Fröndenberg–Kamen railway

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Fröndenberg–Kamen railway
Kamen-Unna.png
Northern part of line
Overview
Line number
  • 2852 (Fröndenberg–Unna)
  • 2933 (Unna–Kamen)
LocaleNorth Rhine-Westphalia, Germany
Service
Route number
  • 437 (Fröndenberg–Unna)
  • 450.4 (Unna–Unna-Königsborn)
Technical
Line length22 km (14 mi)
Track gauge1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) standard gauge
Electrification15 kV/16.7 Hz AC overhead catenary (Unna–Unna-Königsborn:)
Operating speed80 km/h (49.7 mph) (maximum)
hide
Route map

Legend
From Dortmund
9.6
 Kamen
To Hamm
5.0
 Heeren
From Welver
3.9
 Unna-Königsborn
S-Bahn line to Dortmund Stadthaus S 4
1.4
 Westig Stahlwerk siding
1.1
 Unna West
0.9
 Alter Hellweg colliery siding
From Dortmund-Hörde
From Hagen
0.0
12.4
 Unna
terminus of S 4
To Hamm
To Soest
11.1
 Strothmann siding
10.5
 Bertulies siding
10.3
 VEW Unna siding
9.6
 Industriepark Unna siding
7.4
 Kessebüren
5.5
 Frömern
3.4
 Ardey
1.4
 W Köhle siding
1.1
 Fröndenberg West
From Hagen
0.0
 Fröndenberg
To Warburg
To Menden
Source: German railway atlas[1]

The Fröndenberg–Kamen railway is a single-track, partially electrified and partially disused railway line in the German state of North Rhine-Westphalia. It runs from Fröndenberg via Unna to Unna-Königsborn and formerly on to Kamen.

History[]

The Fröndenberg-Kamen line was built at the turn of the 20th Century as a railway branch line by the Royal railway divisions (German: königliche Eisenbahndirection) of Elberfeld and Essen of the Prussian state railways to connect, in the form of an S-shaped curve, four stations on major east-west routes, which were built in the second half of the 19th century by three competing major private railway companies in Westphalia (from north to south):

The first section was opened by the Royal Railway Division of Elberfeld on 2 January 1899 between Fröndenberg and Unna.[2]

The next section from Unna to Unna-Königsborn was a joint project with the Royal Railway Division of Essen and built in just over a year. It was opened on 1 April 1900, originally for freight only.[3]

The last part, from Unna-Königsborn to Kamen was the responsibility of the Essen Division alone. Only half a year later, the line was completed on 1 November 1900 and opened for freight. Almost a year later, on 1 October 1901, the first passenger train ran between Unna and Kamen.[3]

Closures[]

In early 1926, passenger traffic was discontinued on the northern section between Unna and Kamen.[3] The was opened in 1909 on a similar route as an overland tramway (interurban). It closed on 14 December 1950.

On 3 June 1955, freight traffic between Königsborn and Kamen was also discontinued[3] and the line was subsequently dismantled. The former line can easily be identified from aerial photographs.

Current operations[]

Electrification of the Unn–Königsborn section was completed on 25 May 1984.[3] The Fröndenberg–Unna section is still a non-electrified branch line with a top speed of 60 km/h. To increase speeds, level crossings are being upgraded. It is served only by the Hönnetal-Bahn (RB 54), which continues over the Letmathe–Fröndenberg line via Menden and the Hönne Valley Railway to Neuenrade at 60-minute intervals.[4]

Prior to the closure of the Westphalian line between Welver and Unna-Königsborn in 1968, passenger services were established on the line between Unna and Unna-Königsborn on 26 May 1963,[3] continuing to Dortmund Stadthaus station.[5]

In 1972 a regular interval regional service was established from Unna via Unna-Königsborn, Dortmund Stadthaus and Dortmund-Dorstfeld to Dortmund-Marten Süd, which was extended in 1983 to Dortmund-Lütgendortmund.[6] This was a direct precursor of line S 4 of the Rhine-Ruhr S-Bahn. In preparation for the S-Bahn, electrification of the line from Unna to Unna-Königsborn was completed on 25 May 1984 and on 28 June 1984 it was upgraded with a top speed of 80 km/h.[3] S-Bahn services commenced on 3 June 1984 and operates at 20-minute intervals.[7]

Notes[]

  1. ^ Eisenbahnatlas Deutschland (German railway atlas). Schweers + Wall. 2009. pp. 52, 139. ISBN 978-3-89494-139-0.
  2. ^ "Fröndenberg - Unna". NRW Rail Archive (in German). André Joost. Retrieved 18 October 2011.
  3. ^ Jump up to: a b c d e f g "Unna - Kamen". NRW Rail Archive (in German). André Joost. Retrieved 18 October 2011.
  4. ^ "RB54: Hönnetal-Bahn". NRW Rail Archive (in German). André Joost. Retrieved 18 October 2011.
  5. ^ "Kursbuchstrecke 232b". NRW Rail Archive (in German). André Joost. Retrieved 18 October 2011.
  6. ^ "Kursbuchstrecke 341". NRW Rail Archive (in German). André Joost. Retrieved 18 October 2011.
  7. ^ "S4: Lütgendortmund - Dorstfeld - Unna". NRW Rail Archive (in German). André Joost. Retrieved 18 October 2011.

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