Kurortny Prospekt (Resort Avenue)

13 points1 km1 hour

Route author

Susanin Team

Things to do

📜 Learn the city's history
🏛️🕰️ Compare the eras

Route points (13)

Railway Station in Zelenogradsk

Point on route “Kurortny Prospekt (Resort Avenue)”

Point 1

Railway Station

🚂 Railway station

Historical Background

In 1885 a railroad opened between Cranz and Königsberg, the capital of East Prussia. It was just under 30 km (19 miles) long and had only eight stops. The first Königsberg–Cranz line was launched in July 1885, and in December of the same year the Cranz station had its grand opening.

Architecture

The station has hardly changed in 140 years. The main changes concern its exterior: the brickwork is now hidden under a thick layer of plaster, and the wooden verandas are gone. The track ended in a turntable, where the engineer turned the train around with a lever. The turntable took the place of a switch: when a train from Königsberg arrived, the locomotive was uncoupled, turned around and moved to the other end of the train. It was then refueled and coupled back to its train. Small posts linked by an anchor chain stood around the turntable, with roses growing around them.

Story

The turntable is linked to the only accident ever to happen at the station. In 1906, to the shock of locals and vacationers, the engineer failed to brake in time, and the train smashed through the barriers and “flew” out onto the station square. Two people were killed.