This page presents photos of what I thought were some of the more historically intriguing elements of Berlin’s elaborate 94-mile U-Bahn system. These reflect my interest in early elevated and subway systems and one should not conclude from these pictures that the U-Bahn consists only of elderly stations and infrastructure. On the contrary, it is an efficient and modern system that is one of the most remarkable rapid transit operations I’ve ever used (click here for a 2005 article about the upgrading of the system). Even without any real German language skills I found the system easy to understand and navigate.
For those of us who appreciate transit history, the Berlin U-Bahn system contains some truly remarkable historic stations and line segments, which is what is presented here. Click here for additional information on the system’s history.
| Bullowstrabe | |||
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| Mendelssohn – Batholdy Park |
Bullowstrabe station, views from the platforms |
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| 1902 | 2010- although a good deal of the original ornamentation is gone, this elegant station remains intact. |
Early 1900s postcard view |
A truly remarkable piece of transit architecture. |
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| Bridge details |
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| The angled support columns give the elevated structure a unique appearance along this section of line |
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| During the time the city was divided, use of this line segment was abandoned. The Bullowstrabe station became a Turkish bazaar with shops housed in cast off U-Bahn carbodies. The station was restored and reopened in 1993. For a time, a heritage tramway operation used the tracks near the station. Four photos: Jim Schantz. |
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| Nollendorfplatz | |||
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| Early 1900s postcard view |
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| Detail of the wrought-iron fencing protecting the tracks |
An interesting fountain from the station’s earlier days. |
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| Wittenbergplatz | |||
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| Early 1900s postcard view |
The station today, beautifully restored |
Early 1900s postcard view |
The restored interior |
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| Warschauer Straße – Schiesisches Tor | |||
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| The 1902 Warschauerstabe terminus station and shop complex |
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| Early 1900s postcard view |
The landmark Oberbaum bridge was closed during the time the city was divided. It once again carries trains of the U1 line |
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| Elevated structure around the Schiesisches Tor station |
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| Gleisdreick | |||
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| Gleisdreick (German for “track triangle”) is a crossing station with line U2 below and U1 crossing above. Note the “winged wheel” on top of the building in the photo at left. |
The elevated structure in the vicinity of this station is very ornate. |
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| Detail of one of the cast column footings |
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| Heidelbergerplatz | |||
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| The exceptionally ornate Heidelbergerplatz station |
Detail of one of the decorative elements. Note the winged railroad wheel with lightning bolts |
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| Hohlenzollernplatz | |||
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| Many of the underground stations were fitted with beautiful wrought-iron gates |
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| Many Berliners bring their pets onboard transit. This one was helping his owner sell newspapers. |
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