Ahlhorn signal box

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2016-09-11 06 Ahlhorn signal box.jpg
2016-09-11 01 Ahlhorn signal box.jpg
2016-09-11 03 Ahlhorn signal box.jpg

The Ahlhorn signal box , known as As (Ahlhorn Süd) for short , is a former railway structure that served as a signal box and water storage for the station. The building has been a listed building since 1996 . It is located in Ahlhorn , the largest part of the community of Großenkneten in the district of Oldenburg in Lower Saxony .

history

In 1875/76 the Oldenburg – Osnabrück railway line was built, and Ahlhorn was given a train station . From October 1, 1885, the now closed line to Vechta branched off from the aforementioned connection. The site developed into an important railway junction at the beginning of the 20th century . In February 1931 the Reichsbahndirektion Oldenburg / O. the unusual service building in order. It was named Stellwerk Ahlhorn Süd , or As for short .

Diesel locomotives gradually supplanted the steam locomotives. With technical progress, the water reservoir became superfluous after 30 years.

In 1990 a relay interlocking was completed at the Ahlhorn level crossing . Therefore the signal box was no longer needed. In the same year the building was shut down and the technology expanded. In 1996 the building was placed under monument protection. The unused building fell victim to vandalism .

For the DB Netz AG in late 2008 it was clear that Bauruine demolish. The district and the representatives of DB agreed to sound out possibilities for a renovation. In May 2009, the monument service inspected the building and spoke out in favor of renovation . A concept developed for this turned out to be feasible. A sponsoring association was founded . The overall renovation of the technical monument began in 2014 . The 36 cm thick brickwork pointed Durchfeuchtungsgrade to 100%. Conspicuous sulfate values ​​were measured in the salt analysis . The renovation was financed by the Deutsche Bahn, among others, or by the German Foundation for Monument Protection with over 20,000 euros . The total cost was 320,000 euros. The re-inauguration took place on October 21, 2016. The new owner is the monument service of the Weser-Ems area , which uses it as an office and administration building.

construction

The building is about 15 meters high and 11.38 meters long and 6.58 meters wide.

The clinker-clad building is designed in the style of the new objectivity . The signal box is a transversely rectangular two-storey building with a four-storey tower flush with the central axis. The building is dominated by the four-story tower in the middle. With its massive construction, the tower is reminiscent of a defensive tower . The 50,000 liter water reservoir was located in this middle section. The water tank took up almost the entire height of the tower. There are two wing structures on the left and right. These have a pavilion-like upper floor with large windows. The transverse structure is covered by a flat roof. This upper floor has a bright color and forms a contrast to the clinker stone. The workplace of the railway officials was on the first floor of the wing building. Access is from the rear of the building.

function

The signal box contained the technology for setting points and signals . The tensioning room was on the first floor. The construction there was a technical challenge for the times. Iron hanging weights kept the ropes running out of an underground wire opening at the same tension in winter as in summer. Mechanics with tension and tension ropes led along the rails into sewer shafts, via greased steering rollers and brackets to the points and signal locations, some of which are more than 1,000 meters away.

The water for the water reservoir was pumped into the tower from a well 50 m away. It was transported via pipes to the water cranes on the platforms and from there to the water tanks of the steam locomotives. The fill level of the water tank could be checked using an apparatus. In addition to the water cranes, all company buildings and apartments were connected to this water supply. The water tank was retained during the renovation and was converted into a heat store.

Up to three railway officials worked on the signal box.

uniqueness

Signal box buildings with water tanks were rarely built. In northwest Germany there was nothing comparable when it was built. After the steam traction was abandoned, most of these rare buildings were demolished. Today this type of building hardly exists any more.

Trivia

In 2018, the Faller brothers brought a model kit of this signal box in the nominal size H0 onto the market.

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ a b c d e f g h i Carola Nathan: Water reservoir for steam locomotives . The Ahlhorn signal box As has a new use. In: German Foundation for Monument Protection (Hrsg.): Monuments . Magazine for monument culture in Germany. No. 3 . Monuments publications, Bonn 2017, p. 31 .
  2. ↑ a b c d e signal box building. Rare monument to the history of technology. In: Homepage German Foundation for Monument Protection. German Foundation for Monument Protection, 2017, accessed on July 29, 2017 .
  3. ↑ a b c d e f g From the Reichsbahn to vandalism and offices. The "As" signal box in Ahlhorn has an eventful history. In: Kreiszeitung.de. Kreiszeitung Verlagsgesellschaft mbH & Co. KG, October 9, 2016, accessed on August 2, 2017 .
  4. ^ Railway signal box, Ahlhorn. (PDF) Reference. Remmers Group, August 2016, accessed August 2, 2017 .
  5. ↑ a b Christoph Koopmeiners: This signal box is unique in Germany. Monument. In: NWZ Online. Nordwest-Zeitung Verlagsgesellschaft mbH & Co. KG, October 22, 2016, accessed on August 2, 2017 .
  6. ↑ a b c d e DSD funds the signal box in Großenkneten. Construction with a rare dual function. German Foundation for Monument Protection, December 13, 2014, accessed on August 2, 2017 .
  7. ↑ Signal box building. Re-use after rescue. In: Homepage German Foundation for Monument Protection. German Foundation for Monument Protection, 2017, accessed on July 29, 2017 .
  8. ↑ Faller brings out a model of the Ahlhorn signal box In: Kreiszeitung , accessed on February 12, 2019

Coordinates: 52 ° 53 ′ 43.5 ″  N , 8 ° 12 ′ 31 ″  E