![Climax of the fire at Lucerne railway station: the main dome collapses.](https://blog.nationalmuseum.ch/app/uploads/brand-luzern-titel-300x225.jpg)
The fire at Lucerne railway station
On 5 February 1971 a devastating fire broke out at Lucerne railway station, destroying large sections of the Art Nouveau building. It was the biggest railway station fire since the formation of SBB.
![The thick column of smoke was visible from miles around, as here from the Schweizerhofquai.](https://blog.nationalmuseum.ch/app/uploads/brand-luzern-243x300.jpg)
Video of the Lucerne railway station fire. SRF
![To ensure no human lives were endangered, the huge blaze could only be fought from outside.](https://blog.nationalmuseum.ch/app/uploads/brand-bahnhof-luzern-300x295.jpg)
![The ruined station concourse, into which the main cupola collapsed.](https://blog.nationalmuseum.ch/app/uploads/05_r_5771_10-297x300.jpg)
More than 220 tonnes of scrap
It’s not every day that, at a major railway station, the platforms, ticket counters, luggage and express goods service, information office, currency exchange counter, waiting rooms and large restaurants are rendered unusable within the space of half an hour.
![Lucerne railway station, opened on 1 November 1896, pictured before the fire.](https://blog.nationalmuseum.ch/app/uploads/luzerner-bahnhof-300x267.jpg)