The Berlin S-Bahn Museum is truly unique!
Founded on February 10th 1989, since its inception it has been staffed entirely by volunteers from the German Railway Customers' Association (Deutscher Bahnkunden-Verband e. V.), who work tirelessly to curate the collection, organize exhibitions, and ensure the museum's regular opening hours.
The museum's first exhibition, a small display at Beusselstraße station, was created in 1985 by the Berlin Passenger Association. In 1997, the museum moved to a larger space in the substation of Griebnitzsee S-Bahn station. This move to Brandenburg reflected the renewed importance of the Berlin S-Bahn for the surrounding region. Unfortunately, in late 2016, issues with the building's conformity to fire safety regulations led to the termination of the lease. We continue to search for a new permanent location.Thanks to support from the Berlin Senate and DB Infrago, we have established a project space ("Museum Light") at Berlin Ostbahnhof. It Opened in mid-2023 and showcases a small selection of our exhibits.
Over the years, we’ve been pleased to loan items from our collection for films and exhibitions. In the 1988 movie "Linie 1", for instance, you can spot various pieces from our collection, from trash cans and signs to the sausage cooker at the kiosk.
Our main focus for 2024 is the large exhibition celebrating the 100th anniversary of the Berlin S-Bahn.
Long term, we hope to secure a permanent home for our vast collection, which is currently stored in several locations throughout the region. The S-Bahn is an integral part of Berlin’s identity, representing a major technical milestone in transportation, industrial development, and urban history. It also serves as a symbol of 100 years of progressive transportation policy and as an ambassador for Germany's capital city.
Collaboration and networking are particularly important to us, especially as a volunteer organization. Strong partnerships with other associations and organizations are essential to our success.