Reports from September to December 2004
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| MAIN LINE GERMAN STEAM LOCO NEWS
Reports from September to December 2004 | |||
| | INDEX
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| Date | Event | Locos |
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| 18th Dec | Meiningen | 012 100-4 |
| 6 & 7th Dec | Neumünster - Hamburg - Meiningen | 012 100-4 |
| 4th December | Hamburg- Lübeck-Neumünster | 012 100-4 |
| 27-28th Nov | Hamburg- Bremen/Schwerin | 012 100-4 |
| Oct/Nov | Southern Germany | 01 1066 |
| 23rd October | Cottbus - Görlitz - Hoyerswerda | 35 1019 |
| 16th October | Eisenbahn Kurier Sonderzug to Hamburg | 01 1102 |
| 16th October | Lausitzer Dampflok Club train Cottbus to Wernigerode/Brocken | 41 1231 |
| 2nd October | DB Museum train from Itzehoe to Schwerin | 03 1090, (Denkmal) |
| 26th September | DB Museum Sonderzug with 01 118 | 01 118 |
| Sept 18th | Nürnberg - Regensburg | 012 100-4 |
| Sept 11th | Nürnberg - Heilbronn | 012 100-4 & Others |
| Sept 11th | Gütersloh - Linz, (Rhein) | 01 1066 |
| Sept 5th | Hannover - Osnabruck | 01 1066 |
| Sept 4th | Hannover - Meiningen & Meiningen Open Day | 012 100-4, 41 360 & others |
| 2004 | News Reports from earlier in 2004 | Many reports about various locos |
| News Index Main Index | ||
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| 18th December: 012 100-4 in Meiningen Locoworks |
On 18th December Thomas Splittgerber photographed 012 100-4, (center), inside Meiningen Locoworks, with 70 083 on the left, and 35 1097 on the right.
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18th December report continued
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| 18th December: 012 100-4 in Meiningen Locoworks continued |
Another photo from Thomas Splittgerber of 012 100-4 inside Meiningen. |
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6/7th December report
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| 6th & 7th December: 012 100-4 runs Neumünster - Hamburg - Meiningen | |
| Even after finishing her last passenger train duty for 2004, 012 100-4 was not finished showing she is the Dampflokstar der DB. Udo Tribess has sent this report and photo about the 6th December journey to Meiningen. "
"...... 012 100-4 left Neumünster at 15.30 hrs with 9 cars, Bodo Gifhorn, (driver) and Thomas Boldt, (fireman). She roared the very last time for this year through Schleswig-Holstein: three times with maximum accelerations: - Neumünster departure - North of Elmshorn (overhaul) - North of Pinneberg (signal check) |
012 100-4 takes water at Langenfelde |
| Very impressive were the completely astonished people waiting for regular trains on the platforms in Pinneberg and Elmshorn! In Hamburg Langenfelde were left the 8 passenger cars, only the restaurant car will go to Meiningen. My last view of 012 for this year was at 19.13 as 012 100-4 left Hamburg Dammtor. Later that night Thomas Boldt sent me the news that they arrived at Göttingen for a night stop at 23.28. Then today, 7th December Thomas let me know that the big pacific with just the restaurant arrived at Meiningen Loco Works at 11.01 in good condition. 012 100-4 now stands in the firing shed, for shut down...."
Thank you Udo and Thomas for that news. So 012 100-4 is now at Meiningen Loco Works and we must all hope that the work needed will only be of a routine nature, and that by March 2005 this lovely loco will re-emerge with a full four year operating certificate. | |
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6/7th December report continued
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| 6th & 7th December: 012 100-4 runs Neumünster - Hamburg - Meiningen continued |
Fans of 012 100-4 tend to be very enthusiastic! Certainly Hans-Herbert Krull showed that enthusiasm on the night of 6th/7th December. Hans-Herbert expected the big pacific to arrive at Göttingen around 22.30, but was not successful at that time. But returning just before midnight he found 012 100-4, and took this photo during the hour he spent watching the loco being serviced.
