MAIN LINE GERMAN STEAM LOCO NEWS Reports from August to December 2005
		INDEX Use the REFRESH icon to keep photos downloading

Date	Event	Locos
17th Dec	Leipzig to Zwickau	03 1010
3rd Dec	Hamburg area	012 100-4
1st Dec	Nördlingen - Kempten	03 2295
26th Nov	Hamburg Hbf to Hildesheim	012 100-4
23rd Oct	Switzerland	01 202 and 50 3673
17th Oct	DB Museum: Gostenhof	Various
4th Oct	Plandampf	Various
23rd Sept	Meiningen	012 100-4
16th Sept	Meiningen	012 100-4
2nd Sept	Meiningen	012 100-4
26th Aug	Hamburg area	03 2204
20th Aug	Hamburg - Westerland	03 1010
15th Aug	Meiningen	012 100-4
13th Aug	Esslingen - Linz/Rhein	23 042
2005	May to July 2005 News Reports	Various locos
2003-6	News Index	Various locos
	Main Index

17th December: 03 1010 works a Sonderzug from Leipzig to Zwickau

On Saturday 17th December three cylinder coal fired pacific 03 1010 worked a Sonderzug through wintry weather from Leipzig to Zwickau. Andreas Leipoldt photographed the pacific at Altenburg. 3rd - 4th December report

3 - 4th December: 012 100-4 working from Hamburg

012 100-4 near Hamburg-Lokstedt on the morning of Saturday December 3rd. Photo Danny Teuchert. The weekend of 3 & 4th December saw two Sonderzug hauled by 012 100-4. That on the 3rd being the usual Christmas round trip, Hamburg - Neumünster - Lübeck - Hamburg - Neumünster run by the Rendsburger Eisenbahnfreunde with marketing undertaken by Nostalgie- Express. 3rd - 4th December report continued

3 - 4th December: 012 100-4 working from Hamburg

012 100-4 roaring along near Prisdorf on the morning of Saturday December 3rd. Photo Udo Tribess. 3rd - 4th December report continued

3 -4th December: 012 100-4 working from Hamburg continued

Top: Roaring along near to Wrist, photo from Udo Tribess. Lower: Between Raisdorf and Preetz, photo from Jan-Henrik Sellin. 3rd - 4th December report continued

3 -4th December: 012 100-4 working from Hamburg continued
Great to be amongst good friends in the front coach, even though the soup portions were smaller this week! Made up for by glühwein at Lübeck after our lunch, and by the large crowds attracted by 012 100-4 at Hamburg Hbf in the evening. 3rd - 4th December report continued

3 -4th December: 012 100-4 working from Hamburg continued

With Volker Siewke and Martin Altrock in charge of the loco the pacific had made some nice noise on the way out to Lübeck in the morning heading through frost covered countryside. After a great lunch at Lübeck our REF group were together again in the front coach for the return journey behind 012 100-4: the running was a little subdued as far as Hamburg because of some red signals which made us a little late. At the Hbf a large crowd gathered around to view the Dampflok Star Der DB as Holger Lemke took over the loco controls. Few red signals now as we headed past the Christmas lights on the Alster, (above), and then some wonderful roaring starts as we headed North. A group of us left the train at Wrist and in the pitch black night we watched as Holger opened up the big pacific and roared off into the inky darkness of a December night. For me bringing back memories of over thirty years ago and standing on the platform at Lathen in April 1975 as an 012 headed off North. With the sound of 012 100-4 still fresh in our minds we took a normal train back to Hamburg for yet another superb evening in Nagels Bar.

3rd to 4th December report continued

3 -4th December: 012 100-4 working from Hamburg continued

Fresh from the train back from Wrist our group headed quickly into Nagels bar opposite Hamburg Hbf. 3rd to 4th December report continued

3 -4th December: 012 100-4 working from Hamburg continued
Sunday 4th December saw 012 100-4 back in Hamburg Hbf for a 12.20 departure on a DB Museum/Rendsburger Eisenbahnfreunde special to Uelzen. The very cold weather of Saturday was replaced by much milder temperatures. As departure time came and went Jörg Heinrichsen, (heizer for the outward journey via Soltau), checked to see what the delay was. But soon we were off with "birthday boy" Volker Siewke driving. Climbing out of the Hauptbahnhof we were next to an IC for Koblenz, giving a great view to those in the front coach of that train.
3rd -4th December report continued

3 -4th December: 012 100-4 working from Hamburg continued

With most of the outward journey due to be on speed restricted lines across flat countryside there were only two places to be sure of getting a photo of the 012 roaring uphill. Predictably Udo Tribess got to both places! Firstly here at Fleestedt, (between Hamburg Harburg and Buchholz), and (next page), at Schneverdingen summit.

