Sommerdampf — Historic Engine Shed Wittenberge

Wittenberge — the Railway Town of the Prignitz

Wittenberge on the Elbe has been a first-class railway hub since the 19th century. The Hamburg-Berlin Railway created a station here starting in 1846, which made the town an industrial metropolis of the Prignitz. The Reichsbahnausbesserungswerk (RAW) Wittenberge was one of the most important locomotive works in the GDR for decades. The railway continues to shape the town to this day — and the Historic Engine Shed at the station preserves this heritage as a living museum.

The Historic Engine Shed

The engine shed is a semi-circular roundhouse with a turntable and several engine bays. The museum displays restored steam and diesel locomotives, workshop facilities, and original documents from over 150 years of railway history. It is normally open on Saturdays from April to October, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sommerdampf is one of the two central festival weekends of the year (along with Frühjahrsdampf in April).

Program Highlights — Steam and Diesel in Operation

On festival days, the historic locomotives are not just exhibited but put into motion. For Sommerdampf 2026, expect:

• Steam locomotives in operation on the engine shed's connecting tracks.
• Diesel locomotives from the DR and DB eras, also in operation.
• Cab rides for registered visitors — drivers and firemen at work.
• Draisine rides on a designated section of track.
• Locomotive parade on the turntable (approx. 2 p.m.).
• Workshop tours through the roundhouse with experienced railwaymen.
• Model railway exhibition by local railway enthusiasts.
• Bratwurst, coffee, and cake from the museum's catering.

2026 — Double Festival with Station Reopening

The year 2026 will be special: on June 13, 2026, parallel to Sommerdampf, the newly renovated Wittenberge station building will be reopened. The Wilhelminian-era reception building — one of the largest Prussian station buildings in Northern Brandenburg — has been restored over several years. The festival weekend and the station opening form a joint railway weekend, making Wittenberge a destination for railway enthusiasts from all over Northern Germany.

Experience the Prignitz

Wittenberge is a good starting point for exploring the Prignitz: the Elbe floodplain, Lenzen Castle, Plattenburg Castle, and the region's brick churches. Those arriving by train will arrive directly at the engine shed — it couldn't be closer.