6/7th December report continued |
| 6th & 7th December: 012 100-4 runs Neumünster - Hamburg - Meiningen continued |
Hans-Herbert Krull stayed to photograph Bodo Gifhorn checking the 012 pacific during the Gottingen stop, very early on the morning of December 7th. 4th December report |
| 012 100-4 runs Hamburg-Lübeck-Hamburg-Neumünster | |
| 4th December saw the last passenger train trip of 012 100-4 for 2004: the 9 car train being run by the Rendsburger Eisenbahnfreunde. It was also the last trip before the loco heads to Meiningen Loco Works on 6th December for a boiler overhaul, expected to be completed next March. Very sadly I was not on the train. Bobbie and I arrived at London Heathrow Airport on Friday to be greeted by chaos with many flight cancellations due to fog. The earliest we could reasonably expect to be in Hamburg was during the evening of the Saturday, so with considerable reluctance we cancelled out trip. But thanks to Helmut Boekhoff, (photos below) and Udo Tribess a report of a superb day out with 012 100-4 is still possible! | |
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4th December report continued
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| 012 100-4 runs Hamburg-Lübeck-Hamburg-Neumünster continued
Let's read the report with photos that Helmut Boekhoff has sent. "...Hamburg 4th December 2004, a cold and misty day, but everybody at platform 11 was expecting a good day behind 012 100-4, her last journey before going to Meiningen. Volker Siewke and Jörg Hinrichsen, (right), took over the loco, and Volker was to celebrate his birthday by being a very "soundful driver". We started the northbound train going south using the "Güterbahn" (goods train line), to make a nearly full circle through Hamburg. Some bridges were passed very slowly, but were followed by a loud and stormy sprint. At a supermarket nearby 012 100-4 was very loud regaining speed and people stopped packing away their food into cars raised their heads and watched the steam train roaring past..., (oh Bryan, what a moment...! ) We made stops at Pinneberg and Elmshorn where the last passengers entered the train. Next stop was Wrist where the local firebrigade served the loco with the needful water. From there I was allowed to join Volker on the footplate. He did his job as good as we all know him. A stop at Neumünster with a very good restart in the direction of Kiel which we passed to the south at Meimersdorf. But we were early on the "Südkurve" for the line to Lübeck and came to a stop by a red signal. We stopped on a sharp curve, with a long train behind, an incline as well and the track unused for more than a day so was very slippery. |  |
| Waiting for several minutes Volker had to start the train in that very difficult situation. Using the "Sandstreuer" we rolled back for about few metres and then he opened the regulator very calmly and deliberately. 012 100-4 tried and slipped, tried and slipped, moving ahead metre by metre, gaining more metres on the incline and the curve. Volker was very hard at work and did his very best as he managed to start the train in a very, very professional way which shows he is a very good driver: Such a start would have been easier for a goods loco such as as 41, or 52, but 012 100-4 with its 2 metre wheels! Reaching the line Kiel-Lübeck the tracks weren´t so slippery and we gained more speed at last. The planned crossing stop at Raisdorf saw us run straight through as the regular diesel train was waiting for us. By the next crossing at Plön we were on time and so we reached the lovely illuminated Lübeck and the Weihnachtsmarkt which was overcrowded. | |
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4th December report continued
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| 012 100-4 runs Hamburg-Lübeck-Hamburg-Neumünster continued
The evening return to Hamburg and on to Neumünster brought us again and again roarings of the very nicest kind we all wanted to hear ! At Hamburg Hbf Volker and Jörg stepped off the loco into the train with applause from the front coachers. Bodo Gifhorn took over the regulator and near Dammtor the train slowed for a signal allowing a noisy restart through the station hall, where Bodo added a long signal whistle so EVERYBODY waiting for the S-Bahn looked at our famous steam loco. Noisy roaring restarts again at Pinneberg, Elmshorn and Wrist where we left the train with some Rendsburger Eisenbahnfreunde members including Volker and Jörg for a few biers at Siewerts "Dorfkneipe" near the station awaiting the regular train back to Elmshorn and Hamburg. A great day had its end. 012 100-4 ended the 2004 steam season in a very brave way ! (Many of us thought many times during the day about missing you there in our coach listening to those superb sounds)....." Many thanks Helmut for the report and photos, and to all my front coach friends and the Rendsburger loco crews and volunteers that we missed travelling with on Saturday. A very happy Christmas to you all, and hopefully we will enjoy a great New Year together with 012 100-4. |  | |
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4th December report continued
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| 012 100-4 runs Hamburg-Lübeck-Hamburg-Neumünster continued
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| Thomas Boldt took these photos of the water stop at Wrist, and of a later stop at Plön.
4th December report continued | |
| 012 100-4 runs Hamburg-Lübeck-Hamburg-Neumünster continued
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| Left: 012 100-4 at Lübeck with a diesel special from Magdeburg and Right is the on train Father Christmass and his helper!
