Then and now: Charlottenburg Tram Depot - Btf. CHAR

Posted on April 21, 2012

The tram depot on Königin-Elisabeth-Straße in Berlin-Charlottenburg, originally known as Betriebshof 16 (from 1935 Btf.CHAR), opened on 1st September 1930. The architects were Jean Krämer (also architect of the tram depot on Müllerstraße) and O. Salvisberg. It replaced the original Berliner Tram Depot on Spandauer Straße, which had opened in 1865. The new depot could accomodate 320 trams under cover. The central hall, which had the largest span in the depot, measured 97 x120 metres.

The former depot in April 2012 - now used as a ‘Kaiser’s’ supermarket and ‘Stadler’, a bicycle retailer.

Btf. CHAR seen in 1955 during it’s 25th Anniversary celebrations. There seems to be a high proportion of female spectators, no doubt wives of tramway men who lived around the depot, deputising for their husbands ‘out on the road’.

Photo: Berlin Landesbildstelle

Typically für Berlin, the depot was surrounded by apartment blocks which provided 400 dwellings for transport employees. After a short pause at the end of the war in 1945, the depot was in continual use until the last day of trams in the former West Berlin on 2nd October 1967. After that it was used by a haulage company for more than two decades - and survives today, now being used as retail centre.

The depot is surrounded by 400 dwellings for BVG employees. In the background, one of the two entrances to the depot can be seen.

Former workshops & storerooms can be seen facing on to the courtyard - The employees dwellings on this South side of the depot differ considerably to those on the North Side. The chimney stack for the depot’s community heating can also be seen.

A street side view. In 1930, the provision of balconies had become a must. Fredericiastraße, 14059 Berlin.

The original 1930s Electrical Equipment has been preserved.

At one end of the Depot, the original situation of the beams illustrates their functionality.

The war damaged depot seen here in 1944.

A Falkenried/NAG T08/24 tram built 1908, modernised in 1924 is being towed out of the depot. It is seen dressed as a route 355 tram, a wartime supplementary to tram route 55. Perhaps it was caught on camera here, being towed to one of the barriers erected all around the city, bolstered with tramcars in a futile attempt to stop the advancing Soviet army. 3248 was a wartime casualty, it certainly didn’t survive until 1949 and no doubt, was scrapped shortly after the war.

Photo: My collection.

©IsarSteve & IsarSteve Collection 2012 - All images my copyright unless otherwise stated

Interactive maps of Berlin’s tram system 1945 - present can be found here:

» Filed Under Berlin, Then and now, Trams, Transport | 1 Comment

Then and now: Nürnberger Straße

Posted on April 7, 2012

Nice comparison shots of Nürnberger Straße at the corner with Tauentzienstraße, showing the Woolworth store building, which although burnt out in the allied air raids of November 1943, survived until the 1950s, when the site was developed with a new Woolworth store. In turn, that 1950s store survived until the 1990s.

A street vendor selling toys from the “Spielzeugschachtel” or “Toy Box” in the late 1930s. In the background a milkman from the traditional Berliner ‘Bolle’ dairy can be seen. Bolle sadly has also now disappeared, surviving until about ten years ago.

This area has, in my opinion, become quite faceless and is seen here a few days ago - April 2012

©IsarSteve & IsarSteve Collection 2012 - All images my copyright

» Filed Under Berlin, Berliners, Then and now | 1 Comment

1st Advent 2011

Posted on November 27, 2011

On this 1st Advent, one of my favourites .. Gaudete. This traditional carol was composed sometime during the 16th century. The song was published in Piae Cantiones, a collection of Finnish/Swedish sacred songs in 1582.

”Audete, gaudete! Christus est natus
Ex Maria virgine, gaudete!”

”Rejoice, rejoice! Christ is born
Of the Virgin Mary — rejoice!”

Tempus adest gratiæ
Hoc quod optabamus,
Carmina lætitiæ
Devote reddamus.

The time of grace has come—
This that we have desired,
Verses of joy
Let us devoutly return.

Deus homo factus est
Natura mirante,
Mundus renovatus est
A Christo regnante.

God has become man,
To the wonderment of Nature,
The world has been renewed
By the reigning Christ.

Ezechiel is porta
Clausa pertransitur,
Unde lux est orta
Salus invenitur.

The closed gate of Ezechiel
Is passed through,
Whence the light is born,
Salvation is found.

Ergo nostra contio
Psallat iam in lustro;
Benedicat Domino:
Salus Regi nostro.

Therefore let our gathering
Now sing in brightness
Let it give praise to the Lord:
Greeting to our King.

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Berlin in Motion: 50 Years of the U-Bahn between Zoologischer Garten and Wedding

Posted on August 28, 2011

Fifty Years ago today, a few days earlier than planned, a U-Bahn service was introduced between Spichernstraße in Wilmersdorf and Leopoldplatz in Wedding. Originally known as Line G, it connected the centre of West Berlin around Zoo and Kurfürstendamm with Wedding, providing an Underground connection from the North to the South West of Berlin, avoiding the Soviet sector of Berlin (East Berlin). The sudden division of Berlin on 13th August 1961 had re-enforced the need and importance of the new line and it’s opening, planned for 2nd September, was brought forward to 28th August 1961.

