Hanover-Altenbeken Railway Company
Encyclopedia
The Hanover-Altenbekener Railway Company was among the companies of the German "railway king" Bethel Henry Strousberg
. Its route network at the end of the first phase (up to 1872) consisted of two lines, Hanover–Altenbeken and Weetzen–Haste (Deister Railway). In addition, a branch line was opened from Linden-Küchengarten to Linden-Fischerhof for freight transport. The Löhne–Hamelin
–Hildesheim
–Vienenburg
line was built in a second phase up to 1875. The section to Hildesheim is now known as the Weser railway, further east it is operated as the Hildesheim–Goslar line. This extended the network from the Weser Uplands to the Harz
.
The planning of this rail network was already under way during the existence of the Kingdom of Hanover
, but its construction commenced after Hanover's annexation by Prussia
in 1866. The main purpose of the railway's construction was to connect Hamelin to the rail network and to improve the transport of coal from the Deister
hills. Strousberg's motivation, however, was the idea of a connection of the rail network in the east (Silesian industrial belt
and East Prussia
) with the Ruhr industrial area
. Along with building the Altenbeken line, he attempted to acquire the network of the Royal Westphalian Railway Company
(Königlich-Westfälische Eisenbahn).
The concession for the lines of the first phase was issued on 25 November 1868, construction of track began in 1869 and 1870 and was interrupted because of labour shortages due to the Franco-Prussian War
. For this reason the concession was extended for one year. The first leg between Hanover and Hameln was on opened 13 April 1872. This was followed on 1 May 1872 by the opening of the Weetzen–Barsinghausen
section and on 15 August 1872 by the Barsinghausen-Haste section. The total line to Altenbeken was completed in 19 December 1872. The original starting point was Hannover Localbahnhof (local station), later called Südbahnhof (south station), near Bismarckstraße. This had a connection to the railway yards at Pferdeturm, now used for sidings, which gave a further connection to the line to Lehrte and Brunswick
.
The Löhne–Hildesheim–Vienenburg line had been built in cooperation with the Magdeburg-Halberstadt Railway Company
(Magdeburg-Halberstädter Eisenbahngesellschaft, MHE). Following the financial demise of Strousberg companies, management of the Löhne–Hildesheim–Vienenburg line was taken over by the MHE. It was opened in May/June 1875. The Grauhof–Vienenburg section was operated jointly from its opening.
Strousberg planned more lines to connect with the HAE. After his bankruptcy in the early 1870s these plans were abandoned or taken up by the Prussian state railways
, such as the Hildesheim–Brunswick railway.
Following the nationalisation of the MHE system, the HAE system was taken over, although the Prussian state had no special interest in the railway. On 1 February 1880, the HAE became part of the administration and operation of the Prussian state railways and on 1 April 1881 the Prussian state took possession of its assets.
Bethel Henry Strousberg
Bethel Henry Strousberg was a Jewish industrialist and railway entrepreneur in Germany during its rapid industrial expansion in the 19th century...
. Its route network at the end of the first phase (up to 1872) consisted of two lines, Hanover–Altenbeken and Weetzen–Haste (Deister Railway). In addition, a branch line was opened from Linden-Küchengarten to Linden-Fischerhof for freight transport. The Löhne–Hamelin
Hamelin station
Hamelin station is a category 3 station in the town of Hamelin in the German state of Lower Saxony. It is situated on the Hanover–Altenbeken and the Löhne–Elze lines.-Services :...
–Hildesheim
Hildesheim
Hildesheim is a city in Lower Saxony, Germany. It is located in the district of Hildesheim, about 30 km southeast of Hanover on the banks of the Innerste river, which is a small tributary of the Leine river...
–Vienenburg
Vienenburg
Vienenburg is a town in the district of Goslar, in Lower Saxony, Germany. It is situated in the north of the Harz mountain range on the river Oker, approx. northeast of Goslar...
line was built in a second phase up to 1875. The section to Hildesheim is now known as the Weser railway, further east it is operated as the Hildesheim–Goslar line. This extended the network from the Weser Uplands to the Harz
Harz
The Harz is the highest mountain range in northern Germany and its rugged terrain extends across parts of Lower Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt and Thuringia. The name Harz derives from the Middle High German word Hardt or Hart , latinized as Hercynia. The legendary Brocken is the highest summit in the Harz...
.
