“Dampf at the DLW”
Kriegsloks 50.3708, 52.8154 & 52.8131 are seen lined up at DLW Meningen, three of the twenty
two steam locomotives on display during the annual open weekend on Saturday 7 th September.
The main aim of this trip was to have a few relaxing days in Germany visiting some brewpubs and to have a trip on a
couple of the special trains running to the open weekend at DLW Meiningen, one of the few remaining steam
locomotive works (in the world?). By coincience the open weekend was only a couple of days away from my birthday!i
We booked two single flights with RiotScare and with no FIP coupons available the travel was via a mixture of charter
tickets, Länder tickets and a Schönes Wochenende.
All opinions and comments in this report are my own unless otherwise stated and I make no apologies for any typos or
grammatical mistakes! As usual, new loco’s are marked in bold, late running is highlighted red and unscheduled stops
are shown in italics. A review of the hotel, beers and railways follows at the end of the report.
Friday 06/09/2013
I’d played safe by booking us on an afternoon flight just in case I dropped for a week of nights so not surprisingly I was
rostered to early mornings for the second week on the trot. This meant a decent nights sleep and a fairly relaxed start
with a lift down to the station from our neighbour. The journey to London was fairly non descript and punctual so we
had time to make our way across London for brunch in the Hamilton Hall (Wetherspoon) at Liverpool Street.
Fully fed and watered (including a pint of Milk Street “Zig Zag” dark chocolate stout) we made our way to Stansted and
I was pleased to see that the airport wasn’t too busy, probably thanks to the little brats going back to school so we had
time for pint of Buntingfords in the Windmill (Wetherspoon). June went for the Highwayman while I went for the
Hurricane. The flight was announced on time and as it was only half full we easily kept a row to ourselves.
We landed twenty early at Leipzig/Halle thanks to the usual Ryanair slack schedule so we were treated to the annoying
fanfare but at least it meant we didn’t need to rush for the train for once. It was just as well as despite having an airport
station it was a bit of a hike to the ticket office and platforms. We bought priv singles to Leipzig Hbf (€3,00 each) so
typically weren’t gripped. June grabbed a coffee while I grabbed some free WiFi from outside Starbucks to look up the
Leipzig tram gen. A day ticket for two people (€8,90) was excellent value and gave us the excuse to pop out for an
evening meal once we’d caught a #14 tram to Leipzig Plagwitz and checked into the hotel. We caught a #60 bus from
outside the hotel (Naumburger Str) which dropped us off at Bayrischer Platz but instead of visiting the brewpub in the
old station we decided to carry on to the Brauhaus Napoleon by using a combination of trams #2 & #15. The
Prager/Russenstr stop is opposite the brewpub so it wasn’t long before we were sat enjoying a Weissbier with a meal
ordered.
As the #2 tram service direct back to Bayrischer Platz finishes early we caught a #15 to Ostplatz where we hoped to
pick up a #60 bus but with twenty five minutes to wait it was quicker to walk! June hadn’t been to the Bayrischer
Bahnhof before so while we had a Gose bier I gave her a brief history lesson about the railway and she read up on the
new city tunnel that’s being built which will unfortunately coincide with the end of most if not all loco hauled RE services
in Leipzig! We then had a Kuppler (Weissbier) t oround off the night which I assumed would translate as shunter but
our phone translation came up with the unexpected alternative of matchmaker or pimp!! We headed back to the hotel
on #60 bus for a well earned sleep.
The brewkit at the Brauhaus Napoleon, slightly off the beaten track in the southern Leipzig suburbs but worth a visit.