No attempt was made to amend the publicity, which still mentioned 2nd September as the opening date. Berlin was still in shock after the closure of the border between East & West two weeks earlier. BVG Publicity - My Collection

To celebrate, two preserved units of the original ‘D’ stock used on Line G in 1961, provided an extra service between Zoologischer Garten & Osloer Straße.

D 2000, delivered in 1956 is seen here at Zoologischer Garten. Now preserved, this unit was withdrawn from service in 1999.

Senator für Bau- und Wohnungswesen Publicity - My Collection.

The other preserved unit in use was 2021, new in 1958, it is preserved in a later condition than 2000.

The original section of Line G consisted of nine stations, five of which were brand new - My Collection.

The Berlin U-Bahn map as from 1st September 1961 - My Collection.

This map was no doubt printed before the events of 13th August and therefore is the last map (until 1990) to show the stations on Line C (U6) and Line D (U8) in East Berlin as still in use.

Line G was renamed and numbered as Line 9 from 1966. An extension southwards to Walther-Schreiber-Platz on the Friedenau- Steglitz border was opened on 29th January 1971, followed three years later on 30th September 1974, by a further extension to Rathaus Steglitz. In the North, an extension from Leopoldplatz to Osloer Straße was opened on 30th April 1976. After the takeover by the BVG of the S-Bahn in West Berlin on 9th January 1984, Line 9 was once again re-branded, this time as the U9.
An extension to Lankwitz from Steglitz is still planned, but is not high on the priority list of future transport developments in Berlin and is unlikely to proceed for at least the next thirty to forty years.

Associated links:
Around and About Berlin: Berlin Bus and Tram Maps 1931 - 2011

And lastly U-Bhf Zoologischer Garten in 1961, as seen on a commercial postcard

©IsarSteve & IsarSteve Collection 2011 - All images my copyright unless otherwise stated

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Books on Berlin: Endstation Mauerbau

Posted on August 13, 2011

To coincide with the 50th anniversary of the division of Berlin. I’d like to recommend a book which deals with the run-up to the construction of the barrier between the two city halves on 13th August 1961. How it was possible to split the city’s S-Bahn railway into two separate operations overnight, without causing major chaos on this vital ‘backbone’ of Berlin’s transport network.

Manuel Jacob’s book also explains the effects that the division of the city, by what later became known as the Berlin Wall, had on the S-Bahn. Published by Velag Bernd Neddermeyer at 19,90€. This interesting book, in German, contains scores of documents, photographs as well as maps of the Berlin S-Bahn during this sad period of it’s history. A must for those interested in Berlin’s history and public transport.

©IsarSteve Collection 2011 - All images my copyright unless otherwise stated

Associated Link: You might also be interested in this book

» Filed Under Books, Books on Berlin, Media, S-Bahn, Transport | 1 Comment

Berlin Snapshot: Bomb Disposal at Breitscheidplatz

Posted on August 11, 2011

A 100 kilo Russian bomb was found during building work behind the Bikini-Haus yesterday. It was decided to wait until this evening to make it safe, as an area of about 250m radius needed to be cleared. And that, right in the centre of Berlin’s City-West. All went well and the bomb was made safe.

All public transport in the area, including Long Distance, S-Bahn and U-Bahn trains were withdrawn for ca. one and a half hours.
S-Bhf Zoologischer Garten this evening

©IsarSteve 2011 - All images my copyright

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Around and About Berlin: U-Bahn in August

Posted on August 9, 2011

A couple of shots of the Berlin U-Bahn this August.

U-Bhf Südstern U7

During recent renovation work at Südstern station, the original 1924 ‘Hasenheide’ (or Hare Heath) station name signs were uncovered.

Opened on 14th December 1924 as Hasenheide, this station has had four names since then. On 3rd June 1933 it was renamed Kaiser-Friedrich-Platz and again on 1st January 1939 it was re-named Gardepionierplatz. During World War Two, two direct hits on 24th May 1944 badly damaged the track and another hit in April 1945 severely damaged the station building and roof. The station was back in use by June 1945 and received it’s current name ‘Südstern’ in 1947.

Re-opening of U-Bhf Ruhleben U2 U12

The long delayed re-opening of Ruhleben station occured on 1st August. Delayed when the construction company went broke. Workmen are still putting the finishing touches to the building, which first opened in 1929, making it 100% barrier-free. Currently the service is provided by the temporary U12.

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Berlin Snapshot: Musicians

Posted on August 6, 2011

» Filed Under Berlin, Berlin Snapshot, Berliners, Music | 2 Comments

Berlin in Motion: Temporary terminal at Nordbahnhof in Service

Posted on August 2, 2011

The temporary tram terminal at S-Bhf Nordbahnof/Invalidenstraße for routes M8 & 12 came into service on 1st August 2011. Necessary because of the rebuilding of Invalidenstraße and the extension of tram routes M6, M8 & M10 to Alt Moabit via Hauptbahnhof, due to be completed 2013/14.

Click here on the photo for the earlier posting on the last M8 trams to Schwartzkopffstraße

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Berlin Snapshot: Moabiter Leihhaus

Posted on July 29, 2011

An interesting use of old 1950s store signs at the Moabiter Leihhaus. Removed from the facade, they now decorate the windows of the Pawnshop on Turmstraße in Moabit.