Tip:
Highlight text to annotate it
X
We all know Copenhagen Central Station
and today it’s been 100 years since the first departure whistle blew
and the train chugged out from the platform – in those days the trains did chug.
To celebrate the big birthday,
our reporter has searched for places we are not normally allowed to see.
Here comes the second and final part of "Secrets of Copenhagen Central Station"
The Central Station as we know it.
Every day more than 90,000 people rush through the vaulted halls
and across the nearly 7,700 square meters quirky tiled floor.
That time a hundred years ago, the train also almost came on time.
Construction took 5 years and was only 4 months delayed.
During the past 32 years of the Central Station's history,
Birger Hansen has been inspector.
He has promised to show us the Central Station’s most secret places.
This has led us to underground passages.
How secret are we now?
On a scale of 10? 4
And the royal chambers.
Birger, are you allowed to smoke in here?
No.
I have heard something about a secret exit.
That’s true.
It's a 10!
Yes, it is.
But Birger has even more secret locations up his sleeve.
Birger, I have heard that there has been a secret apartment beneath the Central Station.
Yes, it was actually down here. Right here.
It was decorated with things they had found, so scrap chairs, a scrap table.
Then there was a microwave, and they had made some beds out of pipes
and the bed itself was made out of old mailbags they had stitched together.
It was revealed in the period of 2004 to 2008
where we changed all the concrete out here on the station square.
Just about here right in the middle was a small oblong window.
Like this?
Yes, a bit like the stones actually.
Then it was right in there!
Yes, it was actually there the window was.
But Birger, how secret is this place then?
Before it was revealed it would have been a 10.
Because no one knew it was there.
But now it's not so secret anymore.
No, now it's history.
It’s now a piece in the puzzle of Copenhagen Central Station’s history.
See the tower there? Let’s take a walk up there.
Wow.
Here you go.
Thank you. Wow!
We've got a lot of nice step going up.
As you can see right now, the staircase is winding.
It wouldn’t be good to suffer from claustrophobia going up these stairs.
No.
This is on top of the ceiling in the foyer.
And it's made as a church vault. Iron beams, chicken wire and plaster.
And we’re going all the way up there or?
Then we have a wooden platform here with a ladder that goes up higher.
And why would one go up there?
It's the light opening.
It is the only clock we have at the station which still need to be wound.
Aahh
And it is done once a week.
So here is the first ladder.
Should I go first?
Yes, be my guest.
Are you supposed to fall through?
Ehh...
That was the first ladder.
Holy crap, there’s another.
This one is slightly steeper than the first one.
Now you’re at a closed door. And I have the keys for that.
What’s hiding in here?
The clock in the tower.
Like that. Now watch this.
Wow!
A treasure from 1910.
Tik tok...
Normally people only see this from the outside,
when they stand on Vesterbrogade or the station square.
How secret is this place?
Well, it lies at a 10. Maybe a little more.
I am one of those who sneak up here,
but otherwise it is really only our lamp keeper who comes all the way up to the watch.
So that’s a secret.
Let’s go to the highest point.
It’s quite windy up here!
Normally you don’t ever come up here. And enjoy this view here.
Holy crap there’s a long way down!
Yes, happy birthday.