BR
Ryanair
Ryanair
Ryanair
DB
DMU
EI-DHG
EI-DHG
EI-DHG
101.124
07:45
08:39
12:10
14:45
18:07
Hereford - Newport
Newport - Paddingoton
Liverpool Street - Stansted airport
Stansted airport - Flughafen Leipzig/Halle
Leipzig/Halle Flughafen - Leipzig Hbf
08:34
10:32
12:55
17:25
18:19
FR1598
IC2239
05:55
07:28
12:10
14:45
13:44
Crewe - Carmarthen
Swansea - Paddington
Liverpool Street - Stansted airport
Stansted airport - Flughafen Leipzig/Halle
Warnemünde - Dresden Hbf
Saturday 07/09/2013
The main aim for today was a visit to DLW Meiningen, a fascinating loco works that some might call a relic of the past
but to others it’s an important lifeline for the steam preservation movement. This last major steam locomotive works (in
the world?) holds an annual open weekend which sees people flocking from all over Germany, especially on the
Saturday. If anything, June possibly likes Steam more than I do but I had an ulterior motive as some of the charter
trains running to the event featured diesel power, including two with Russian built “Ludmilla’s”, one of my favourites
from the old East Germany.
After breakfast we walked down the road to Plagwitz station and bumped straight into Jon Marsden. We knew he was
in the area but I’d expected him to cover the other tour from Cottbus. It turned out that he had started (very early) at
Cottbus to check out the other tour featuring a Ludmilla but the steam was on it’s own with no sign of the booked diesel
assistance so he’d headed for Leipzig instead.
After a swap to the far platform, the charter rolled in on time but with 232.158 in place of the expected 232.004 (which
has also now been repainted in the old DR livery with it’s old number 132.158). I’d contacted the organisers in advance
and arranged for one way fares so it was €55 for both of us and as a bonus this included entrance tickets for the works
(€6,00 each). Jon wasn’t that bothered about the works visit so his fare was rounded down to a very reasonable
€20,00! We celebrated with a beer from the bar car and relaxed in a bay f four. As we approached Halle we took a left
turn to avoid the station and as we did we noticed that anoter charter was also departing Halle – none other than
03.2155 on the Cottbus tour which now had 231.012 attached to the rear!! Needless to say Jon was not impressed to
see the Ludmilla powering away on the rear, no doubt having been attached at Halle so a replan was in order for the
evening! Rather surprisingly considering it was already late, we overtook the Cottbus tour before we stopped at
Weimar to pick up. I took the opportunity to grab a quick fot but it was a basic platform shot so I was hoping that the
official fot stop at Oberhof would be better.We departed before the Cottbus tour came through so considered bailing at
Erfurt if we stopped but we sailed straight through. The climb up to the tunnel at Oberhof was pretty good and so was
the fot stop although I was a bit narked that after running round to the other platform to get a fot they decided to let
everyone cross the tracks which would have saved me the effort!
Former Deutsche Reichsbahn 132.158 (better known as 232.158 and now privately owned by LEG) pauses for a photostop at
Oberhof while working a special from Leipzig Plagwitz to Meinginen for the DLW open day.
We dropped a bit of time approaching Meiningen and after saying cheerio to Jon who was goingin search of a quiet
park benchfor a couple of hours, we followed the crowds up the road to the loco works. It was very hot so we were glad
that it wasn’t far to the works but June was a bit concerned that I might suffer sunburn on my head so my first pruchase
was a €5 hat! The open day was very well supported but being busy meant that there were far too many people milling
about to get good fots. June found some shade while I had a wander round outside where most of the exhibits were
and after fotting a few including scorched E75.09 I had a quick cab ride on 50.3501 (narrow gauge 99.715 was also
giving rides for kids). After meeting back up with June we headed back into the works for a walk round and I found the
engineering side of the workshops fascinating, bringing back some fond memories of my apprenticeship. We bumped
into J&J Cottrell who’d been on the Cottbus tour and they confirmed that the 231 had been attached at Halle. We were
both getting peckish so it was time to visit some of the many stalls that had been set up inside the works for food and
beer followed by an ice cream.
It was soon time to head back to the station as we needed to find the person in charge of the Cottbus tour to arrange
our return trip. The person I’d been told to ask for wasn’t around (he was at alternative destination of Erfurt) so we
boarded the train and made our way to the bar car. With no-one to ask about a ticket we paid our way by contributing
to the bar sales as well as making a donation to the coal bucket steam fund. Jon paid a visit to the rear coach to check
on the Ludmilla’s performance but there was never any doubt about it working as the acceleration out of Grimmenthal
was very impressive. It clagged quite well too and worked hard all the way up to the summit at Oberhof. We decided to
bale at Erfurt as it would mean an easier move to our hotel at Ammendorf. Jon also baled as it gave us all a chance to
grab a cold drink and as a bonus we were able to share his Schönes Wochenende for a small donation. The Dispolok
was dud but none of us minded too much as our priority was checking into the hotel and Jon’s was intercepting the
Berlin tour with 219.158!
