armored track
The track planning in 1977 triggered violent protests. Discussions about the routing and possible alternatives were discussed.
After a lot of back and forth, in May 1979 the decision was made to build the track through the middle of the forest.
The start of construction was postponed from 1981 to 1982.
Objections, demonstrations involving police action and water cannon, and ongoing court proceedings delayed the start of construction until February 1986.
Then the chainsaws started to flatten 12ha of forest.
Hundreds of giant trees with up to 250-year-old oaks had to give way.
A height difference of up to 18 m was compensated for in the existing hilly landscape by removing and filling in the terrain.
Gravel, concrete and steel compacted 10ha of former forest soil.
The route is 5m wide and 9km long.
It leads from the military training area to the siding to Oldenbüttel.
After more than 3 years of construction, the track was handed over to the
handed over to the US Army. The first loading of 4000 men and 1200 vehicles took place in March 1989 to Grafenwöhr.
For 4 days, 6 trains a day drove the track for these transports.
After the Americans withdrew from Garlstedt in Sept. 1992
2-3 more material transports by GE-UNOSOM.
Since that time, the Gteis has been lying rusting in the forest, unusable with the dismantled railway connection.
More than 20 million DM were invested for a service life of only 3 years.
Garlstedt 2008