3rd -4th December report continued

3 -4th December: 012 100-4 working from Hamburg continued

012 100-4 roars up to the summit at Schneverdingen. Photo from Udo Tribess.

3rd -4th December report continued

3 -4th December: 012 100-4 working from Hamburg continued
The leisurely journey after Schneverdingen allowed a lunch in the trains buffet car: the Soljanka soup prepared by chef and, (for the evening return trip), driver Bodo Gifhorn was superb, and served in generous quantities. Our group enjoyed the Uelzen Christmas market and a visit to the restored church, where a familiar number was top of the hymn board for the next service!
3rd -4th December report continued

3 -4th December: 012 100-4 working from Hamburg continued

Bodo Gifhorn left the restaurant car to drive the pacific for our main line journey back, with Thomas Boldt as heizer. A nice start saw us running well before Lüneberg. Then the 3 cylinder pacific was opened right up and roared her way superbly to near the maximum permitted speed at the front of her 300 tonne train. A fitting finale to a superb weekend which ended at Hamburg Hbf, the spiritual home of Germany's greatest ever class of steam locomotive. 26th November report

03 2295 back in service and working Nördlingen - Augsburg - Kempten

After a major overhaul 03 2295 from the Bayerisches Eisenbahn Museum has returned to service. Photo here from Charlie Grutscha , BEM. 03 2295 0n 26th November continued

03 2295 back in service and working Nördlingen - Augsburg - Kempten continued

The Bayerisches Eisenbahn Museum 03 2295 on 26th November near to Weinhausen. Photo from Denis Hopf. 012 100-4 on 26th November report

012 100-4 works Hamburg Hbf to Hildesheim and return

26th November saw 012 100-4 haul a DB Museum/Rendsburger Eisenbahnfreunde Sonderzug from Hamburg Hbf to Hildesheim and return. With Father Christmas on board and the chance of visiting the Christmas market at Hildesheim it was appropriate that for part of the trip the 012 pacific roared her way through a snowy landscape! 26th November report continued

012 100-4 works Hamburg Hbf to Hildesheim and return continued
The day had started at Hamburg Hbf at 08.49, and with quite a few "looping" stops had seen plenty of lovely roaring re-starts up to the water stop at Uelzen. 26th November report continued

012 100-4 works Hamburg Hbf to Hildesheim and return continued

Waiting in the loop at Eschede: Photo from Thomas Boldt. 26th November report continued

012 100-4 works Hamburg Hbf to Hildesheim and return continued

Hildesheim was sunny and without snow, and after a few delays near to Hannover we had arrived just a few minutes late. But still plenty of time to enjoy the sight of the lovely 012 pacific before heading into the town for lunch. 26th November continued

012 100-4 works Hamburg Hbf to Hildesheim and return continued
Lunch was excellent, even if the portions were large! Back at Hildesheim Father Christmas was waiting to join the train, before we returned via Braunschweig, Wittingen and Uelzen. Heading back though North Germany was wonderful: few town lights to spoil the black night illuminated just by a layer of snow and the sparkling stars. A series of whistles from 012 100-4 as we approached ungated level crossings, and the occasional village with houses proudly displaying their Christmas lights. A water stop at Uelzen and then a lovely roar up the main line to an early arrival in Hamburg Hbf. Then the usual excellent gathering at Nagels Bar. 23rd October report

23rd October: 01 202 and 50 3673 working in Switzerland.

With the possible loss of 01 150 it is good to see that there are still surviving operational members of the class. 01 202, based in Switzerland was one of the last of the class built. Alan Ress photographed 01 202 with 50 3673 at work in Switzerland near the end of October and sends this report. "........ 01 202 started in Lyss und 50 3673 from Haltingen. They joined forces in Arth-Goldau to challenge the Gotthard. The outward journey to Mindrisio was on the Saturday. My photo was taken between Schwyz and Arth-Goldau on the return journey on Sunday with that magnificent peak called the Mythen in the background....." 18th October report