We baled at Halle Ammendorf and as we just missed a #5 tram we decided to walk up the road to the Hotel which only
took about ten minutes. After checking in we just had time to dive back over the road to the tram stop and buy a two
person day ticket (€6,80) before a tram rolled in. After getting slightly confused by an engineering diversion we baled
off the tram at Markt, took a couple of night shots then walked to the Hallesches Brauhaus for food and beer. June
soon realised that something had taken a liking to her and the bite was starting to make her scratch. We decided to call
it a night and headed back to the hotel on a tram for June to put something on her bite and then a good nights sleep
DB
DB
DB
DB
MRCE
232.158
50.3501
03.2155
231.012
182.518
08:03
13:00
16:07
16:07
18:01
Leipzig Plagwitz - Meiningen
Cab ride @ DL Meiningen
Meiningen - Erfurt Hbf
Meiningen - Erfurt Hbf
Erfurt Hbf - Halle Ammendorf
11:46
13:05
17:25
17:25
19:31
SZ75905
-------SZ----SZ----RB16331
08:03
13:00
16:07
16:07
17:10
Leipzig Plagwitz - Meiningen
Cab ride @ DL Meiningen
Meiningen - Cottbus
Meiningen - Cottbus
Eisenach - Halle Hbf
Sunday 08/09/2013
Today’s plan was a journey to Hannover via Magdeburg, stopping off for a visit to the Magdeburger Hafenbahn and the
Diamant Brewpub. The train timings weren’t brilliant so we only a slight lie in before a hasty breakfast including some to
take away. Unfortunately, I’d misread the timetable the previous night so we decided to play safe and walk back to the
station even though our 24 hour ticket was still valid. I bought a Schönes Wochenende (€42,00) and our train appeared
on time but with a dud Trabbi rather than a Taurus Dispolok into Halle. We grabbed a hot drink then had another dud
Trabbi forward to Magdeburg but this time a 114 variant. The guard was impressed with our makeshift breakfast and
even more impressed when I was able to break the €50 note that her first punter had produced for her.
We dumped the bags in lockers at Magdeburg Hbf, got another hot drink to share then bumped into Jon for the short
hop to Magdeburg Neustadt. I’d considered catching a tram but it seemed a bit pointless to buy another ticket when we
had a valid SW and would be walking back to Neustadt anyway (for the brewpub). From Neustadt it was a leisurely
twenty minute stroll to the harbour and both Jon and myself had maps which proved spot on.
Our visit started with cab ride on 201.004 but I was disappointed that it wasn’t working on the shuttle train. Instead the
shuttle was top and tail V60D’s, one ex DB and one industrial. We made enquiries about what was going to work,
228.321 (that had been a surprise working on Saturday) had left the railway, 261.019 and 232.004 were on display
only, there was no driver for the “hybrid” 201.046 but MY1138 would replace one of the V60D’s in the afternoon.
Typically, this was the only dud loco out of the lot!
The first trip was slightly delayed as the MY had to be shunted out of the way but wew were soon heading off along the
docks railway. We ended up by the Hanse Terminal and rather unexpectedly we were able to get off for fots but as
usual everyone had to go and crawl all over the loco’s even though they’d been stood next to them twenty minutes
earlier!! I eventually managed to get a couple of fots and took a couple of snaps to help work out where we were before
we reboarded. Approaching the dock we veered left and went round the far side of the loco shed, stopping on the spur
by the old “Hubbrücke” lifting bridge on the opposite side of the dock from where we’d started. As we got off I spied
John and Janet again so we had a quick chat before saying cheerio to them and to Jon (who was going to wait for the
MY). After taking a few fots of the stabled loco’s, June and I headed back to Neustadt. There were a few spots of rain
en route but it still warm so we weren’t too bothered. Half way to Neustadt the heritage tram that was running to and
from the railway came past so I grabbed a quick fot before we continued on to the brewpub. We’d been once before
but it seemed a good place to stop for lunch. The brewpub is quite small, especially conidering it’s in the shadow of the
former Diamant brewery building. We enjoyed an excellent lunch from their schnitzel menu and washed it down with
the pils then went halves on a litre bottle of Luxator, one of ther seasonals.
