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Berliner U-Bahn Museum

You are here: Home > Forum > Miscellaneous > The real thing (signalling) > Berliner U-Bahn Museum

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Berliner U-Bahn Museum 21/10/2011 at 13:31 #21908
Forest Pines
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Hello there,

The other month I took a trip to Berlin, and was able to visit the Berliner U-Bahn Museum, an excellent little museum run by the Berlin Underground Study Group (I think that's the right translation - Arbeitsgemeinschaft Berliner U-Bahn eV). The reason I'm mentioning it here is: the museum is based in the former Olympia-Stadion signalbox, and its centrepiece is the signalbox's 1931 miniature lever frame and illuminated diagram. In use until 1983, the frame is 14m long, and the diagram measures 6m by 2m. Too big, indeed, for the camera lens I had with me:

Illuminated diagram, former Olympia-Stadion signalbox

If you're in the area, I'd recommend a visit. I'd even recommend timing your visit to suit the museum: it is normally only open on the second Saturday of each month. Its opening days coincide with those of the Berliner S-Bahn museum, a few km away in Potsdam, which also has some interesting signalling-related exhibits such as this interlocking:

Interlocking frame from Pichelsberg signalbox, on the Spandau branch of the S-Bahn

More information about the U-Bahn Museum is available from the Study Group's website; and, similarly, more information about the S-Bahn Museum is available in the same way. Usual "I have no connection" disclamer, as I was merely an entertained tourist; but more photos of those museum, and a few other German trains, are available on my Flickr profile.

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Re: Berliner U-Bahn Museum 21/10/2011 at 14:19 #21910
UKTrainMan
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Fascinating photos there - thanks for sharing.

Will certainly have to pay a visit some time if I'm ever in the area.

" said:
Berlin Underground Study Group (I think that's the right translation - Arbeitsgemeinschaft Berliner U-Bahn eV).
http://translate.google.co.uk translates it as Quote:
Berlin Underground Association eV
and after a quick check Quote:
e.V. stands for eingetragener Verein = registered association

Any views and / or opinions expressed by myself are from me personally and do not represent those of any company I either work for or am a consultant for.
Last edited: 21/10/2011 at 14:21 by UKTrainMan
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Re: Berliner U-Bahn Museum 21/10/2011 at 14:39 #21911
Forest Pines
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Quote:
http://translate.google.co.uk translates it as Quote:
Berlin Underground Association eV
and after a quick check Quote:
e.V. stands for eingetragener Verein = registered association
I did see what Google made of it. In the phrase it translates Arbeitsgemeinschaft as "Association", as you said; but as a single word it gives "Study Group". A literal translation would be something like "Work Community", so I thought "Study Group" expressed the "Work" part of that better.

There is some really interesting stuff in both of those museums - the S-Bahn museum also has a full mechanical lever frame.

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Re: Berliner U-Bahn Museum 21/10/2011 at 15:53 #21912
CAP.
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Nice pictures

An Arbeitsgemeinschaft is an association of (former) workers, in this case from the Berlin Underground.

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Re: Berliner U-Bahn Museum 21/10/2011 at 19:17 #21924
Forest Pines
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Thank you - I will add that to my German vocabulary notebook!
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Re: Berliner U-Bahn Museum 21/10/2011 at 22:52 #21937
MikeW
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The Olympia Stadion U-Bahn station itself is quite interesting as well, from a historical point of view. It was one of the stations that Holden and Pick (from London Transport) visited between the wars and its brick cylinder with flat roof is reckoned to have given some inspiration to Holden's (far superior) work. Krumme Lanke U-Bahn station was another one that pupped some much larger imitations in London. Sorry to rattle on, but Berlin is my totally favourite city!

Mike

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Re: Berliner U-Bahn Museum 22/10/2011 at 18:52 #21963
Forest Pines
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You know, until I read that, it hadn't clicked in my head, but of course: Olympia-Stadion station is a clear inspiration for some of Holden's work, particularly Arnos Grove. I feel stupid for not spotting that myself now! Berlin is one of my own favourite cities too despite only visiting twice (and my favourite Holden building, I have to admit, is one of his earlier ones: Bristol Central Library, particularly the reference library reading room). I haven't, as yet, made it out as far as Krumme Lanke.
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