The planning of this rail network was already under way during the existence of the Kingdom of Hanover
Kingdom of Hanover
The Kingdom of Hanover was established in October 1814 by the Congress of Vienna, with the restoration of George III to his Hanoverian territories after the Napoleonic era. It succeeded the former Electorate of Brunswick-Lüneburg , and joined with 38 other sovereign states in the German...
, but its construction commenced after Hanover's annexation by Prussia
Prussia
Prussia was a German kingdom and historic state originating out of the Duchy of Prussia and the Margraviate of Brandenburg. For centuries, the House of Hohenzollern ruled Prussia, successfully expanding its size by way of an unusually well-organized and effective army. Prussia shaped the history...
in 1866. The main purpose of the railway's construction was to connect Hamelin to the rail network and to improve the transport of coal from the Deister
Deister
The Deister is a chain of hills in the German state of Lower Saxony, about 15 mi southwest of the city of Hanover. It runs in a north-westerly direction from Springe in the south to Rodenberg in the north. The next the chain of hills that attaches in the south is called Small Deister...
hills. Strousberg's motivation, however, was the idea of a connection of the rail network in the east (Silesian industrial belt
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 East Prussia
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...
) with the Ruhr industrial area
Ruhr
The Ruhr is a medium-size river in western Germany , a right tributary of the Rhine.-Description:The source of the Ruhr is near the town of Winterberg in the mountainous Sauerland region, at an elevation of approximately 2,200 feet...
. Along with building the Altenbeken line, he attempted to acquire the network of the Royal Westphalian Railway Company
Royal Westphalian Railway Company
The Royal Westphalian Railway , was a German rail company established in 1848 with funding from the Prussian government, which later became part of the Prussian State Railways...
(Königlich-Westfälische Eisenbahn).
The concession for the lines of the first phase was issued on 25 November 1868, construction of track began in 1869 and 1870 and was interrupted because of labour shortages due to the Franco-Prussian War
Franco-Prussian War
The Franco-Prussian War or Franco-German War, often referred to in France as the 1870 War was a conflict between the Second French Empire and the Kingdom of Prussia. Prussia was aided by the North German Confederation, of which it was a member, and the South German states of Baden, Württemberg and...
. For this reason the concession was extended for one year. The first leg between Hanover and Hameln was on opened 13 April 1872. This was followed on 1 May 1872 by the opening of the Weetzen–Barsinghausen
Barsinghausen
Barsinghausen is a town in the district of Hanover, in Lower Saxony, Germany. It is situated at the Deister chain of hills approx. 20 km west of Hanover...
section and on 15 August 1872 by the Barsinghausen-Haste section. The total line to Altenbeken was completed in 19 December 1872. The original starting point was Hannover Localbahnhof (local station), later called Südbahnhof (south station), near Bismarckstraße. This had a connection to the railway yards at Pferdeturm, now used for sidings, which gave a further connection to the line to Lehrte and Brunswick
Braunschweig
Braunschweig , is a city of 247,400 people, located in the federal-state of Lower Saxony, Germany. It is located north of the Harz mountains at the farthest navigable point of the Oker river, which connects to the North Sea via the rivers Aller and Weser....
.
The Löhne–Hildesheim–Vienenburg line had been built in cooperation with the Magdeburg-Halberstadt Railway Company
Magdeburg-Halberstadt Railway Company
The Magdeburg-Halberstadt Railway Company was a railway in Prussia. It was nationalized in 1879.-History :The Magdeburg-Halberstadt Railway Company received a concession on 14 January 1842 from the Prussian government to build the 58 km long railway line from Magdeburg–Oschersleben–Halberstadt...
(Magdeburg-Halberstädter Eisenbahngesellschaft, MHE). Following the financial demise of Strousberg companies, management of the Löhne–Hildesheim–Vienenburg line was taken over by the MHE. It was opened in May/June 1875. The Grauhof–Vienenburg section was operated jointly from its opening.
Strousberg planned more lines to connect with the HAE. After his bankruptcy in the early 1870s these plans were abandoned or taken up by the Prussian state railways
Prussian state railways
The term Prussian state railways encompasses those railway organisations that were owned or managed by the State of Prussia...
, such as the Hildesheim–Brunswick railway.
Following the nationalisation of the MHE system, the HAE system was taken over, although the Prussian state had no special interest in the railway. On 1 February 1880, the HAE became part of the administration and operation of the Prussian state railways and on 1 April 1881 the Prussian state took possession of its assets.