A Little Knowledge......

Anyone with some knowledge of German Railways, have a look at this story:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/blogs-news-from-elsewhere-23289155

Now while I can understand that an image of Russian locomotive might have been preferable, the image shown is clearly of a Class 03 as rebuilt by DR - the Railway Company of the post war German Democratic Republic (and part of the Soviet block), as is confirmed by the smokebox numberplate being a computer number, complete with check digit.

Whilst the 03s were originally built largely during the Nazi era (the loco pictured was built in 1937 and is now preserved at BEM Nördlingen), they were express passenger - surely the title of "Nazi workhorse" would apply to the Class 52s, many of which ended up with Russia after the war.Goodness knows, the Russian's have plenty of ereason to be sensitive about what the Nazis did when they invaded Russia, but I feel that some-one has either used a little knowledge to get unduly offended, or (given that they have got the year of building right), know they are partly missing the point but merely want to put forward an agenda and see this an an
opportunity.




Steven

 

In fact the Class was initially introduced in 1930 when Borsig built 3 prototype locos after which a further 295 locos were built, construction being shared between Krupp, Henschel and BMAG with the final loco being delivered in 1937.
After the split of Germany at the end of WWII, those locomotives in the Eastern Zone were operated by DR (Deutsches Reichbahn) and classified 03.2 when rebuilt between 1969 - 1975 with the boilers from scrapped Class 22 locomotives. The illustrated loco 032295 is now preserved at Noerdlingen and its initial use made it subject to the same comments that UK enthusiasts make when Victorian dramas show steam locomotives - including standard classes built in the 1950s to illustrate trains of the 1850s !