Fichtengrund railway station, Railway signal box in Oranienburg, Germany
Fichtengrund railway station is a former rail facility in Oranienburg featuring a central control tower with radially arranged viewing windows and separate electrical relay rooms built from reinforced concrete. The site has been gradually reduced since closure in 1994, and since 2017 the platforms and main building were removed, leaving only the access road and the control structure.
The Deutsche Reichsbahn built this facility in 1964 to control a secret rail connection between the Prussian Northern Railway and the Heidekrautbahn. The station operated during East German times and ceased functioning in 1994, marking the end of this particular rail route's operational period.
The station displays railway architecture typical of East German construction, with the concrete control tower and relay rooms showing building methods common in the 1960s. These structures reflect how engineers at that time prioritized functionality and durability in their designs.
The site is visible from the street but requires care when approaching, as most structures are protected as monuments and cannot be entered. Visitors should focus on viewing from the outside and be aware that this is an abandoned location with limited accessibility to the interior areas.
Engineers tested a specialized Telescopic Axle system here that allowed trains to switch between European and Russian track gauges without stopping. This experimental technology was part of efforts to improve cross-border rail transport during East German times.
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