17th October: Severe fire at DB Museum roundhouse, Gostenhof, Nürnberg

News has been coming through of a dreadful fire at the DB Museum roundhouse at Gostenhof, Nürnberg. I will use the words of one of the many visitors to this web site, Peter. J. Flaskamp, who reports that:- "...........There is bad news from Germany: German TV reported on a fire which occured at the German railway museum at Nürberg yesterday evening. The roundhouse, (at Gostenhof) with the museum exhibits burnt down completely, it looks like about 25 locos are lost. Allegedly, affected are 01 150, 23 105, 45 010, 50 622, 86 457, 89 801, V60 150, V80 002, V100 1023, V100 2023, V200 002, E75 09, the "Adler" (Replica of the first ever German train, built by Stephenson), 627 001, Berlin S-Bahn, a railcar class 795 or 798. This happened almost exactly 11 years after that terrible fire at Hamburg, where a museum roundhouse burnt down on 15 Oct......" One mercy is that the reports at present indicate that no one was hurt in the inferno. We must hope that is correct. For me the probable loss of 01 150 is awful. I travelled behind that loco between Koblenz and Trier in the early 1970s when she put in some lovely performances on the Eilzug and Schnellzugs that were on diesel timings. It is possible that one or two of the, (non steam), locos may have been outside of the shed and therefore not destroyed. I returned only late last night from my mountain hiking trip in Bavaria, which itself followed the superb Rheinland Pfalz Plandampf. I will be starting the photo report on the Plandampf later today, but for the present my priority is to update the web site to report this very, very sad news.

18th October report continued

17th October: Severe fire at DB Museum roundhouse, Gostenhof, Nürnberg continued

I can't bring myself to add the photos of the damaged steam locos. So let's look back on happier times and this great shot from Jürgen Rech of 01 150. A loco I remember well from her great work in the Mosel valley in 1971. October Plandampf

31st September to 4th October: Plandampf!

Robin Garn took this superb photo later on the evening of 30th September: the day before the event started. He writes, with a starting reference to the dreadful events at Nürnberg, Gostenhof.... "Dear Bryan, .... what we can take comfort from......The Grand Parade.... A quite unusual and unique gathering of nine big steam locomotives from different German destinations at Neustadt/Weinstraße (Sept. 30, 2005). On top of this, they all were sent to regular duties in the following three days, a fact most steam loco enthusiasts in the world probably envy us for....Best regards.....Robin 6th October report continued

31st September to 4th October: Plandampf continued
The three real stars of the event so far as "stop watchers" and "train riders" were concerned. 012 100-4, 01 519 and 03 1010. On Friday night they were sitting quietly on Neustadt Weinstrasse loco shed, but their work over the three following days was anything but quiet! Photos from Jürgen Rech.
For train timers and train riders the Big Rheinland Pfalz Plandampf, (followed by the smaller one day event with 23 042), was a quite superb four days of steam action seeing, (on three days), some of the best sustained running in the 70 - 75 mph range since Plandampfs in the mid 1990s. But for those on the lineside it was a different story with dull, damp and at times very wet weather. That pattern only broken for a short time on Sunday morning. Yes, there were enormous numbers of people adding to the 1,000 plus hard core steam enthusiasts at the first three days. On the three car shuttle and branch line trains this did lead to severe overcrowding. The pacific hauled main line trains were generally very busy, but significant overcrowding on those was just for short stretches. 19th October Update!!! Plandampf photo report now on the Plandampf Photo web page
23 September report

23rd September: 012 100-4 repainted, steamed up and ready to go!

23rd September: Freshly painted, but before having headlights and number plates re-fitted 012 100-4 departed Meiningen (tender first) to Bad Salzungen with some restored cargo wagon at 10:50. From Bad Salzungen to Meiningen back with 4 Passenger and 1 cargo wagon. Photo and news from Jürgen Rech. 23rd September report continued

23rd September: 012 100-4 repainted, steamed up and ready to go!

Jürgen waited for a good while to see the loco re-fitted with headlights, numbers etc by Meiningen Staff and the Rendsburger team, (Bodo Gifhorn seen here) in the hope of seeing her in final condition outside before sunset! 23rd September report continued

23rd September: 012 100-4 repainted, steamed up and ready to go!

But in true railway photographers tradition the loco didn't roll onto the turntable outside until 12 minutes after sunset! But Jürgen still managed a couple of great photos of the lovely loco that nine months ago was taken out of service with a boiler defect that could have ended her operational life. 23rd September report continued

23rd September: 012 100-4 repainted, steamed up and ready to go!

