Zabudowa przy ulicy Przystankowej w Zabrzu jako przykład budownictwa kolejowego na Górnym Śląsku
The Buildings on Przystankowa Street in Zabrze as an Example of Railway Architecture in Upper Silesia

Summary/Abstract: The late 18th century and the early 19th century brought industrial development to Upper Silesia. The basis for this development was metallurgy and mining. Transport of coal and metallurgical products was initially by land, and later by water. In 1792, construction of the Kłodnica Canal began. Until the mid-19th century, it was the most important transport route connecting Upper Silesia with the rest of the country. In 1845, the first railway line opened in Zabrze, whereas a route connecting Gliwice and Bytom was opened in 1872. In addition, the „Ludwigsglück” (Zabrze Północne) and „Borsigwerk” (Zabrze Biskupice) stations were to be built in Zabrze. The construction permit for the „Ludwigsglück” station was issued on June 6, 1870. Due to the specific nature of their work, residential buildings for railway employees were located on railway routes – near lines, machinery, and railway workshops. These buildings belonged to the railway, and the staff apartments within them were provided in particular to: station managers and their deputies, station cashiers, dispatch managers, boiler room and workshop managers, maintenance officials, shift workers, crossing guards, and porters. The railway station building on Przystankowa Street was constructed in 1883, containing apartments for employees. Around 1889, a residential building for the crossing guard was constructed at what is now 12 Przystankowa Street. Meanwhile, in 1900–1901, next buildings were constructed on Przystankowa Street, including Przystankowa 2 and 4, and 6 and 8. In 1945, Zabrze became part of Poland, and the „Ludwigsglück” station along with the residential buildings came under the management of the Polish State Railways and began operating as „Zabrze Północne.” In 1996, the station began serving as a train station. The station building was closed, and the employees occupying the apartments were forced to leave. In 2001, passenger service on the Bytom-Biskupice-Gliwice line was discontinued. The „Zabrze Północne” stop was thus closed, and in 2004 or 2005, the station itself was demolished. In 2024, a railway stop called „Zabrze Północne” was built on the site of the former „Ludwigsglück”/”Zabrze Północne” station, and on December 15 of that year, passenger service on the Bytom-Gliwice route resumed. The residential buildings on Przystankowa Street in Zabrze still serve their original purpose, serving the people who live there. Unlike many other such buildings, they have survived almost unchanged. Due to their residential character, the buildings on Przystankowa Street in Zabrze are not at risk of devastation. They are currently the oldest, fully preserved railway housing construction in the city.

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