America Line
Encyclopedia
The America Line is the unofficial name of a railway line in northern Germany which is mainly of regional importance today. It runs in an east-west direction and links Stendal
in Saxony-Anhalt
with the Hanseatic city of Bremen
.
and, most importantly, Berlin
to the North Sea
ports. It was given its colloquial name because many emigrants from East
and West Prussia
, Silesia
and the provinces of Posen
and Pomerania
travelled on the line to Bremerhaven
, where there was a connexion to emigration ships sailing to America
on the Columbus Quay (Columbuskaje). In the opposite direction many goods trains laden with fresh fish ran from Bremerhaven to the capital of the German Reich. Because Kaiser Wilhelm II occasionally travelled on this route from Berlin to the naval base
s on the North Sea, it is sometimes also called the Emperor Line (Kaiserlinie). Several express trains ran on this line on the route from Berlin–Wilhelmshaven
to Berlin–Norddeich
.
is the historical and geographical centre point of the route, and the point at which it is divided from a historical, operational and timetable point of view into an eastern section that is now electrified and upgraded, and a western section that is mostly non-electrified and also known as the Uelzen Railway
(Uelzener Bahn).
.
Stendal
Stendal is a town in Saxony-Anhalt, Germany. It is the capital of Stendal District and unofficial capital of the Altmark. Its population in 2001 was 38,900. It is located some west of Berlin and around east of Hanover...
in Saxony-Anhalt
Saxony-Anhalt
Saxony-Anhalt is a landlocked state of Germany. Its capital is Magdeburg and it is surrounded by the German states of Lower Saxony, Brandenburg, Saxony, and Thuringia.Saxony-Anhalt covers an area of...
with the Hanseatic city of Bremen
Bremen
The City Municipality of Bremen is a Hanseatic city in northwestern Germany. A commercial and industrial city with a major port on the river Weser, Bremen is part of the Bremen-Oldenburg metropolitan area . Bremen is the second most populous city in North Germany and tenth in Germany.Bremen is...
.
History
The America Line was originally the central element of direct links from MagdeburgMagdeburg
Magdeburg , is the largest city and the capital city of the Bundesland of Saxony-Anhalt, Germany. Magdeburg is situated on the Elbe River and was one of the most important medieval cities of Europe....
and, most importantly, Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
to the North Sea
North Sea
In the southwest, beyond the Straits of Dover, the North Sea becomes the English Channel connecting to the Atlantic Ocean. In the east, it connects to the Baltic Sea via the Skagerrak and Kattegat, narrow straits that separate Denmark from Norway and Sweden respectively...
ports. It was given its colloquial name because many emigrants from East
East Prussia
East Prussia is the main part of the region of Prussia along the southeastern Baltic Coast from the 13th century to the end of World War II in May 1945. From 1772–1829 and 1878–1945, the Province of East Prussia was part of the German state of Prussia. The capital city was Königsberg.East Prussia...
and West Prussia
West Prussia
West Prussia was a province of the Kingdom of Prussia from 1773–1824 and 1878–1919/20 which was created out of the earlier Polish province of Royal Prussia...
, Silesia
Silesia
Silesia is a historical region of Central Europe located mostly in Poland, with smaller parts also in the Czech Republic, and Germany.Silesia is rich in mineral and natural resources, and includes several important industrial areas. Silesia's largest city and historical capital is Wrocław...
and the provinces of Posen
Province of Posen
The Province of Posen was a province of Prussia from 1848–1918 and as such part of the German Empire from 1871 to 1918. The area was about 29,000 km2....
and Pomerania
Pomerania
Pomerania is a historical region on the south shore of the Baltic Sea. Divided between Germany and Poland, it stretches roughly from the Recknitz River near Stralsund in the West, via the Oder River delta near Szczecin, to the mouth of the Vistula River near Gdańsk in the East...
travelled on the line to Bremerhaven
Bremerhaven
Bremerhaven is a city at the seaport of the free city-state of Bremen, a state of the Federal Republic of Germany. It forms an enclave in the state of Lower Saxony and is located at the mouth of the River Weser on its eastern bank, opposite the town of Nordenham...
, where there was a connexion to emigration ships sailing to America
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
on the Columbus Quay (Columbuskaje). In the opposite direction many goods trains laden with fresh fish ran from Bremerhaven to the capital of the German Reich. Because Kaiser Wilhelm II occasionally travelled on this route from Berlin to the naval base
Naval base
A naval base is a military base, where warships and naval ships are deployed when they have no mission at sea or want to restock. Usually ships may also perform some minor repairs. Some naval bases are temporary homes to aircraft that usually stay on the ships but are undergoing maintenance while...
s on the North Sea, it is sometimes also called the Emperor Line (Kaiserlinie). Several express trains ran on this line on the route from Berlin–Wilhelmshaven
Wilhelmshaven
Wilhelmshaven is a coastal town in Lower Saxony, Germany. It is situated on the western side of the Jade Bight, a bay of the North Sea.-History:...
to Berlin–Norddeich
Norddeich (Norden)
Norddeich is a village in the borough of Norden in north Germany with 1,734 inhabitants. It lies in northwestern East Frisia on the North Sea coast....
.
Operation
The Lower Saxon town of UelzenUelzen
Uelzen is a town in northeast Lower Saxony, Germany, and capital of the county of Uelzen. It is part of the Hamburg Metropolitan Region, a Hanseatic town and an independent municipality....
is the historical and geographical centre point of the route, and the point at which it is divided from a historical, operational and timetable point of view into an eastern section that is now electrified and upgraded, and a western section that is mostly non-electrified and also known as the Uelzen Railway
Uelzen–Langwedel railway
The Uelzen–Langwedel railway runs through the Lüneburg Heath in north Germany in an east-west direction.- Imperial era :The Bremen State Railway, as it was first called, was originally built by the Bremen Senate and opened in 1873. It runs from Lower Saxon Langwedel eastwards through the Lüneburg...
(Uelzener Bahn).
Route
For information on the two halves of the route see: Stendal–Uelzen railway and Uelzen–Langwedel railwayUelzen–Langwedel railway
The Uelzen–Langwedel railway runs through the Lüneburg Heath in north Germany in an east-west direction.- Imperial era :The Bremen State Railway, as it was first called, was originally built by the Bremen Senate and opened in 1873. It runs from Lower Saxon Langwedel eastwards through the Lüneburg...
.
Literature
- Ralf Roman Rossberg: Grenze über deutschen Schienen 1945-1990. 2. Auflage, EK-Verlag, Freiburg 1991, ISBN 3-88255-829-6
External links
- More information on the Uelzen–Salzwedel line
- Forum information on the Uelzen–Ebstorf section
- 1944 timetable with express train services
- There is a relevant English-language forum at Railways of Germany
