Schellfischtunnel, Railway tunnel in Altona, Germany
The Schellfischtunnel is a former railway tunnel in Altona, Hamburg, that once linked the old station to the fishing harbor below the hill. The passage runs for about 960 meters underground and is lined with brick, with safety recesses cut into the walls at intervals along both sides.
The tunnel was built in the 1870s to 1890s to replace an older inclined rail system that repeatedly failed due to landslides on the hillside. It opened for steam-hauled trains and was converted to electric traction in 1909, which put it among the first electrified rail lines in the region.
The name refers to the haddock fish that were once shipped through the tunnel in large quantities, tying the passage directly to Altona's fishing trade. Visitors walking through can still see the brick-lined walls and the deep recesses cut into them at regular intervals along the route.
The tunnel is no longer in rail service and can be visited only through guided tours offered on selected occasions. Inside it is dark and damp, so sturdy footwear and warm clothing are a good idea before heading down.
The tunnel is now occasionally used for art exhibitions and other events, turning the old rail passage into an underground venue unlike anything above ground. This use grew from efforts to find new purposes for protected industrial heritage that can no longer serve its original function.
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