Werratal Plandampf

Slowly working my way through the photos from last week's Dampf trifft Keis (Steam meets Gravel) Plandampf based between Eisenach and Meinigen with 44 2546, 44 1486, 41 1144 and 50 3501.



44s Leaving Oberrohn



44 2546 leaving Bad Sulzungen



44s about to enter Förthaer tunnel



44 2546 leaving Bad Sulzungen again, in slightly better conditions than the previous day!



44 2546 near Schwallungen with 44 1486 on the back

Couple of videos as well

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5NbxGCi_3pM

44s passing through Förtha station with the last train of the event, supposed to be 2100 tons fully loaded but turned out to be empty wagons.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PT0_1ZB0ccM

41 1144 climbing the back between Marksuhl and Förtha heading for Eisenach.

 

Nice selection Nigel.
Re the final train, they weren't all empties. I was doing sound from quite a high vantage point and the ones at the front were definitely loaded but can't recall just how many.

 

That makes sense as the morning deaprture from Bad S to Marksuhl didn't have the appearance of an MT train.

 

The wagons were LOADED with a gross train weight of 2002 tonnes, according to Stefan Lohr, one of the event organisers!
David/ Andover (UK Plandampf "rep.")

 

Cheers David. Amazed how 44 2546 was doing most of the work through Förtha and making it seem easy at the same time.
Wonder what steamy delights next year's event will bring.

 

They made it look so easy compared to past years when it was suggested they were empty it made sense. Looking at 5944's video the wagons sounded loaded but I was too close on the far platform to hear that!

My wish list is for a pair of reko 50s next year. Right engines, right line and no dodgy smoke deflectors please!

An 01.5 wouldn't go a miss either...

 

I thought the Wagner deflectors on the 50 made an interesting change from the Witte variety we see normally.
An 01.5 would be very nice as would an 03.10. Not sure how easy it would be to organise but a few extra pax workings would be nice as I wouldn't mind
doing a bit of riding at a future event.

 

But Reko's are best....

50 3501 is almost a German Scotsman... It had the top feed heater removed when it was used as test engine for fireless construction at Meiningen in the 1980s. It was used occasionally on the mainline with normal deflectors but only since it has been preserved has it carried the big deflectors. A strange mix of periods but if you squint you can pretend it is 50 1849 of Nossen fame.

 

There was much rumour about MT hoppers where we were standing but I guess it was just because the 44s were such masters of their task. What magnificent engines. Great pics 5944.
Is everyone posting in the other thread now?
http://railways.national-preservation.com/showthread.php/33235-Dampf-trifft-Kies-Werratal-Plandampf-27-29-10-2011