We walked back to Neustadt just missing a required Trabbi on a service that I thought would be a cart so not
surprisingly the next two trains were both dud! After collecting the bags I decided on a quick return visit to Neustadt
courtesy of a required 112. Just before our return train was due to depart Neustadt the same required Trabbi appeared
again but luckily our train had just being announced as fifteen late so we hopped on to the next station. It was a good
job tha we didn’t have a tight connection at Herrenkrug as it was a long down ramp then road bridge under the railway
and another long ramp back up the other side. Our train eventually rolled in with a dud 114 and Jon boarded at
Neustadt so we had a brief chat before saying cheerio for the final time. The journey through to Braunschweig was a bit
of a stagger and we’d lost our path so got looped for an IC and an ICE, eventually arriving Braunschweig with just five
minutes to spare on our forty minute connection! Quite a few people lept across so it might have been held anyway.
We baled at Lehrte to cover the inbound Wolfsburg train and despite a 112 working the outbound serive a bloody cart
turned up for us!
At Hannover we used the back exit from the Hbf as this was much quicker and meant that we reached the hotel in
under ten minutes. We checked in and despite it being much cooler outside than it had been the preivous day the room
was still quite warm so the air con went on as it was the first we’d had for three nights. I caught up on e-mails and
Facepest courtesy of the free WiFi and then we decided to head to the “Braustübchen” next to the Herrenhauser
Brauerei. It was disappointing though to find that the tap is now Charly’s sports bar but we decided to pop in for a quick
Pils anyway as it is still the closest bar to the brewery.
As a back up we returned to Leinhausen station and checked the map to locate the Ernst August brewpub as we had
the address for it and knew the rough location. It didn’t take us long to walk from the Hbf and we were pleased to see
that a seasonal beer was on offer (Roter Saphir 5.2%). We decided on snacks to go with the beer, June going for a big
potato cake and salad while I went for the meatloaf – just how the “liver-cheese” translation works is anybody’s guess!!
While wew wer eeating there was a bloke on the next table who kept on throwing money into the quiz machine but it
wa sworth it as he cleaned it out! After filling a mug full of Euro’s the machine gave up so he had get the boss to sort
out his remaining winnings! We had a final beer while I caught up on the report and then walked back to the hotel.
345.263 reaches the end of the line at the historic Hubbrücke lifting bridge on a Magdeburger Hafenbahn shuttle service.
DB
DB
DB
MHB
MHB
MHB
DB
DB
DB
DB
DB
DB
DB
DB
143.152
114.024
182.010
201.004
345.116
345.263
182.011
112.170
143.289
114.006
114.006
146.124
EMU
EMU
08:31
08:44
10:04
10:35
11:00
11:35
14:49
15:03
15:19
15:21
15:31
17:20
19:28
20:24
Halle Ammendorf - Halle Hbf
Halle Hbf - Magdeburg Hbf
Magdeburg Hbf - Magdeburg Neustadt
Cab ride @ Magdeburger Hafen
Mag. Hübbrucke - Mag. Hamburger Damm
Mag. Hamburger Damm – Mag. Hübbrucke
Magdeburg Neustadt - Magdeburg Hbf
Magdeburg Hbf - Magdeburg Neustadt
Magdeburg Neustadt - Magdeburg Herrenkrug
Magdeburg Herrenkrug - Magdeburg Hbf
Magdeburg Hbf - Braunschweig Hbf
Braunschweig Hbf - Hannover Hbf
Hannover Hbf - Hannover Leinhausen
Hannover Leinhausen - Hannover Hbf
08:37
09:52
10:07
10:45
11:25
12:00
14:52
15:06
15:22
15:29
16:42
18:05
19:34
20:30
RB16169
RE17610
RE18113