The loco was due to leave Meiningen at 11.45 today, (24th Sept), for Hannover via Eisenach and Eichenberg, to work a special to Osnabrück on the 25th, together with 41 360. Sunday evening the loco goes to Oberhausen together with the 41, then both locos run to to Neustadt next Friday for the Plandampf. Many thanks Jürgen for this, and all the other photos and news about this historic rebuild of our lovely three cylinder 012 pacific. 16th September report

012 100-4 is operational again!

Udo Tribess sends us this great news, and the photo:- Last Friday 012 100-4 was successfully tested heading a 6 car train from Meiningen to Eisenach and back. The train consisted of the 3 typical Meiningen works passenger cars + 3 cars of the Meiningen emergency train. We saw it leaving Meiningen station at 10.25h and roaring along near Ettenhausen. But climbing the hill beneath the Wartburg in Eisenach (12.50h) was the most impressive of the day. Despite partly heavy rain all day I succeeded in taking one photo. Jürgen Rech , who has been taking that great series of photos of the heavy repair also tells us :- The engine leaves Meiningen works on Friday 23rd Sept, (ca. 22:00) destination Hannover! Volker Siewke and the Rendsburger team fire up the loco a day earlier than that. So I'll go Friday morning to Meiningen Works to finish my report about this famous loco with a superb picture outside the Shed.      2nd September report

012 100-4 gets it's new boiler at Meiningen Loco Works

At the end of August 012 100-4 received her new boiler at Meiningen Loco Works. A great step on the road to this superb loco coming back into service, expected for some time later in September. Photo from Thomas Boldt.

2nd September report continued

012 100-4 gets it's new boiler at Meiningen Loco Works continued

012 100-4 receives her new boiler at Meiningen Loco Works. Photo from Thomas Boldt. 2nd September report continued

012 100-4 gets it's new boiler at Meiningen Loco Works continued

012 100-4 receives her new boiler at Meiningen Loco Works. Photo from Jürgen Rech. 2nd September report continued

012 100-4 gets it's new boiler at Meiningen Loco Works continued

012 100-4 receives her new boiler at Meiningen Loco Works. Photo from Thomas Boldt. 26th August report

03 204 due to work several trips Hamburg to Lübeck/Puttgarden on 17th and 18th September

03 204 at Neustadt (Orla) during the October Saalfeld to Gera Plandampf

Dirk Voigt from Lübeck has sent the news that two cylinder coal-fired Pacific 03 204 from Cottbus will soon be in service with steam specials between Hamburg , Lübeck and crossing the great bridge over the "Fehmarnsund" to Puttgarden. Full details available from this web site. Further information can also be gained by using the Kontakt option on that web site. 03 204 (ex "Bw Wittenberge") was in "east-west" -service between Berlin and Hamburg until the end of the 60s and so was often to be seen in Hamburg. Now this loco is turning back the clock to remind us of these times and to celebrate the aniversary "140 years of Hamburg - Lübeck railways".

20th August Report

03 1010 works from Hamburg Altona to Westerland and return
To me and many other enthusiasts of German main line steam, one of the great experiences is leaving Westerland with a Hamburg bound express behind a 3 cylinder pacific. A roaring start from the station and through the Sylt countryside onto the famous Hindenburgdamm that links the island with the German mainland. That brings back memories of the early 1970s when such sights and sounds occured several times daily behind the wonderful 012 three cylinder pacifics. Well, Saturday saw that experience recreated again as three cylinder coal fired pacific 03 1010, (012 100-4 is still under heavy repair at Meiningen), took her sold out ten car train away from the Island station in the evening sunshine. After a slight check to cross an inbound Autozug train at Keitum the pacific was fully opened up to start roaring her way across the flat Sylt countryside. And it wasn't only the 450 or more people on the train that enjoyed the event. Many others had gathered at the various level crossings and other vantage points all the way across the Island to see the pacifc making that wonderful three cylinder noise as she accelerated her heavy train up to around 110 km/h onto the Hindenburgdamm. A quite outstanding start to a return journey on a day that saw yet another great Sonderzug operated by DB Museum and the Rendsburger Eisenbahnfreunde, (REF). On a weekend when some of the REF members were able to meet at Nagels Bar on the evening before the Sonderzug as well as afterwards! Right: Earlier in the day 03 1010 waits departure at Hamburg Altona
20th August report continued