Photos from Thomas Boldt. 4th December report continued | |
| 012 100-4 runs Hamburg-Lübeck-Hamburg-Neumünster continued
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And at the end of a great day it was a case of "Happy Birthday" to Volker! 27th November report |
| 012 100-4 back in service to Bremen and Schwerin | |
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After a long break since her last run, (September 18th), 012 100-4 was back in service over the weekend of 27th and 28th November. On two days when the weather was typical of that expected for late November, (cool, dull, damp and misty), the big pacific warmed us all up with two days of lovely running, with some especially noisy starts on the Saturday!
On the Saturday the 6 car train was well filled for the visit to Bremen and the Weihnachtsmarkt, (Christmas Market), in the town. An on time departure from Hamburg Hbf saw our loco crew of Holger Lemke and Volker Sieweke run up to the full 120 km/h limit with lovely noisy starts from Hamburg Harburg, Buchholz and Rotenburg. No surprise that we were spot on time arriving at Bremen. So plenty of interest for the usual Rendsburger front coachers! And also for my wife Bobbie who came with me and met my Hamburg "Girlfriend" 012 100-4 for the first time! The Weihnachstmarkt was well worth the visit, and some of us even climbed up the tower of Bremen Cathedral to get a different perspective of the market, and to work off an excellent lunch! The return was via the 80 km/h limited line through Soltau. But as soon as we re-joined the main line at Buchholz the big pacific was given her head again with a fast and noisy start that made very full use of the 120 km/h speed limit. An early evening arrival back at Hamburg Hbf allowed time to wait for the loco to reverse out of the station before a very pleasant evening was enjoyed at Nagels bar. Made even better because joining us for the first time was Swiss resident, (but Welshman to the core), Alan Rees, without whose initial help this web site would never have been started. |
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27th November report continued
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| 012 100-4 back in service to Bremen and Schwerin continued | |
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| Father Christmas leads a tram through the market, and then a great evening at Nagels Bar.
28 November report | |
012 100-4 to Bremen & Schwerin cont.
The Sunday trip to the Schwerin Weihnachtsmarkt was a far more important day than just another, (great), trip with 012 100-4. It was the "Pension Trip" for 012 100-4 driver Leo Walters. His time as a DB driver finishes at the end of December, but today was his last day as an 012 driver. So with heizer Günter Alsleben he took the pacific and it's well filled 6 car train to Schwerin and back. |
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28 November report continued
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| 012 100-4 to Bremen & Schwerin cont. | |
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Udo Tribess braved the very poor weather to photograph 012 100-4 roaring along near to Reinbek on her way to Schwerin.
28 November report continued | |
| 012 100-4 to Bremen & Schwerin cont. | |
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Back at Hamburg Hbf in the evening Fritz Wolf, watched by Volker Siewke and Holger Lemke, made a presentation to Leo Walters.
28 November report continued | |
| 012 100-4 to Bremen & Schwerin cont.
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Leo Walters with his wife and daughter after the Rendsburger presentation. Photo Thomas Boldt. 28 November report continued |
| 012 100-4 to Bremen & Schwerin cont. | |
And for some of us the evening ended as usual at Nagels bar, where a great time was had by all!
Report on 01 1066 | |
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| 01 1066 |
01 509 passes 01 1066 at Gegenbach on October 23rd. Photo by Michael Götz .
Michael Schweizer reports.."..Jürgen Regler and Herbert Dorfschmid were the two men responsible for the return to steam of 01 1066 in 1984 after two years of very hard and dedicated work. 20 years later and their work still survives as the loco has celebrated those two decades in service with some special trains in Southern Germany. The engine has worked to places throughout Europe including Luxembourg, Switzerland, Austria, France, Poland and Russia as well as of course Germany from North to South. For many years the old lady has given reliable service to lots of enthusiasts always maintained by volunteer drivers and fireman in addition to visits to Meiningen loco works. There have been many highs and lows in the life of 01 1066 or 012 066-7 (the guise in which I would love to see her, just in plain black and red) but after 20 years of mainly successful running we should keep "fingers crossed" that the engine that worked the last D 715 in 1975 will remain in steam for many more years to come. For all those enthusiasts interested in the class 01 a book covering the history of 01 173, 01 1066, 01 1081 and 01 509 van be obtained via schnellzuglok.de for a reasonable price..." Thank you Michael for the report and for sending Michael Götz's photos. 01 1066 Report continued |
| 01 1066 continued |
01 1066 at Gegenbach on October 23rd. Photo by Michael Götz .
