Ausbesserungswerk Schwetzingen

Ausbesserungswerk Schwetzingen is a railway repair complex situated between the towns of Schwetzingen and Plankstadt, featuring multiple workshop buildings and maintenance structures. The facility displays typical industrial railway workshop architecture with repair halls and support buildings characteristic of early 20th-century transport infrastructure.

The complex began operations in 1918, initially repairing steam locomotives until around 1930 when it shifted focus to freight wagons for the railway network. Operations ceased in 1989 as the rail industry in the region declined.

The repair facility employed numerous workers from different countries during the 1960s, reflecting the industrial growth and labor migration patterns in post-war Germany.

Much of the site now houses a large logistics center for a major retail company, so access to various sections may be limited depending on current operations. Plan your visit around business hours and areas that may be accessible for viewing the historic structures.

Three buildings remain protected as monuments: the wagon adjustment hall II, the spring forge, and the porter's lodge, preserving construction methods from the industrial era. These protected structures offer glimpses into the building techniques and engineering practices of railway workshops from that period.