03 1010 works from Hamburg Altona to Westerland and return continued
That roaring return from Westerland was some hours away as we met at Hamburg Altona for our prompt 09.07 departure. Because of the very busy part single line section from Niebüll to Westerland we have normally had to leave at 05.40 in the morning. But for today DB Autozug, who operate the car train shuttles between Niebüll and Westerland, very kindly gave us their only spare summer Saturday pathway at 12.47 from Niebüll. So thanks to that DB company who operate their incredibly efficient service for car drivers to and from the Island of Sylt, the 450 passengers on the Sonderzug were able to enjoy a departure at a very reasonable time. For our three cylinder 03 1010, with Volker Siewke and Bodo Gifhorn as the crew to Heide, the ten car train, (including two fully loaded car carrying wagons), weighing 400 tonnes was going to need a good effort all the way from the three cylinder pacific. And as soon as we had left the speed restricted area near Altona the locomotive was opened right up as we roared our way up the main line to Westerland. To make sure we were on time into Niebüll for that critical pathway it was essential we kept to time, and that meant some wonderfully noisy running: that after slowing for the 100 km/h speed restriction through Glückstadt being the best! Right: Bodo Gifhorn, Volker Siewke and Thomas Boldt make final preparations before leaving Hamburg Altona.
20th August report continued

03 1010 works from Hamburg Altona to Westerland and return continued
We crossed the Hochbrucke Hochdonn over the Nord-Ost Kanal in fairly dull and misty weather: the lovely hot sunshine of the day before having deserted us. But that did nothing to dampen our spirits as we arrived on time at Heide for the water stop. Holger Lemke and Jörg Heinrichsen were our loco crew from there and they continued the good running. Slightly early into Niebüll we soon left close behind an Autozug and as we roared over the Hindenburgdamm at close to 110 km/h the weather showed signs of improving! After arrival at Westerland a small group of us enjoyed a superb fish lunch, followed by three lovely and warm sunny hours on the beach: one member spending 20 minutes in the 17 degree North Sea, with the rest of us just venturing in for a short paddle! And then back to Westerland shortly before 03 1010 shunted our train back into platform one for our on time 18.40 departure. Right: 03 1010 during the water stop at Heide.
20th August report continued

03 1010 works from Hamburg Altona to Westerland and return continued
The sun stayed out just long enough to shine on that wonderfully noisy and very emotional departure from Westerland and the subsequent roar across the Island of Sylt. It was wonderful to see so many people at almost every vantage point to watch our passing as Holger and Jörg worked the pacific up to nearly 110 km/h as we passed one last crowd of people and then ran onto the famous Hindenburgdamm.	Working on the coal fired pacific was a "bed of roses" for Bodo and Volker! Photo Oliver Oster.
Our journey back followed similar lines to that in the morning. Roaring starts and accelerations away from speed restrictions, and on time running all the way back to the water stop at Itzehoe. After Elmshorn we were delayed a little but that didn't stop a magnificent noisy start from Pinneberg. Reports from one R.E.F member who had just returned from a day long a trip from Rostock to Kiel with the Icebreaker "Stettin" was that the "Roaring Monster" could be heard on the lineside for about 4 kms from the Pinneberg start! After another signal check we were just a few minutes late into Hamburg Altona, where our crew from Heide were photographed complete with roses, (above). It was then but a short S Bahn ride across town for a late night arrival at a busy Nagels bar. Where the dull weather had relented to give a warm evening allowing another great "after Sonderzug" evening in the outside seating until into the early hours of Sunday morning!
15th August report

012 100-4 at Meiningen Loco Works

Near to mid August and the new boiler is tested "for size" on the frames of 012 100-4. The pressure-test due on 17 August is delayed, and the earliest roll out date for the loco is now put at September 16th. News from Jürgen Rech who passed on the photo taken by Uwe Leifheit from DLW Meiningen. 13th August report

13th August: 23 042 runs from Esslingen via Darmstadt to Linz/Rhein

On August 13th the Darmstadt Kranichstein Loco 23 042 headed a special from Esslingen via Darmstadt to Linz/Rhine via Frankfurt - Limburg - Oberlahnstein. The 2-6-2 loco took the train from Darmstadt and back. This Photo was taken by Jürgen Rech as the train left the tunnel near Obernhof/Lahn. 13th August report continued

13th August: 23 042 runs from Esslingen via Darmstadt to Linz/Rhein

Carl-Otto Ames was also photographing the 23, and took this shot as it passed through Dausenau station. Next

Reports from earlier in 2005	News Index	Main Index