01 1066 Report continued |
| 01 1066 continued |
01 1066 storms away from Gegenbach to Villingen on October 23rd. Photo by Michael Götz .
01 1066 Reportcontinued |
| 01 1066 continued | |
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MIchael Schweizer has also sent these photos taken by Daniel Saarbourg, the webmaster for the UEF homepage. They show 01 1066 at Ettlingen Stadt on the AVG railway on Saturday 23rd October during the 20 year anniversary of her return to steam in 1984.
23rd October Report | |
| Cottbus - Görlitz - Hoyerswerda, Photo passenger train with 35 1019 | |
22nd to 24th October saw 52 8080 working several photo-freights in the Bischofswerda - Loebau - Sebnitz area, with 35 1019 joining in on the 23rd and 24th by working a photo passenger train on the Cottbus - Görlitz - Hoyerswerda line. Helmut Dahlhaus photographed the 2-6-2 leaving leaving Charlottenhof (between Kodersdorf and Görlitz) with the photo passenger train on Saturday the 23rd.
16 October report | |
| 16th October: Eisenbahn Kurier Sonderzug to Hamburg | |
On 16th October 01 1102, now back into service, worked an Eisenbahn Kurier Sonderzug from Dortmund to Hamburg. Michael Bernhold photographed the train near to Ostercappeln
16 October continued | |
| 16th October: Lausitzer Dampflok Club train from Cottbus to Wernigerode and Brocken. | |
41 1231 makes a fine sight in Autumn sunshine near to Heudeber. Photo by Andreas Leipoldt.
October 2nd Report | |
| 26th September report |
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| 01 118 works from Frankfurt to Battenberg bzw. | |
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On Sunday 26th September, 01 118 from the Historischen Eisenbahn Frankfurt worked a DB Museum Sonderzug from Frankfurt/Main to Frankenberg bzw. and Battenberg. The photo from Wolfgang Rotzler shows the coal fired two cylinder pacific at the former station of Battenberg bzw. in Allendorf/Eder. September 18th Report | |
| 18th Sept: 012 100-4 runs from Nürnberg to Regensburg and return |
012 100-4 starts the scheinanfahrt into Neukirchen.
A superbly warm and sunny September weekend started well with an excellent meal with Anna Bickel from DB Museum, sitting outside a pleasant Nürnberg restaurant. Saturday saw the lovely weather continue as 012 100-4 in the hands of Jörg Hinrichsen and Volker Siewke took us via Lauf, Hersbruck and Amberg to Regensburg. 18th September report continued |
| 18th Sept: 012 100-4 runs from Nürnberg to Regensburg and return continued
There was a lovely noisy climb up from Lauf to Hersbruck, (Rechs Peg.), through the scenic Hersbrucker Alb, and that was followed by a speed restricted climb through Hartmannshof to a photo stop at Neukirchen, (bei Sulzbach-Rosenberg). At that station we enjoyed a scheinanfahrt, and Jörg and Volker put on a superb display with "our" lok as they stormed back into the station. Leaving Neukirchen we soon passed a massive but sadly now closed steel works as we headed onto a crossing stop with a normal service train at Amberg. Amberg was the limit for 012 100-4's first main run out from Nürnberg back in 1985 when she was returned to service after having been saved from a scrap yard. More lively running on a continuing superb September day continued after Amberg to an early arrival at the beautiful and historic City of Regensburg. Right: 012 100-4 storms back into Neukirchen, (Bei Sulzbach-Rosenberg), during the scheinanfahrt 18th September report continued |
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| 18th Sept: 012 100-4 from Nürnberg to Regensburg cont.
