 2021. The roof was repaired first. The Rundlokschuppen Pankow is now fully scaffolded. The restoration is closely coordinated with the Pankow Lower Monument Protection Authority.
The Bahnbetriebswerk Pankow Heinersdorf is more than just a building. It’s a symbol of Berlin’s industrial heritage. It represents the rise to a railway hub. The Rundlokschuppen Pankow is the last roundhouse built in Germany.
The Rundlokschuppen Pankow stands as a reminder of Berlin’s past. It shows us the importance of preserving industrial monuments.