Ausbesserungswerk Opladen, Railway repair workshop in Leverkusen, Germany
Ausbesserungswerk Opladen is an industrial complex with locomotive halls, wagon repair facilities, a forge, and administrative buildings spread across a large area in Leverkusen-Opladen. The site displays the layout of a working repair facility with separate zones for different maintenance and production tasks.
The facility was established in 1903 near Opladen station to maintain locomotives and wagons with nearly 1,000 workers employed. It closed its doors in December 2003 after 100 years of continuous operation.
The site now serves as an independent center for cultural events, exhibitions, and workshops where artists and neighbors gather. Spaces host theater performances, discussions, and creative projects that keep the neighborhood engaged.
The site today is part of the New Railway City Opladen project, which transforms the area into a mixed urban district with various facilities. Visitors should expect the interior spaces to continue changing as new developments take shape.
During World War II, a bombing raid struck the facility on December 28, 1944, killing 234 people including 104 foreign workers who lacked access to air raid shelters. This tragic event left deep scars on the workshop community and remains part of the local memory preserved today.
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