Re: German Express 4-6-2 in regular service 1975

That picture sure brought back a lot of memories. I had a very similar cab ride experience, except mine was not pre-planned. Back in 1970 the 3-cylinder Pacifics still ran from Muenster to Norddeich. The Muenster-Rheine line had not yet been electrified. I rode the train out of Muenster. At Rheine there was a several minute station stop. So I decided---what the heck, it wouldn't hurt to ask, so I went forward, and happily I was invited into the cab. Awesome cab ride at 70 +. This was the time before Super 8 sound movies, so I have silent movies and sound from my Sony tape recorder. I haven't watched the movies in years, but I fairly frequently listen to those dramatic exhaust beats as the engine accelerates her heavy train to track speed. At Norddeich I had lunch with the engine crew in the railroad canteen, then had another dramatic ride back to Rheine. The other track on my sound tape has my other favorite engine action ---riding behind a P8 4-6-0 into the Black Forest.


012 100, sister engine to 012 075 accelerating her heavy express out of an intermediate station stop (Lingen ?), May 1970



38 class (P8) climbing into the Black Forest



To stay in the spirit of the NARROW GAUGE Forum, here are a couple of pictures of the 2'6" narrow gauge Wolkenstein - Joehstadt line that was later scrapped, but has now been partly re-built