---------------------RE18120
RE17620
RB27613
RB17526
RB17922
RE4884
S1
S1
06:10
08:44
10:04
10:35
11:00
11:35
12:02
13:44
15:16
15:05
15:31
17:20
19:28
19:35
Eisenach - Halle Hbf
Halle Hbf - Magdeburg Hbf
Magdeburg Hbf - Eisenhüttenstadt
Cab ride @ Magdeburger Hafen
Mag. Hübbrucke - Mag. Hamburger Damm
Mag. Hamburger Damm – Mag. Hübbrucke
Frankfurt (Oder) - Magdeburg Hbf
Halle Hbf - Uelzen
Magdeburg Hbf - Dessau Hbf
Burg - Magdeburg Hbf
Magdeburg Hbf - Braunschweig Hbf
Braunschweig Hbf - Bielefeld Hbf
Hannover Hbf - Minden
Minden - Hannover Hbf
Monday 09/09/2013
Happy birthday to me! An 08:30 alarm for a change then a walk to the Hbf in a light drizzle to view the new
“Stammstrecken-Shuttle” arriving with top and tail rabbits. As had been rumoured, 218.465 & 218.413 did the honours,
both dud and to rub salt into the wounds two required rabbits were stabled in the bay (470 & 473). I headed back to the
hotel for a relaxed soak in the tub and to call up a few brewpub maps while I had some free internet.
IT was raining heavier when we left the hotel so I left June at the Hbf for a late breakfast while I headed out to Sarstedt.
Dud 218.450 was going to be heading towards Bad Harzburg so I took required 146.531 instead and was pleased with
required 218.451 on the way back. I passed Darren Fawcett on the platform at Sarstedt without realising but found out
when I received a text from him saying that he’d just got off the train that I’d boarded! After meeting back up with June
we decided on a visit to the Härke brewery tap at Peine, hoping for better luck than we’d had at the Herrenhauser
Braustübchen the previous evening. The 111 was dud 111 but the bonus was that it was only a five minute walk to the
Härke Brauereiausschank. We were pleased to find what looked like a brewpub complete with an old copper forming
an awning over the doorway. Once seated, I realised that the brewery was visible in the building behind the tap but
access was via a different road. We enjoyed an exellent meal washed down with a Dunkel and a Hefeweiss before
retracing our steps to Hannover with the same 111.
I’d received a text from Darren saying that he was also going to be in Hannover prior to heading off to Berlin on the top
& tail Bunnies so we arranged to meet up for a quick beer in Ernst August. We had another Roter Saphir then said
cheerio to Darren who walked back to the Hbf while we caught an U-bahn to Altenburger Damm to visit the Gilde
Brauhaus. For the second time in two days we were pretty disappointed as the brewery tap now seemed to be a
Spanish restaurant so we made do with a beer in the Gilde Ratskeller, a local bar across the road not dissimilar to the
bar the previous night but with slightly less smoke! After headig back to the Hbf on another U-bahn, June spotted a
sign for Starbucks which always seems to have free WiFi so she went for a coffee while I hunted down a required
Bunnie.
Darren had told me that 218.470 was kicked out on the 13:48 so that meant that 218.473 stood a good chance of
working the 17:48 and so it proved. Realising that with two of my three required HBS Rabbits out, I was going to have
trouble covering them both, I decided that I had nothing to lose by doing 473 to Sarstedt for the Metronom electric back
or a late runninng 470 if I was very lucky. Someone must have got wind of my birthday as I arrived at Sarstedt and
nothing had passed. I dashed through the subway and up onto the other platform as the other train came into view so I
just had time for a few fots including one of the two locos side by side before heading back to Hannover.
