20 February 2025 – Railway Scenes in Germany – Berlin Brandenburg by Steve Ollive
Steve very kindly stepped in when our advertised speaker from SWR had to pull out and a replacement from the company was not available at such short notice.
A regular at Surrey Branch meetings, Steve needed little introduction. The original version of the presentation was put together at the request of Ipswich Branch in 2009 after Steve had been trying to visit the area since the Berlin Wall came down in November 1989 and he used an anecdote of what he was doing at the precise moment when it became public knowledge.
Steve used a railway map of the whole of the Berlin Brandenburg area, both the central Berlin zone and the surrounding Brandenburg region, and explained what would be covered. He briefly outlined the sort of passenger rolling stock used for travelling around the area by train with photographs to illustrate – in this case an older Flix train and a Vectron. Since first exploring the region, rolling stock has changed with services via ICE (Inter City Express) still available but now mostly replaced by Vectrons with photographs to illustrate some of the changes. After reunification, the Haupt Bahnhof (HBf = main station) was newly built from scratch with a new layout of lines - east-west at one level and north-south at the lower level, plus S Bahn and Metro. It is quite a striking piece of architecture well illustrated by the photographs shown at this point.
Steve went on to talk about the rolling stock in use from 2009 and how this has changed since then eg Class 112 on the Regional Expresses, now replaced, and privateers with varied liveries operating the main routes and some 4-car Stadler KISS double deck units as well amongst others. As the contracts change, so does the stock and the liveries in use. Services from Berlin HBf include a sleeper to Malmo hauled by a Vectron and also known as a ‘Snail jet’! As well as local and regional services, with services to and from Poland, Sweden, Amsterdam etc, Berlin HBf is well connected today with its regional, mainline, S-Bahn and Metro services too. So a busy place and with plenty of railway interest.
As well as trains, there is an excellent tram system and Steve showed how things have changed on the tram network too with older units being retired and newer trams with lower floor levels for better accessibility as one example of modernisation. Not all the older rolling stock has been disposed of as some is retained as examples for the museum as part of the network history.
After covering the central area Steve went on to talk about the whole of the region working around from the north west, through south west, then south east, finishing with the north east. What became very clear is just how much has changed over the last few years not least updated and modern rolling stock replacing older units, livery changes as different companies take over different franchises. Also included was a selection of freight services as well as maintenance depots, with details of a wide range of locomotives as well as passenger traffic, covering, at the same time, changes for some former diesel services to electric. We were even treated to a photograph of an elderly steam locomotive plinthed on one of the platforms at Frankfurt Ober – a great excuse to access a little used platform.
After moving all around the region, highlighting both changes and the huge variety of trains, trams and liveries to be seen from quite a range of manufacturers, it was time to visit the Berlin Technical Museum with its working shunter and half roundhouse, an ex state post office vehicle, a narrow gauge steam locomotive that was originally a prototype built by Henschel, a V200 that provided inspiration for the UK Warship class. There is clearly much to see. Also included, and not to be forgotten, is a preserved wagon used for the deportation of Jewish people in WWII – preserved and detailed to remind people of the horrors of that time.
The final part of the presentation was a short selection of photographs of some sightseeing in 2008/2009, the Blue Church, Christmas market and the old Reichstag building with so many connotations that the decision was made not to use it in future for any state government purposes. It is now in open again after restoration by a team under Norman Foster – somewhere on my list of ‘places to visit’. There were other reminders to make sure that we do not forget the past and learn from it, not to do it again, from a few remaining sections of the Wall to the remains of the Gestapo interrogation centre.
The presentation was followed by a short question and answer session: including changing the name of DR to DB and the integration of East and West Germany; Class 66s from Poland to Germany; 3rd rail electric pickups position underneath amongst others.
A well detailed, illustrated and coherent visit around Berlin and the surrounding Berlin Brandenburg region to whet the appetite of anyone who is considering visiting the area to explore its railways and tramways.
The vote of thanks was especially appreciative as Steve stepped in at the last minute. It was also highlighted just what sort of things you can see on ‘Steve’s Tours’ should you wish to travel within Europe on one of them – you never know what you might get to see!