A Look Back at the 125th Anniversary of the Schwebebahn
Dirk EichlerWhat a celebration, what energy! Last Saturday, the area around Wuppertal’s main train station was transformed into a colorful festival zone. The reason for the celebration was historic: Wuppertal’s world-famous landmark, the suspension railway, celebrated its 125th anniversary!
It was immediately clear to our team: we simply couldn’t miss this milestone in the city’s history as exhibitors. With perfect weather for the event - cloudy but pleasantly dry at around 18 degrees - we celebrated an absolutely fantastic family festival together with many other great exhibitors, Wuppertal institutions, and a huge crowd of cheerful visitors.
Full commitment at the booth
With a strong team of three, we were on site from noon to 6 p.m. From the very first minute, there was a huge crowd at the booth. The enthusiasm for the floating landmark was literally palpable in every conversation. Among the visitors were not only die-hard Wuppertal suspension railway fans, but also many national and international visitors, such as those from England.
Image: Various designs from the ART EDITION series “125 Years of the Suspension Railway” © Christian Horenkamp
But the event wasn’t just a highlight because of the fantastic response - it was also a gathering of many of Wuppertal’s creative minds. We were thrilled to have our premium partners Manuel Heywinkel and wuppigraphy join us, while Luise provided us with energetic support throughout the day. And as a special highlight: Many of our Instagram followers took the opportunity to meet the team in person, chat with us, and experience our murals firsthand. Moments like these simply show just how strong the community is and how much we love our suspension railway!
But the visual highlight at the booth was, without a doubt, our exclusive ART EDITION “125 Years of the Suspension Railway”, which was presented in 10 unique colors and drew crowds of admirers. Flanked by the classic, high-quality suspension railway images and a special edition of the Imperial Car, our booth was the perfect destination for modern, high-quality art “Made in Wuppertal”!
Another real eye-catcher was the 2-meter-tall ART EDITION Schwebahn display featuring a route map. On it, visitors could follow the background of this art project step by step—a detail that sparked many fascinating discussions among experts and drew amazed glances.
Image: Display stand from the ART EDITION series “125 Years of the Suspension Railway” © Christian Horenkamp
A supporting program that got Wuppertal moving
It wasn’t just at our booth that all hell broke loose - the supporting program organized by Wuppertal Stadtwerke (WSW) and Wuppertal Marketing had something for everyone:
- Free Rides: As an anniversary gift, rides on the suspension railway were free all day long.
- Interactive Activities Technology: From play and activity areas for children to real fire department and police vehicles that visitors could touch, all the way to fascinating model displays for tech enthusiasts - there was something for everyone.
- Culture & History: Live music, captivating street performers, and the emotional pop-up exhibition “125 Suspension Railway Stories” turned the station plaza into a lively gathering place.
- A Touch of Nostalgia: The exclusive raffle for rides in the historic imperial car generated even more excitement among visitors.
Photo: Wuppertal Central Station, suspension railway station, during the 125th anniversary celebration of the suspension railway © Christian Horenkamp
Conclusion: Thank you, Wuppertal!
Tired but happy and filled with pride, the team looks back on this fantastic event. The people’s enduring connection to their suspension railway has inspired us once again. A huge thank you to everyone who stopped by, joined in the celebration, and made this historic anniversary something truly special!
A big thank you goes to our premium partner, Christian Horenkamp, who provided professional photography for the event and perfectly captured the best moments with his camera.
And if you weren’t able to visit us at our booth during the family festival, you’ll have another chance to do so at the TalMARKEN Family Fair on Sunday, November 15, at “die börse” from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.!
Cover image: Christian Horenkamp
Feautured images: Christian Horenkamp
Text: Dirk Eichler