I met June in Starbucks where she’d been sipping her cold coffee (by design – yuk!) and calling up a few maps of
brewpubs. We were now heading for our next hotel in Hamburg so toyed with the idea of baling at Lüneburg but in the
end we decided to head straight through to Hamburg as we’d be hard pushed to get to the two brewpubs without a very
late finish. Check in was slightly delayed however when I had a cross platform leap at Hamburg Hbf onto a required
246 that was just about to depart so a quick trip back to Harburg was in order! After finally checking in we decided to
round the day off with a visit to one of the new brewpubs in Hamburg. Blockbräu is located opposite Landungsbrücken
S-bahn station in one of the old St. Pauli harbour buildings so there was plenty of room in side. The main hall was filled
with bench seats and there was a large mural on the end wall below the first floor coppers. They brew an unfiltered pils
and a wheat so we tried both but kept getting disturbed by the sound of seagulls which was a bit strange as there
weren’t any open windows. In the end we realised that we were listening to the alternaive to piped music! We caught
an S-bahn back to the Hbf just before midnight and walked to the hotel.
The Härke brewery tap in Peine but as near to a brewpub as you could get as we could see the adjacent brewery from our table! An
interesting use of an old copper and another was positioned over the bar.
ME
DB
DB
DB
DB
DB
ME
ME
ME
DB
DB
146.531
218.451
111.132
111.132
218.473
218.470
146.511
246.003
146.509
EMU
EMU
11:36
11:57
12:55
14:37
17:48
17:57
18:40
21:06
21:13
22:25
23:57
Hannover Hbf - Sarstedt
Sarstedt - Hannover Hbf
Hannover Hbf - Peine
Peine - Hannover Hbf
Hannover Hbf - Sarstedt
Sarstedt - Hannover Hbf
Hannover Hbf - Hamburg Hbf
Hamburg Hbf - Hamburg Harburg
Hamburg Harburg - Hamburg Hbf
Hamburg Hbf - Hamburg Landungsbrücken
Hamburg Landungsbrücken - Hamburg Hbf
11:46
12:10
13:22
15:05
18:00
18:10
21:01
21:18
21:23
22:31
00:03
ME82825
RE14066
RE4847
RE4850
RE14073
RE14072
ME82134
ME81535
MEr81931
S3
S1
10:09
10:45
10:38
14:20
17:48
16:45
17:07
21:06
20:00
21:59
23:23
Uelzen - Göttingen
Bad Harzburg - Hannover Hbf
Rheine - Braunschweig Hbf
Braunschweig Hbf - Rheine
Hannover Hbf - Bad Harzburg
Bad Harzburg - Hannover Hbf
Göttingen - Hamburg Hbf
Hamburg Hbf - Cuxhaven
Bremen Hbf - Hamburg Hbf
Hamb. Neugraben – Hamb. Elbgaustrasse
Wedel - Hamburg Poppenbüttel
Tuesday 10/09/2013
After a very enjoyable lie in we were disappointed to see that the weather was pretty poor so that dampened our spirits
somewhat. I’d planned a few moves on the NOB services to Westerland but the combination of the lie in, the poor
weather and engineering work meant that we just seemed to spend several hours getting messed about, bored and
frustrated so in the end we headed to Lübeck for a change of scene.
This wa sa good choice and saved the day as Brauberger brought back some fond memories for both of us. We both
decided to pig out on the €15,00 eat all you want buffet and two pitchers of beer but I over did things a bit so felt far too
stuffed when we left and thought the whole lot might reappear! With the evening rail service dropping to one and hour,
we headed bacck for the 21:08 departure only for me to find 112.175 that had swapped off the RB circuit which was a
bit disappointing as I’d seen several required Trabbis during the day.
By the time we got back to Hamburg I’d got my second wind so we decided to hunt out Ratsherrn, the other new micro
and it’s associated bar/restaurant. We had the address and knew that it was close Sternschenze S-bahn but there was
no sign of it at first. Eventually we spotted a brewery van parked on a small retail park (rebuilt from an old warehouse
by the looks of it) so we took a closer look and found the brewery. It was not surprisingly closed and inside the window
was a sign for the bar so assumed that was also closed too. Instead, we found an Italian restaurant that had a
Ratsherrn beer sign outside so we called in for a couple of the Pils before it closed Luckily for une is was fairly quiet as
she came up with the “visual” quote of the trip. I asked her a question but as she had a mouthful of beer she twirled her
finger around nex to her head but with her mouth ful it made her look like she was going mad – a good job I was
supping my beer at the same time as ‘d have probably laughed and spat it out!!
