Zeitz Plandampf

A couple of weeks ago I spent 2 days chasing 2 steam hauled freight trains around East Germany. One was 50 3078 on about a dozen wagons, the other of 20 coal wagons (both full and empty) double-headed by 52 8154 and 52 8047.

The weather on Saturday was, at best, rubbish! 52 8047 was leaking badly from the cylinder cocks and piston glands, so the wheels were obscured, as was the second loco a lot of the time! The strong wind that was blowing towards the sun (when it appeared) made things very challenging. The incessant snow on Saturday morning didn't help matters either.

Fortunately on Sunday afternoon the sun appeared, and 52 8047 was either the second loco or banking on the rear, so the leaking steam wasn't too much of a problem.

Thanks to Hunslets Finest for the taxi service (once he'd escaped from the village!).

A few photos from both days.







Edit - forgot to mention, rest of the photos up at

http://5944.fotopic.net/c1819083.html

and

http://5944.fotopic.net/c1819099.html

Plus a load from the Harz during the previous week

http://5944.fotopic.net/c1819072.html

 

Now that is what I call preservation! Nice pics Nigel - got some a bit similar....

Just found out that Ivo Peters went to Schierke as a child for his family holiday in the 1930s so I have big hopes for Matilda...