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Famous Locomotives at Work
Features mainly German Reichsbahn 2-10-2 tank engine 95 027 in absolutely spectacular snow scenery on the 50 km steeply graded line between Sonneberg and Saalfeld through villages fields and forest. The videotape opens in the southern part of the Thuringian Forest, about sixty kilometres south of Erfurt, at Sonneberg in the high part of central Germany (in the south east corner of former East Germany), with a good layer of snow on the ground. 95 016 is having cinders cleaned from its smoke box, while old Prussian 94 1292, with its unusual and prominent control valve for the counter pressure brake system, stands nearby.
We are treated to some good cab shots. 95 027 is turned on the turntable, the mechanical disc signal clears and we head East then North, riding on board the Reichsbahn 4 wheelers, in the cab (well illuminated), pacing alongside, and lineside through snowy Christmas card scenes of quaint and fascinating German villages, with the loco's exhaust spectacular as it climbs the steep grade in the cold air. The train reverses at the dead end station at Lauscha, before climbing ever higher, and there are beautiful views of the train on the two different levels of the line. Because Lauscha station is single track, there is considerable shunting to move the engine to the other end of the train, all apparantly signalled by hand waving from the signalman in his delightful signal box built of stone. A rotary snow plough on standby at the station is given a short test run, before the train is "given the road" by a mechanical signal and departs.
The next segment has a wealth of magnificent scenes of the train, viewing from high points and low levels, with the snow making every scene most picturesque as the train climbs towards the summit of the line. We move ahead now to the trains destination, Saalfeld, only about 2 hours from our previous scenes, but below the snow line. 95 027 departs past a brace of mechanical signals, on its return run and is seen in delightful countryside with the steam, once again spectacular in the cold air. At Grafenthal we watch the station master use the unusual (to our eyes) rotary crank to clear the signal, and see the indicator change.
The next series of views show the train continuing towards the summit this time from the north side, with the countryside gradually becoming snow covered. Once again spectacular scenery of towns, viaducts bridges and snow. The next sequence begins at Sonneberg 2 days later, with the loco being prepared. There are good clear views inside the cab, before the loco moves to its train. Good close-ups follow of the loco and the train, then on again to Lauscha, and Saalfeld with the snow absolutely spectacular on a clear sunny day. At Saalfeld, many passengers transfer to a connecting train consisting of 38 1182 which is seen departing with a consist of pre war carriages on a semi fast service to Leipzig.
PQ A.