Schaltwerk Halensee, Rail transport electrical substation in Charlottenburg-Wilmersdorf, Germany.
Schaltwerk Halensee is a railway electrical substation in Charlottenburg-Wilmersdorf featuring two parallel buildings connected by an octagonal central structure. This central element houses the control rooms and switching equipment necessary for operating the S-Bahn rail lines.
Construction began in 1927 under architect Richard Brademann to supply electricity for the expanding S-Bahn network. The facility has served the Berlin rail system continuously since its completion.
The building displays the industrial architecture characteristic of Berlin's transportation infrastructure, featuring geometric forms and colorful brickwork typical of the period. The symmetrical design and octagonal central element shape how this facility appears in the urban landscape.
The facility controls power transformation and distribution for roughly 350 kilometers of S-Bahn lines through modern digital systems. Viewing the exterior allows you to observe the technical infrastructure that keeps the train network operating.
The structure holds protected monument status while simultaneously operating as an active electrical facility for the S-Bahn, a rare combination of historical preservation and ongoing infrastructure use. This allows visitors to see a working protected building that remains essential to the rail network today.
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