There are no trains at the Güterbahnhof Pankow-Heinersdorf, but they used to come here a lot before somebody figured out how to make them drive in the other direction. Yes, this place was built to allow trains to go in the other direction, and it is one of the only remaining buildings with this history in Germany.
I’m unsure if I first read about Güterbahnhof Pankow-Heinersdorf at Abandoned Berlin. I only know that this is one of the easiest places to do urban exploration in Berlin and, if you like this kind of thing, you have to go there.
But before I start telling you about what I saw there, I have to tell you the history of the place.
Güterbahnhof Pankow-Heinersdorf, a little bit of history
Back in the 19th century, Germany was buzzing with a growing railway network connecting most of the main cities to Berlin and other places in Europe. One of these railroads connected Berlin to Stettin, a town that used to be in Germany and now is a part of Poland. Called Berlin-Stettin Railroad, without any use of creativity, this railroad used to have an area reserved for train repair and maintenance, and this is how Güterbahnhof Pankow-Heinersdorf was born.
The first trains started arriving back in 1893, and, in its prime, there were some 1.800 freight trains per day at Güterbahnhof Pankow-Heinersdorf. In 1924, the area was connected to the S-Bahn network, and by 1997, it had been closed down without any proper reason.
By 2007, some railway tracks had started to be removed, and some buildings had been torn down. A couple of years later, the history of Güterbahnhof Pankow-Heinersdorf changed entirely with the announcement that developer Kurt Krueger bought the area. He wanted to invest in a giant shopping center and a furniture shop, but nothing was built until today.
Supposedly, the Rundlokschuppen, the machine that turns the train to the other direction, is a historical monument, and you cannot tear it down. Nothing will happen to the place now, and you can visit without any worries.
The Rundlokschuppen is the first thing you see when you enter the Güterbahnhof Pankow-Heinersdorf. This used to be a hub for trains to turn and go in the other direction. By the pictures here, you can imagine that the trains would follow into the middle of the building that would rotate, and the train could go in the direction it needed. Simple.
At Güterbahnhof Pankow-Heinersdorf, you can see a little more than just that. There is a Schuppen ring, where more modern locomotives could turn, and a Rundhaus works similarly. So, if you like trains, this is the place for you.
Arriving at the Güterbahnhof Pankow-Heinersdorf is pretty simple. You just need to take a train to S-Bahnhof Pankow-Heinersdorf, and you can see the place from the train tracks. Go over the bridge, and you will find your way inside.
On a rainy Sunday afternoon in early 2016, we were there, and we saw a few people taking pictures and others just having beers. Be careful with the floor and when you go through some windows that still have some glass. Besides that, have fun and take a lot of pictures there.
Güterbahnhof Pankow-Heinersdorf #Urbex
Am Feuchten Winkel
13089 Berlin
Germany