A great "Rendsburger EF" lunch followed in a garden courtyard of an Altstadt restaurant, then a short trip on the Donau and Regen rivers, all in warm sunshine. Another peaceful courtyard next to the magnificent Cathedral allowed us further refreshments before heading back to the Hauptbahnhof for our on time departure to Nürnberg; this time on the main line. A noisy climb away from Regensburg kept the "front coachers"quiet as we listened to that lovely three cylinder roar. Then followed some delays as we were scheduled behind a local train but as we cleared that train our loco crew opened up the pacific and we raced along at 120 km/h before an early arrival at Nürnberg. A bar was found for a pleasant "after train" drink, before the various participants left for their various destinations. So ended the second of two very pleasant trips from Nürnberg for 012 100-4. Both had seen superb weather and a wonderful welcome by DB Museum. Top: A view from the ship trip on the Donau. Lower: 012 100-4 waits at Regensburg |
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| 11th September Report
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| 11th Sept: 012 100-4 runs from Nürnberg to an "01.10 Meet" at Heilbronn |
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The second weekend in September saw a few meetings in Germany! 012 100-4 took a DB Museum Sonderzug from Nürnberg via Würzburg to Heilbronn for a "Meet" with the two out of use 012 pacifics kept there, (photo above). More meetings took place in Nürnberg as I was able to meet and enjoy the company of some of the hard working people in the DB Museum who help to run their programme of Sonderzug, including those with 012 100-4!
11th September report continued |
| 11th Sept: 012 100-4 runs from Nürnberg to an "01.10 Meet" at Heilbronn continued
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| These web pages have shown many photos and news stories about the Dampflokstar der DB, 012 100-4. They have also shown photos of many of the people from DB, DB Nostalgiereisen and the Rendsburger Eisenbahnfreunde who work so hard to run the Sonderzug with "our" lok. And now we can see the ladies in the "nerve centre" of DB Museum who also work very hard to ensure our trains with 012 100-4, (and other DB Museum loks) run to a variety of popular destinations. And lovely people they are! Making me wonderfully welcome in Nürnberg, at the Museum and on the Sonderzug between 9th and 11th September.
From left to right above we can see Petra, Anna, Antje and Sandra. All the ladies are in the offices on the third floor of the DB Museum building, except for Antje, who is standing in front of 05 001 in the outside exhibits section of the Museum. | ||
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11th September report continued | ||
| 11th Sept: 012 100-4 runs from Nürnberg to an "01.10 Meet" at Heilbronn continued |
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| In superb evening light on September 10th 012 100-4 simmers outside the DB Museum loco shed at Gostenhof , soon after Holger Lemke and Jörg Hinrichsen had brought the loco down from Meiningen.
11th September report continued |
| 11th Sept: 012 100-4 runs from Nürnberg to an "01.10 Meet" at Heilbronn continued | |
| September 11th started a bit dull and slightly wet, but soon became a lovely sunny day. A great day indeed for another wonderful journey behind 012 100-4. With a light 5 car train Holger Lemke and Jorg Hinrichsen, along with a local DB Museum driver, ran superbly to the water stop at Würzburg. We had a very fast schedule from Fürth to Würzburg which we would certainly have kept to but for a very long slow section because of track works near to Puschendorf, and a short signal stop near Rottendorf. We enjoyed some long spells running at the maximum speed for the train, and a very nosiy climb away from the river bridge near to Kitzingen. There was no doubt from the lovely three cylinder roar from the 012 pacific that Meiningen Dampflokwerk had fully repaired the valve timing problem of the previous weekend! |  |
| From Würzburg Volker Siewke and Bodo Gifhorn were our loco crew, and we enjoyed a lovely run over some lines familiar to those of us who visited the area for steam in the 1970s: Wurzburg - Lauda - Osterburken - Heilbronn. That brought back great memories of times photographing the 023 class 2-6-2 loks from Lauda, where we stopped for short photo session, (photo right). More noisy hill climbing and some restrained downhill running over the heavily speed restricted line followed onto Bad Friedrichshall-Jagsfeld. There we joined the main line into Heilbronn, and we had one final roaring acceleration up to full speed as we raced through Neckersulm. After a short stop in Heilbronn we continued the short distance to the station next to the Heilbronn Museum depot. In warm sunshine we all enjoyed a visit to the home of a number of steam locos, including two other 01.10 loks, 01 1081 and 1104, (both denkmal). A fourth 01.10, 01 1066 which is based here was out hauling a Sonderzug.
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11th September report continued
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| 11th Sept: 012 100-4 runs from Nürnberg to an "01.10 Meet" at Heilbronn continued |
012 100-4 in the company of two sister loks at Heilbronn.
11th September report continued |
| 11th Sept: 012 100-4 runs from Nürnberg to an "01.10 Meet" at Heilbronn continued | ||
Anna, our train guide, at work during the Würzburg stop.
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Bodo Gifhorn and Volker Siewke with a new 012 100-4 lokführer! Our lok personnel were of course only drinking coffee and mineral water as they were due to work again later.
