German Railways 175 - Easter Spectacle ! 2010

Just got back from this event. Almost suffering from "steam overload" but that's no bad thing. Loads of pictures and sound recordings to sort out so that will keep me busy for a while. Not all went to plan; the Trier - Gerolstein service went to pieces after the first train on the 2nd and the Plandampf element on the 6th was all over the show with the booked VEB freight first delayed, then cancelled, then reinstated as a "Photozug," put off until the next day and delayed yet again. No idea if it ever ran as we were on our way to the airport by the time of it's umpteenth revised departure time of midday on the 7th. It was supposedly going to be 2 x Class 52 so if it did run somebody would have been in for a treat. All in all though it was a great event but overshadowed by the said death of a teenager at Ulmen.

 

The photozug as far as I know didn't run yesterday. My dad and I gave up waiting for it at 2pm, and got a text at 3pm saying still no sign of movement at Gerolstein shed! We did however see the stock move back to somewhere, with the 218 leading a 52, dead 38, 58 and 78, a load of stock, with the T11 tank on the back! An excellent event overall, and absolutely heaving! Shame the timekeeping on occasions would put the Mid Hants to shame. My photos will be up later today probably.

 

It is difficult to choose a favourite moment from so many wonderful sights and sounds but 41 306 on southbound and northbound REs climbing the Schmidtheimer Berg was something else. The summit is approached by lengthy gradients around 1:55 in each direction and the locos performance was stunning as was the clag.

 

Err - not quite ! With only 5 coaches on the train the demand by German enthusiasts far outstripped the available accommodation and the 140 members of the Railtrail party had already got their reserved seats by the time that the train left Leutzel; the number of passengers joining the train at Hauptbahnhof were obviously greater than expected. I must admit to some surprise that additional coaches had not been available to cope with the demand; local indications were that 50,000 visitors were expected to come to the event and for those wishing to travel behind steam the 5 coach trainsets that were provided were obviously not enough.

Hopefully lessons will be learned for later DampfSpektakels being arranged elsewhere throughout the year as the level of intertest seems very high. A word of caution, howver, for those going to these events - don't look to get shots on the station platforms as the number of people with cameras taking pictures of the train ( and the actions they take to get them ) are enough to give BTP a heart attack many times over; the rat-pack mentality is alive and well. Head for the open countryside where its both quieter and more interesting.

 

Ian, were you on Friday's run with 41 360 from Koln to Trier? My dad and I drove up to Gerolstein to get 06.50 to Koln, only for it to be announced at 07.00 that it was an hour late! After a few shots round the shed we eventually got the train up to Erftstadt and just about managed to join it there. The noise from the back of the train was terrific!

 

Had a week over there and was at Cochem from the Friday to the Tuesday morning, weather was a bit flaky and the crowds on the trains (apart from the Nohab, wonder why that was?!) and at Gerolstein were a bit trying but even so hats off to the organisers for doing their best!
Dinner on the TEE set was quite pleasant....
photos here http://50031.fotopic.net/c1834930.html and I am sure you can find the stuff from the Rhine Valley if you like non steam gubbins!

 

Nigel,
Wasn't on board but was photting and sound recording near the summit of the "Schmidtheimer Berg" just north of Schmidtheim station. The only haulage I had was the Gerolstein Lokshuppe shuttle and I chose the evening it was diesel.

 

Hello,

Just to get the record straight on this sad issue: The person fatally inured was a 17-year old trainee fireman on the 14:00 h departure from Ulmen to Gerolstein. He stepped into the path of the T11 at the head of the slightly delayed 13:26 from Daun to Ulmen and was hit by that loco. I do not know on which loco he was working, though.

Kind regards

Christoph

 

I have today returned from Germany after visiting the Dampfspektakel event over the easter weekend.I am deeply saddened to hear of the death of the young man at Ulmen on saturday.I was there at Ulmen station when the incident occurred and I have photographs I took of the train approaching the station and I believe also that I have a picture of the lad standing with his back to the train adjacent to the track just before he was hit by the train.I did not know he had died until I just read Christoph's post but I was of course aware that he was seriously injured and I witnessed the helicopter ambulance arrive. I have not yet had time to post any of my phographs of my visit on my website but will in due course do so. However,I will not post that particular picture out of respect for his family but I would be prepared to make it available to the authorities if they required.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vo9sZ--DsP4

My sole video from the week, 52 6106 on a passenger train on the Gerolstein - Ulmen branch on the last day. I should've remembered to take the video camera! I also need to get a microphone that struggles with a Kreig whistle!

 

A few photos from Tuesday's Güterzüge and service trains on the Gerolstein to Ulmen branch. More photos from the other days to follow.

 

Nigel,

Although there have been lots of nice pictures of the event that one with the 50 on the freight is the first that really makes me regret that I didn't go. Well done and lets hope for similar next weekend at Nossen!

Matilda loves your video - she was sat on my knee open mouthed and shaking. All her trips to Germany are obviously rubbing off!

Cheers,

 

Nice trio Nigel. Recognise the first two as we were in the field behind and above you but where did you phot the 78?

 

Met several NP members at the Trier bash. There seemed to be many UK enthusiasts esp on the early/late trains. Track bashers happily "got" Luxemborg or the third curve nr Igel whilst haulage concentrated on new locos + timers on long mileages ie Trier-Koln. Photographers had a lot of rain but plenty of atmosphere.
Running across the turntable on the depot shuttle at Gerolstein was a surprise AND the 2 locos were new.......

The next 175 event I am going to is at Bebra on May1st. Lots of parallel action , local trains,long distance excursions.

Locos booked appear to incl 01 118 01 1075 41 018/096/1144 58 311 64 419 50 3501 52 8134 (+poss52 7409?) One blog stated that 01 202/01 1066/01 533/ 38 3199/50 3552 will not be present. Sounds a fab "carry on"

 

I had hoped to be there but, somehow, circumstances managed keep me at home. So I'm looking forward to seeing lots of pictures on Fotopic and / or Flickr. Plus, of course, lots of clips on YouTube. I'm itching to see what I missed!

 

http://www.multimap.com/s/Dhqh1KHo

Hopefully that link should work Ian. It was just off the main road between the first location and Dockweiler, just off the main road. It was better location in the morning, but unfortunately I didn't manage to get there. The sun had moved round a bit too much after lunch, hence the fairly head-on shot. I was a bit annoyed when the lorry parked up next to the crossing at the last minute, and then the bright red car appeared shortly afterwards! However, it turned out a couple of the German guys were using them as props, so I figured may as well include them in the shot.

Cheers for the comments on the photos everyone.

 

Thanks Nigel, got it on Google Earth now. Did you know in advance about the old lorry and the bubble car or did you just strike lucky?
Edit : Just reread your post and noted the remarks regarding the vehicles. Certainly the right period for a steam shot.

 

Ray,

Yes, that was me with the greeting in English on Saturday. Hope you enjoyed the weekend in general and the museum in particular. (My weekend was marred by the fact that I started with a cold on Saturday and was without much of a voice by midday on Saturday.)

Kind regard

Christoph

 

Some great pictures there,see how the weather improved after Monday! My first days pictures are now up at
http://www.steamgalore.co.uk/ More to follow in due course