You never know when you might need a steam locomotive

[AntEater]

Taken last year during railway maintenance work in Frankfurt
Kriegslok/War cargo locomotive 52 4867 (Build 1943) at work.
Not exactly environment friendly but surely gets the job done.
There are a lot of steam engines around in museums or for tourists, but to find one actually doing real work in 21st century Europe....

[AntEater]

Kind of both, a result of railway privatization.
This one and a DR 01 express locomotive build 1934 belong to the historic railway association in Frankfurt.
Back in the 1980s they only used the harbor railway in Frankfurt, because in those times steam engines were banned from DB owned tracks.

Now the Deutsche Bahn AG outsourced much of its track maintenance, but they have to rent locomotives from the DB AG.
Problem is, there are no suitable locomotives based in Frankfurt, and having one sent over from somewhere else would've cost the contractor too much.
So with agreement from DB AG, they hired the 52 and paid almost the usual rent for a cargo locomotive. Apparently they were satisfied and plan to use the 52 again.
Wo would've thought that privatization of the railway throws us back into the steam age?

[AVGWarhawk]

She is a beautiful loco. I always loved steam engines. They really are a piece of work and engineering marvel. When I was a kid, I always bought the steam engines. Just something about them.

[Letum]

Gah!
European, American and Asian Steam trains are so UGLY!
Pipes all over, chunky blocks, tiny wheels and very slow.

Not like the smooth lines of the brand new Pacific A1 train currently under testing for
mainline service at my home city of York.

Many of her components where built at the submarine works in Portsmouth.
I saw her going past my place of work at 70+ MPH during a test run. Beautiful!

[AVGWarhawk]

This is a beautiful engine. Clunky? Not to my eye. She could hit close to 100.

[bradclark1]

Love those steam locomotives. There is a place in my state where you can operate one for a 1/2 hour for $250.

[Letum]

Originally Posted by AVGWarhawk

This is a beautiful engine. Clunky? Not to my eye. She could hit close to 100.

I'll see you 'close to' 100 in a chunky collection of pipes and raise you....

126 MPH (and capable of 130+!) in a beautifully curved and polished steam machine
that captured all the best aspects of the new Streamline Moderne Art Deco of the
1930s.


The Mallard is the work of Visionary artists and engineers.

Your train is the work of some deranged plumber on a caffeine bender!


Again, this beauty is in working order and in my home city of York. I have taken a ride
in one of her 6 sister trains. (below)

[Oberon]

She's a beaut alright

Originally Posted by Letum

Not like the smooth lines of the brand new Pacific A1 train currently under testing for
mainline service at my home city of York.

Many of her components where built at the submarine works in Portsmouth.
I saw her going past my place of work at 70+ MPH during a test run. Beautiful!