Just got back from Germany. Saw a live 4-8-4 from my train on the south side of the tracks between Mannheim and Heidelberg. Also, while traveling by ICE from Stuttgart to Singen we passed through a small town about an hour south of Stuttgart. On the west side of the tracks were about 20/25? steam engines in various states of disrepair. There was also a roundhouse behind the engines with about 10 stalls. Any one know what I was looking at?

mmitscher@catena.com

Are you sure it wasn't a 4-6-2? I didn't think DB operated anything larger than Pacifics in recent years. I used to ride behind Pacific 01 1100 almost every chance I could in the mid to late 1980s. I'm not sure how the steam situation is now, but there were several mainline, branchline, and tourist excursions each week back then. Those were also great years to ride special vintage-equipment trips in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. Don't get me going!

> Just got back from Germany. Saw a live 4-8-4
> from my train on the south side of the
> tracks between Mannheim and Heidelberg.

> Are you sure it wasn't a 4-6-2? I didn't
> think DB operated anything larger than
> Pacifics in recent years. I used to ride
> behind Pacific 01 1100 almost every chance I
> could in the mid to late 1980s. I'm not sure
> how the steam situation is now, but there
> were several mainline, branchline, and
> tourist excursions each week back then.
> Those were also great years to ride special
> vintage-equipment trips in Germany, Austria,
> and Switzerland. Don't get me going!

Could have been. Just caught a it out of the corner of my eye as we flew by on an ICE train. It was just pulling out of the shed. THe other engines were sitting out in the open and looked to be in pretty rough shape.

Also, the older (and upper) funicular at Heidelberg is closed for the season for upgrades.


mmitscher@catena.com

> Just got back from Germany. Saw a live 4-8-4
> from my train on the south side of the
> tracks between Mannheim and Heidelberg.
> Also, while traveling by ICE from Stuttgart
> to Singen we passed through a small town
> about an hour south of Stuttgart. On the
> west side of the tracks were about 20/25?
> steam engines in various states of
> disrepair. There was also a roundhouse
> behind the engines with about 10 stalls. Any
> one know what I was looking at?

Well, I think this might be info you are looking for. I visited Germany in September of 2001 and noted the same area while riding from Mainz to Munich. Try the link for the DB Nostalgia train info. Saw one trip headed out of Munich with one of the Pacific's, very cool.

DB Nostaglia trains
teamzurg@earthlink.net

> Well, I think this might be info you are
> looking for. I visited Germany in September
> of 2001 and noted the same area while riding
> from Mainz to Munich. Try the link for the
> DB Nostalgia train info. Saw one trip headed
> out of Munich with one of the Pacific's,
> very cool.
Hi,

I am a German railfan and got a hint to this message from a friend.

Probably what you were looking at were engines belonging to the "Eisenbahnfreunde Zollernbahn" (www.eisenbahnfreunde-zollernbahn.de, German only.) based in Tübingen.

However, the ICE train to Switzerland takes the route Stuttgart-Horb-Rottweil to Singen and not via Tübingen since the catenary wire ends in Tübingen, so I am not totally sure whether that was waht you have seen.
But I do not know any other big preservation club in the area south of Stuttgart.
BTW, their trips are great. If one has a chance to attend I recommend doing so.

4-8-4's did not exist in Germany as far as I know. If it was an express steam engine most likely it is a Pacific. For freight, most likely it is a 2-10-0 or a 2-8-4-2.

Another thing I can warmly recommend in Germany to visit are narrow gauge steam lines in East Germany which still run steam daily. See www.bimmelbahn.de (German only).

I'll be glad to help with questions about German steam operations.

Have a nice day,
Thomas



http://www.bimmelbahn.de
tkreitmair@gmx.net

Dear Thomas,

I was definitely on the ICE line via Rottweil. The engines I saw were located on the West side of the train as I headed south. They were on a track that ran parallel to the main line and the roundhouse was behind the engines. The bulk of the town was on the East side of the tracks. I want to say the town was located between Horb and Rottweil. None of the appeared to be any where near operating condition. Several were missing driving rods.

Mark



mmitscher@catena.com

Okay, here's one to make you think.

Sat Aug 9. A night time ride behind a mainline Pacific from Frankfurt to Koblenz and back during the Rhine In Flames pyrospectacular.

Depart at 1745, return at 0200.

49 Euros for 2nd Class, 1st class for 20 more.



DB museum Rhein Main trips
teamzurg@earthlink.net

There are no 4-8-4's in germany, and the germans only built 1 or 2 during the late 30's. Also, there is only one 4-6-4 left, the engine that originally went 125 mph. It doesn't run though-and it is unlikely that it will because it is owned by DB(german railways-gov't owned)
Tom

stefanthomasparrish@yahoo.com