Useful heritage

It goes without saying that industrial heritage is highly valued and exhibited across Europe, but Berlin's bus network goes one step further.

Of the two diagrams that make up route 219, one is operated daily using various heritage vehicles. This specific diagram is run by an association called Traditionsbus Berlin, which is dedicated to preserving, restoring, and operating historic buses. The route itself covers a scenic area alongside the River Havel and the adjacent Großer Wannsee lake.

During our visits to Berlin, I have been able to see a first-series Mercedes O405, a Waggon Union-bodied MAN SD202, and, as shown in this photograph, a MAN SD200, also with Waggon Union bodywork, working this diagram.

I am incredibly grateful to the members of the association for their immense kindness, as well as for the passion and effort they showed when guiding me around their facilities. They provided a wealth of fascinating insights and showed me their massive, imposing collection of both buses and transport memorabilia.

In the photograph, we can see the aforementioned MAN SD200 at the Scholzplatz stop on Am Postfenn street, working its diagram on route 219.

Photo scanned from film negative