GBM Gleisbaumechanik Brandenburg/H. GmbH

GBM Gleisbaumechanik Brandenburg/H. GmbH is a German rail technology company based in Brandenburg an der Havel, specifically in the Kirchmöser district, a traditional railway industry location with a century-long history. The company is a full-service provider for rail vehicles, covering vehicle construction, modernisation, maintenance and on-site service for railway infrastructure vehicles. Its product range includes special rail vehicles such as grinding and measuring trains, track work vehicles and overhead line maintenance vehicles. It also performs wheel-set reconditioning and offers a 24/7/52 on-site service across Germany. The company's roots go back to 1920, when the Reichsbahnausbesserungswerk (RAW) Brandenburg-West was established as a maintenance facility for steam locomotives of the Deutsche Reichsbahn. Over the decades, it expanded into freight wagon repair, construction machinery, and from 1968 into the manufacture of Nebenwagen (light rail vehicles). It became the specialist workshop for track construction machinery (Gleisbaumechanik) of the Deutsche Reichsbahn. After German reunification, it became a special works division of Deutsche Bahn AG in 1992. In 2002, Deutsche Bahn sold the operation to the General Atomics Europe Group, and it has since operated under the name GBM Gleisbaumechanik Brandenburg/H. GmbH. Today, GBM is known for its customised modernisation concepts, maintenance services including scheduled inspections, overhauls and accident repairs, and its mobile service fleet. Its customers include railway operators and track processing companies across Europe. The company emphasises quality, flexibility and technical special solutions, and is a recognised workshop for railway vehicles by the German Federal Railway Authority (Eisenbahn-Bundesamt). It continues to develop and manufacture special vehicles such as the GAF 100 and GAF 200 series, and has produced vehicles like the BR 703.1 and BR 711.1 maintenance vehicles.

The history of GBM Gleisbaumechanik Brandenburg/H. GmbH is closely tied to the railway industry site in Brandenburg an der Havel, specifically the Kirchmöser district, which has a 100-year tradition in rail technology. The core of the company is the Reichsbahnausbesserungswerk (RAW) Brandenburg-West, established between 1920 and 1924 by the Deutsche Reichsbahn for the maintenance of steam locomotives. After World War II, the workshop continued to service locomotives and wagons for the Deutsche Reichsbahn. In 1946, freight wagon repair was added, and from 1960, the first construction machinery was repaired. In 1955, the repair of railway cranes was taken on, followed by track construction machines in 1957. In 1968, the production of light rail vehicles (Nebenfahrzeuge) for the Deutsche Reichsbahn began, marking the start of the company's own vehicle manufacturing. The SKL 24, developed at RAW Schöneweide, established the light rail vehicle construction here, and the workshop became the specialist facility for track construction machinery (Gleisbaumechanik) of the Deutsche Reichsbahn. In 1979, the company developed its first own vehicle, the SKL 25 light rail vehicle. The SKL 25 replaced the SKL 24 from 1977 in several variants. In 1991, the SKL 26 was designed and production started. In 1993, the GAF 100 track work vehicle was developed. With the merger of the Deutsche Bundesbahn and Deutsche Reichsbahn, the operation became a division of Deutsche Bahn AG in 1992, specifically the special works division with the business fields of new construction and maintenance of light rail vehicles. In 1994, production of the GAF 100 series started, and the H 27 trailer for the GAF 100 was manufactured. The GAF 100 series remains in reliable service throughout Germany and receives regular modernisation and maintenance at GBM. In 1998, GBM developed and manufactured the BR 703.1 and BR 711.1 maintenance vehicles. In 2002, Deutsche Bahn sold the former special works to the General Atomics Europe Group. The company was renamed GBM Gleisbaumechanik Brandenburg/H. GmbH, and the existing activities were continued under the new name. The 145 employees and 6 apprentices were taken over by the newly founded company. In 2003, development and manufacturing of special vehicles began. Since then, the company has continued to modernise and expand its product range, including the GAF 200 series, and has produced special vehicles such as the BR 706 service vehicle, the ETCS technology carrier vehicle, and the BR 711.1. It also produced individual units like the UST02 ultrasonic measuring train for the Dutch company Eurailscout, the SFU04 rail milling train suitable for underground railways, and a shunting robot called FERA (remote-controlled shunting wagon). A concept for integrated measuring trains (HIF) realised in response to a DB tender in 1997 did not go into series production.

• 2003

  Start of development and manufacture of special vehicles.

• 2002

  Acquisition by the General Atomics Europe Group and renaming to GBM Gleisbaumechanik Brandenburg/H. GmbH.

• 1998

  Development and manufacture of the BR 703.1 and BR 711.1 maintenance vehicles.

• 1994

  Start of GAF 100 series production and manufacture of the H 27 trailer.

• 1993

  Further development into the GAF 100 track work vehicle.

• 1992

  Became a special works division of Deutsche Bahn AG following the merger of Bundesbahn and Reichsbahn.

• 1991

  Design and start of production of the SKL 26 track motor vehicle.

• 1979

  First own development of a light rail vehicle, the SKL 25.

• 1968

  Start of new construction of light rail vehicles (Nebenfahrzeuge) for the Deutsche Reichsbahn.

• 1960

  Repair of first construction machinery.

• 1957

  Repair of track construction machines taken on.

• 1955

  Repair of railway cranes taken on.

• 1946

  Expansion to freight wagon repair.

• 1920

  Establishment of the RAW Brandenburg-West site for steam locomotive maintenance of the Deutsche Reichsbahn.

Full-service provider for rail vehicles, offering customised, high-quality and innovative solutions for special rail-bound working vehicles, with a focus on quality, flexibility and technical special solutions.

• SKL 24

  Light rail vehicle developed at RAW Schöneweide, marking the beginning of light rail vehicle construction at the Brandenburg site.

• SKL 25

  First own development of a light rail vehicle, replacing the SKL 24 from 1977 in several variants.

• SKL 26

  Successor model developed shortly before the dissolution of the Deutsche Reichsbahn.

• GAF 100

  Track work vehicle developed in 1993, series production started in 1994; still in reliable service throughout Germany.

• GAF 200

  Next generation of track work vehicles.

• BR 703.1

  Maintenance vehicle developed and manufactured from 1998.

• BR 711.1

  Maintenance vehicle developed and manufactured from 1998.

• BR 706

  Service vehicle for Deutsche Bahn.

• ETCS technology carrier vehicle

  Technology carrier vehicle for ETCS testing.

• UST02 ultrasonic measuring train

  Ultrasonic measuring train built for the Dutch company Eurailscout.

• SFU04 rail milling train

  Rail milling train suitable for underground railways.

• FERA shunting robot

  Remote-controlled shunting wagon (Fernsteuerbarer Rangierwagen).

1. 1GBM Gleisbaumechanik Brandenburg/H. GmbH - Official Websitegleisbaumechanik.de
2. 2Über Uns - GBMgleisbaumechanik.de
3. 3Partner - GBMgleisbaumechanik.de
4. 4Historie - GBMgleisbaumechanik.de
5. 5Gleisbaumechanik - Wikidatawikidata.org
6. 6Gleisbaumechanik - Wikipedia (German)de.wikipedia.org