100 years of escalator: the rise of a technical miracle in Cologne!

100 years of escalator: the rise of a technical miracle in Cologne!

Köln, Deutschland - On July 11, 2025, a very special occasion will be celebrated in Cologne: the 100th anniversary of the commissioning of the first escalator in Germany in the Tietz department store. At a time when everything is on the move, the escalator is more than just a technical miracle - it sets standards in modern architecture and has firmly established itself in our everyday life. The escalator was installed by merchant Alfred Leonhard Tietz, a pioneer of technological progress, which with this innovation will captivate visitors.

architectural historian Daniel Lohmann describes the first escalator as such astonishment: "Like a UFO landing". It was 60 centimeters wide and only drove up. In order to help the brave passengers to get out, lift boys were initially ready, because the first exit was a little challenge for some - feelings of dizzy. This extraordinary technical novelty became the symbol of classic modernism of the 1920s and still attracts people to this day. The idea of ​​the escalator for the first time in the USA, found the first model in Coney Island in 1895 and laid the foundation for this revolutionary transport method.

The escalators from today

There are currently around 39,000 lifting stairs in Germany, but the joy of technical progress is often suddenly interrupted. Again and again the Cologne traffic companies report disruptions. Last year there were almost 11,000 disorders in Cologne on 263 lifting stairs, with almost 2,800 disorders being due to vandalism. Such incidents make the topic of maintenance and maintenance a constant challenge. The Cologne transport companies have now taken the maintenance into their own hands and plan to modernize around 40 escalators this year. Three million euros were spent last year.

A remarkable incident concerned a lost diamond ring that fell into the escalator and could finally be tracked down. The KVB uses parts of five different manufacturers for its 264 escalators, which leads to a colorful mix of spare parts. According to the information from HNA.de, escalators are widespread today and can be found at train stations, in department stores and many other public locations, while their functioning has been steadily improved since the first prototypes in the 1860s.

escalator: a piece of city history

In Cologne, the escalator is not only a simple way of moving, but also reflect the development of the urban infrastructure. While the escalator once started as a "inclined elevator" and was invented by Jesse Reno, it has developed over the years. Charles Seeberger played a key role in improving and spreading the technology in the 20th century and after the Second World War the mass production began, which made escalators as standard in new commercial buildings.

The security features of modern escalators, including movement sensors and emergency stop systems, ensure a high level of security. In a city like Cologne in which daily traffic is high, escalators become an indispensable part of urban life. Despite the challenges associated with their operation, their importance remains undisputed - whether in the department store, at the train station or in a new office building. The escalator has found its place in the history of the city and will also play a central role in the next 100 years.

So July 11, 2025 will not only celebrate a date of the anniversary, but also an occasion to celebrate the technology miracle that accompany us every day. The past and future of the escalators in Cologne are closely linked, and people will continue to be amazed at the emerging monster of mobility.