What does WHE mean in UNCLASSIFIED

What Does WHE Mean?

The full form of WHE is Wanne Herner Eisenbahn, which translates into English as "Wanne Herner Railway". It is an electrified railway line that operates between the cities of Wanne-Eickel and Gelsenkirchen in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. The WHE runs primarily along a single track between these two cities, with some additional lines being added over the years as needed or desired. It crosses four municipalities on its route and carries both freight and passenger trains. The line also connects with other mainline railways near both terminuses for access to the rest of Deutsche Bahn's network (the main German railway system).

History

The construction of the WHE dates back to 1871 when it was first proposed by industrialist Albert Kortum. Construction began shortly afterward and was completed in 1876; it has been operated by Deutsche Bahn ever since. The line became especially important during World War II when factory production increased heavily due to military demand; trains were frequently using the tracks at this time. In 2006, after many years of heavy usage and limited maintenance, much of the track was upgraded from single tracks to dual tracks with a passing loop near Bochum-Langendreer station. Recent upgrades have included additional stations constructed at Kirchlinde Nord and Altenbochum West in 2008 as well as modernization throughout much of its length around 2013/2014.