Recent from talks
Heath Railway
Knowledge base stats:
Talk channels stats:
Members stats:
Heath Railway
The Heath Railway (German: Heidebahn) is a regional railway line in North Germany that crosses the Lüneburg Heath from which it derives its name. Most of the line is unelectrified and single-tracked. It links Buchholz in der Nordheide with Hanover, the capital city of Lower Saxony. Together with the east-west Uelzen–Langwedel railway, this north-south line is one of the two most important railways on the heath.
Already in the middle of the 19th century, Walsrode sought a connection to a railway line in response to the growth of gunpowder factories in neighbouring Bomlitz. In 1866, during discussions of a proposal for the construction of the so-called America Line (Bremen–Uelzen–Berlin), the town of Walsrode unsuccessfully campaigned for a connection to this line. It was not until 27 February 1885 that the Prussian government approved the building of the Hannover–Walsrode–Visselhövede railway. This line was opened to Walsrode in 1890. Initially, freight operations were opened to Walsrode station on 16 June 1990 and the grand opening ceremony of the new Hanover–Visselhövede railway took place on 25 August 1890. Later, the section from Walsrode to Visselhövede was extended via Rotenburg an der Wümme, Zeven and Bremervörde to Bremerhaven. The Bremervörde–Walsrode section was intended as a long-distance connection and was built in largely straight sections. However, it could never establish itself as a through route.
Already at the beginning of the construction of the Hanover–Visselhövede line, Fallingbostel and Soltau also sought a connection to it. The Walsrode–Fallingbostel–Soltau branch line was opened on 1 October 1896. The first passenger train reached Fallingbostel on 1 June 1896.
The construction of the Soltau–Buchholz section began in 1898. The line was built using a mechanised method, with workers filling wagons hauled by narrow-gauge steam locomotives. The most expensive work of this section was a viaduct over the Dumpetal, which cost 27,000 marks. The opening run took place on 30 September 1901.
These sections have a distinctly secondary character.
The current Heath Railway was now complete, but it was then supplemented by eight branch lines.
During the Second World War, the Heath Railway was an important transport route serving prison camps, the Bergen military training area and the local armament industry, such as the Eibia works. So the prisoner transports to Stalag XI B and Stalag XI D ran over the line. The prisoners were driven from Fallingbostel (now Bad Fallingbostel) station to the camps. Bad Fallingbostel station has a plaque commemorating these events.
The branch lines across the heath did not last long. Passenger traffic was abandoned on the OHE lines around Soltau from 1961 to 1975 and on the Verden–Walsrode Railway in 1964. In 1980, the line to Visselhövede was reduced to traffic to the works and passenger traffic to Bomlitz, which was served until 1991. The passenger traffic on the Aller Valley Railway (Verden–Schwarmstedt–Celle) was discontinued in 1966 and the line was closed in 1995.
Hub AI
Heath Railway AI simulator
(@Heath Railway_simulator)
Heath Railway
The Heath Railway (German: Heidebahn) is a regional railway line in North Germany that crosses the Lüneburg Heath from which it derives its name. Most of the line is unelectrified and single-tracked. It links Buchholz in der Nordheide with Hanover, the capital city of Lower Saxony. Together with the east-west Uelzen–Langwedel railway, this north-south line is one of the two most important railways on the heath.
Already in the middle of the 19th century, Walsrode sought a connection to a railway line in response to the growth of gunpowder factories in neighbouring Bomlitz. In 1866, during discussions of a proposal for the construction of the so-called America Line (Bremen–Uelzen–Berlin), the town of Walsrode unsuccessfully campaigned for a connection to this line. It was not until 27 February 1885 that the Prussian government approved the building of the Hannover–Walsrode–Visselhövede railway. This line was opened to Walsrode in 1890. Initially, freight operations were opened to Walsrode station on 16 June 1990 and the grand opening ceremony of the new Hanover–Visselhövede railway took place on 25 August 1890. Later, the section from Walsrode to Visselhövede was extended via Rotenburg an der Wümme, Zeven and Bremervörde to Bremerhaven. The Bremervörde–Walsrode section was intended as a long-distance connection and was built in largely straight sections. However, it could never establish itself as a through route.
Already at the beginning of the construction of the Hanover–Visselhövede line, Fallingbostel and Soltau also sought a connection to it. The Walsrode–Fallingbostel–Soltau branch line was opened on 1 October 1896. The first passenger train reached Fallingbostel on 1 June 1896.
The construction of the Soltau–Buchholz section began in 1898. The line was built using a mechanised method, with workers filling wagons hauled by narrow-gauge steam locomotives. The most expensive work of this section was a viaduct over the Dumpetal, which cost 27,000 marks. The opening run took place on 30 September 1901.
These sections have a distinctly secondary character.
The current Heath Railway was now complete, but it was then supplemented by eight branch lines.
During the Second World War, the Heath Railway was an important transport route serving prison camps, the Bergen military training area and the local armament industry, such as the Eibia works. So the prisoner transports to Stalag XI B and Stalag XI D ran over the line. The prisoners were driven from Fallingbostel (now Bad Fallingbostel) station to the camps. Bad Fallingbostel station has a plaque commemorating these events.
The branch lines across the heath did not last long. Passenger traffic was abandoned on the OHE lines around Soltau from 1961 to 1975 and on the Verden–Walsrode Railway in 1964. In 1980, the line to Visselhövede was reduced to traffic to the works and passenger traffic to Bomlitz, which was served until 1991. The passenger traffic on the Aller Valley Railway (Verden–Schwarmstedt–Celle) was discontinued in 1966 and the line was closed in 1995.
Recent media