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From Stuttgart and Koblenz, two Rendsburger E.F. regulars enjoy a sunny Lauda |
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Our return from the Museum started with a short trip behind 38 3199 back into Heilbronn. From there 012 100-4 made a noisy tender first climb to Ludwigsburg. The loco ran round the train there and we headed off with Volker and Bodo in charge of the lok via Backnang and Gaildorf to a short photo stop at Crailsheim. Back on the main line we had a rousing start up the grade and then some fast running onto our stop at Ansbach. By now we were ahead of schedule so the signals kept our speed down the rest of the way back to an on time arrival at Nürnberg. The jovial front coachers had to disperse quickly to their various destinations, but a couple of us still enjoyed a few biers and a pleasant meal outside of a local restaurant in a still warm and very pleasant Nürnberg. So ended another superb day with 012 100-4, and for me a wonderful Nürnberg weekend. | ||
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01 1066 on 11th September
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| 11th Sept: 01 1066 Gütersloh to Linz, (Rhein)
Originally it had been planned that the 01.10 "Meet" at Heilbronn, would include four of these lovely pacifics together. 01 1066, 01 1081, 012 100-4 and 01 1104. Of those four 012 100-4 is of course the working pacific from DB Museum & Rendsburger Eisenbahnfreunde and 01 1066 the working loco from the Ulmer Eisenbahnfreunde. The other two are both denkmal. But the working pacifics have to earn their keep, and on Saturday September 11th 01 1066 was doing just that! Helmut Dahlhaus photographed 01 1066 hauling a special from Gütersloh to Linz (Rhein). On board as guest of honour was famous Chinese tourist guide Wurina (better known as Tina). Helmut's photo was taken south of Rhöndorf with the "Drachenfels" in the background. 5th September report |
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| 5th Sept: 01 1066 Hannover to Osnabrück | ||
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| On 5th September, 01 1066, which had been on a special train to Meiningen the previous day, worked a very short sonderzug from Hannover to the Osnabrück Dampflokfest, seen here leaving Hannover Hbf.
5th September report continued | ||
| 5th Sept: 01 1066 Hannover to Osnabrückcontinued | ||
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| Rainer Schnell took this photo of 01 1066 near to Lengerich on September 5th, the day of the Osnabrück Dampflokfest.
4th September report | ||
| 4th Sept: 012 100-4 and 41 360, (return only), from Hannover to the Meiningen Open Day and return. | ||
| Superb sunny weather, a good number of main line German steam locos, and very large numbers of people combined to make Saturday 4th September a great Meiningen Dampflokwerk Open Day day for steam enthusiasts and others. There were a large number of special steam loco hauled trains planned months ago when it was felt the route via Oberhof would have re-opened after long term engineering work. But that route had not re-opened and that made very hard work indeed for all those DB staff involved in running the railways in that area. But all the special trains got to Meiningen, even though most had to wait their turn over the single track railway from Eisenach, which did lead to inevitable but totally unavoidable long delays. One of those special trains was from Hannover behind 012 100-4 which put in another sparkling performance despite suffering an increasingly audible problem with the valve timing of the centre cylinder. That great loco stayed at Meiningen on September 4th for remedial work which should see it back in service from Nürnberg on Saturday 11th September. | ||
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| The day starts at Hannover with Fritz Wolff greeting our loco crew of Volker Siewke and Thomas Boldt, and soon after we started our friendly DB on train staff were hard at work in the front coach.
4th September report continued | ||
| 4th Sept: 012 100-4 and 41 360, (return only), from Hannover to the Meiningen Open Day and return continued. | |
| 012 100-4 left Hannnover just about on time with a six car train and with DB Museum diesel lok 215 122 at the rear of the train. The Diesel was being taken to Nürnberg for some certification work, and certainly did not work for the whole trip to Meiningen! There was some lovely hill climbing noise from the 012 pacific, but some early slight speed checks meant we lost our pathway, and were delayed at Mülhausen, (Thür), awaiting another pathway on the single track line. More good running followed until we were held for some time at Wutha because of the considerable congestion caused by all the steam special trains in front waiting their turn to climb up to Förthaer Tunnel on the single track line to Meiningen. But we were in a station, next to the Dampflokstar der DB on a superbly sunny and warm late summer day, and amongst friends who share the love of that loco. So the delay was no real problem. Just a chance to talk about German steam loks and enjoy a drink or two. | |
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| 012 100-4 at Mülhausen (Thür), and right with 41 360 on another special train in the background during the long wait at Bad Salzungen.