The classic view for anyone heading from Lübeck Hbf towards the town centre or our destination of the Brauberger brewpub!
DB
DB
MRCE
DB
DB
DB
DB
DB
DB
DB
DB
DB
DB
DB
DB
DB
DB
DB
DB
DB
112.180
143.340
223.010
112.142
101.026
112.178
112.175
218.366
218.341
218.389
218.381
101.097
112.173
143.276
101.049
143.163
112.172
112.175
EMU
EMU
11:20
12:12
12:48
13:09
13:40
14:08
14:31
14:48
14:48
15:09
15:09
15:30
15:44
16:04
16:23
16:38
17:30
21:08
21:50
23:57
Hamburg Hbf - Elmshorn
Elmshorn - Glückstadt
Glückstadt - Elmshorn
Elmshorn - Hamburg Dammtor
Hamburg Dammtor - Hamburg Hbf
Hamburg Hbf - Hamburg Tonndorf
Hamburg Tonndorf - Hamburg Hbf
Hamburg Hbf - Hamburg Dammtor
Hamburg Hbf - Hamburg Dammtor
Hamburg Dammtor - Hamburg Hbf
Hamburg Dammtor - Hamburg Hbf
Hamburg Hbf - Hamburg Dammtor
Hamburg Dammtor - Hamburg Hbf
Hamburg Hbf - Hamburg Dammtor
Hamburg Dammtor - Hamburg Hbf
Hamburg Hbf - Bad Oldesloe
Bad Oldesloe - Lübeck Hbf
Lübeck Hbf - Hamburg Hbf
Hamburg Hbf - Hamburg Sternschenze
Hamburg Sternschenze - Hamburg Hbf
11:49
12:24
13:01
13:33
13:43
14:19
14:43
14:51
14:51
15:12
15:12
15:33
15:47
16:07
16:26
17:24
17:48
21:50
21:55
00:01
RE21014
RB21164
MOB81715
RE21019
IC1129
RB21370
RB21371
IC2170
IC2170
IC2193
IC2193
EC176
RE21023
RB21124
IC2071
RB21326
RE21426
RE21435
S31
S31
11:20
12:12
10:22
12:21
12:38
14:08
14:20
09:58
09:58
11:56
11:56
05:39
14:21
16:04
16:15
16:38
17:05
20:34
21:47
23:51
Hamburg Hbf - Kiel Hbf
Elmshorn - Itzehoe
Westerland - Hamburg Altona
Kiel Hbf - Hamburg Hbf
Kiel Hbf - Passau Hbf
Hamburg Hbf - Ahrensburg
Ahrensburg - Hamburg Hbf
Frankfurt (M) Hbf - Westerland
Frankfurt (M) Hbf - Westerland
Westerland - Göttingen
Westerland - Göttingen
Brno Hl.n. - Hamburg Altona
Kiel Hbf - Hamburg Hbf
Hamburg Hbf - Itzehoe
Hamburg Altona - Dresden Hbf
Hamburg Hbf - Bad Oldesloe
Hamburg Hbf - Lübeck Trav. Strand
Lübeck Trav. Strand - Hamburg Hbf
Hamburg Berliner Tor - Hamburg Altona
Hamburg Altona - Hamburg Berliner Tor
Wednesday 11/09/2013
The weather was better this morning but we decided to have a relaxing breakfast as it was our last full day then pay a
lunchtime visit to the Ratskeller brewpub in Stade (shame it wasn’t open few years ago when I was doing the
Cuxhaven rabbits!). After dumping the bags in a locker at the Hbf, a required 246 took us to Stade and from the station
it was a ten minute walk into town although it took us a bit longer as we went the long way round courtesy of a dodgy
Google map. We arrived about fifteen minutes after opening so it was very quiet but the waiter advised us of a large
group that were turning up up so we found a small table in front of the brewkit. He also obliged by taking our picture for
us afer bringing over our Rot Biers (selfies on the phone never seem to come out very well) and then left us in peace
as he now had a large band of OAP’s to deal with. This was possibly better than a group of drunken men but
unfortunately one old dear on the table nearest to us never stopped talking and her voice could have grated onions!