4th September report continued | |
| 4th Sept: 012 100-4 and 41 360, (return only), from Hannover to the Meiningen Open Day and return continued. | |
| We left Wurtha with considerable anticipation for the very steep climb from Eisenach up to the Förthaer Tunnel. Even though the exhaust beat of 012 100-4 was by now sounding a little different because of the valve gear problem we made a quite superb climb with our train that, with the non working diesel at the rear, weighed around 320 tonnes. A lot of photographers lined the route and it was no surprise to see a number of the Rendsburger Eisenbahnnfreunde members amongst them, photographing our train which was the fifth steam hauled train to make the climb in one and a half hours! | |
012 100-4 storming up the very steep climb from Eisenach to Förtha near the closed Blockstelle "Höpfen". Photo Danny Teuchert 4th September report continued | |
| 4th Sept: 012 100-4 and 41 360, (return only), from Hannover to the Meiningen Open Day and return continued.
We had another long wait at Bad Salzungen, at first waiting next to 2-8-2, 41 360 also on a special train to Meiningen. In front were other steam hauled special trains. Some waiting at crossing places for normal service trains to cross them, and some already at Meiningen waiting to be shunted into sidings to release platform space for the next train. DB staff must have worked very hard indeed to get us all to Meiningen. And during our wait at Bad Salzungen there was time for ice creams or a bier, (or both), in very relaxed fashion next to our favourite steam locomotive! | |
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| Left: Some of the lokpersonnel and other Rendsburger members wait in the shade during our wait at Bad Salzungen, as do, Right: "Drie Lok Führer"! Three of our Rendsburger lokführers, Volker Siewke, Holger Lemke and Bodo Gifhorn!
4th September report continued | |
| 4th Sept: 012 100-4 and 41 360, (return only), from Hannover to the Meiningen Open Day and return continued.
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| 012 100-4 leaving Bad Salzungen. Photo Danny Teuchert
4th September report continued | |
| 4th Sept: 012 100-4 and 41 360, (return only), from Hannover to the Meiningen Open Day and return continued.
There were large numbers of people visiting Meiningen Dampflokwerk but some of us just stayed at the station for a drink and a bockwurst, and to see the locos that had worked in that day. Our own 012 100-4 of course, and 03 1010 with regular driver Harry Heydenbluth now happily back at work after a small operation, as well as 01 118, 41 360 and 042 018. | |
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| 012 100-4 after arrival at Meiningen station.
4th September report continued | |
| 4th Sept: 012 100-4 and 41 360, (return only), from Hannover to the Meiningen Open Day and return continued.
It was no surprise that having arrived very late, our return train to Hannover would depart late, and with 41 360 as planned. It was scheduled that 012 100-4 would take another special train back to Nürnberg, as it is due to work from there later in September. But the pacific was staying at Meiningen to correct the valve timing problem, so diesel lok 215 122 was expected to take the special to Nürnberg, with 042 018 which was originally planned to take that train as well as the 012 from Schweinfurt to Nürnberg. 41 360 ran well with our heavy train back to Hannover: around 540 tonnes as we had added the baggage car with water tanks, four cars from another special and an extra loco tender at the back! We got stopped at Förtha on the steep climb to Förthaer Tunnel, and the crew did well to restart such a heavy train on the steep grade. We also enjoyed a long, slow and noisy climb in the dark up to Silbershausen: I think we took 25 minutes for the climb, and I enjoyed it from a window 7 cars back. We had been given very good information during our outward trip by Fritz Wolff and Claus Rethorn and later on by the onboard DB staff. On the return our DB staff did a superb job with many announcements about trains that people could use their DB Museum tickets on to get to their homes, as our late running meant that many connecting trains at Hannover would be missed. |
41 360 heads our returning Sonderzug through the Thuringen countryside. | |
| With the Oberhof route still shut DB had an enormous task in getting all the sonderzug to Meiningen. But they did achieve that, as well as still running the normal scheduled trains. Maybe it would have been easier to have cancelled some of the steam sonderzug: but that wasn't done. Instead a very large number of people were able to get to Meiningen and see the world famous Dampflokwerk, and to see some examples of the very best of German main line steam locomotives. Including "our own" 012 100-4. All on a wonderfully warm and sunny late summers day. Great stuff! | ||
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