We sampled all three of their beers before it was time to go but after asking for the bill I realised that I’d been slightly
short changed, possibly by accident but as was his tip anyway it didn’t really matter!
Back at the station train, I positioned myself for a fot of 246.005 arriving but the train was then announced as twenty
late. As the beer was working it’s way through me I wasn’t sure if I could hold out for twenty minutes so I popped into
the station refresh to use their facilities (which quoted a theoretical 50 cent charge). June wasn’t impressed as she was
already half way up the other platform so had to wait for the arrival of the train. It eventually turned up just over twenty
late but with 246.003 on the sharp end so Metronom must be laying the sets over at Cuxhaven.
Back in Hamburg, June went off shopping while I gambled on another attempt at the Niebüll rabbits. Things didn’t start
off too well when 381+389 rolled into the centre road but I thought my luck was in when IC2193 rolled into Dammtor
with 307 leading arrived. When I checked I found that it was dud and rather frustratingly it was paired with 366 from
yesterday! I met back up with June she had an omminously large bag with her - more shoes but at a “bargain” price
alledgedly!
After last nights disappointment we decided to head back to the Ratsherrn brewery for a daylight visit when it should
definitely be open. It was and we found that they have a bottle shop selling an international range as well as all their
beers (the tap on the bar was just for tasting groups). The rear exit of the shop led into a small courtyard from where
we could see the brewkit in the brewery and the bar / restaurant / bakery which had apparently been open the previous
night – shame they didn’t have a sign highlighting it!!! We just had time to sample the taster tray of all five beers before
making our way back to Dammtor for my final attempt as scoring a Niebüll rabbit. At last I found a winner but it was
running a bit late which meant that by the time I’d retrieved our bags from the locker (paying an eztra €2 as we’d gone
over the six hour limit) we missed our planned 18:20 departure by thirty seconds. At least the following service was
also a required Metronom 146 and wasn’t much later than our original planned arrival time at Bremen.
We arrived on time so we were soon checked in (I paid in cash to avoid the hefty credit card surcharge) and heading
back across to the Hbf. We hopped on a #4 tram to Domscheide for a visit to Schüttinger (another favourite of ours) for
a snack and a final beer of the trip. After a very relaxed drink we walked back through the Altstadt so that I could take a
few night fots and it seemed very strange to see it without the “usual” Christmas Market Stalls. We picked up a #6 tram
at Schüsselkorb and headed back to the Hbf and our hotel.
A late morning visit to the xxxxxxxx brewpub in the cellar of the town hall in Stade. As we got there just after opening it was fairly
quiet so after chatting to the barman he offered to take a photot for us!
DB
DB
DB
ME
ME
DB
DB
DB
DB
DB
DB
ME
ME
ME
ME
DB
DB
DB
DB
ME
101.031
401.574
401.074
246.005
246.003
402.045
112.148
218.381
218.389
218.307
218.366
146.539
246.008
146.510
146.508
EMU
EMU
218.314
218.342
146.507
09:15
09:17
09:17
10:06
13:03
14:15
14:34
14:48
14:48
15:09
15:09
15:20
15:43
16:15
16:31
16:48
17:59
18:06
18:06
18:38
Hamburg Hbf - Hamburg Dammtor
Hamburg Dammtor - Hamburg Hbf
Hamburg Dammtor - Hamburg Hbf
Hamburg Hbf - Stade
Stade - Hamburg Hbf
Hamburg Hbf - Hamburg Dammtor
Hamburg Dammtor - Hamburg Hbf
Hamburg Hbf - Hamburg Dammtor
Hamburg Hbf - Hamburg Dammtor
Hamburg Dammtor - Hamburg Hbf
Hamburg Dammtor - Hamburg Hbf
Hamburg Hbf - Hamburg Harburg
Hamburg Harburg - Hamburg Hbf
Hamburg Hbf - Hamburg Harburg
Hamburg Harburg - Hamburg Hbf
Hamburg Hbf - Hamburg Sternschenze
Hamburg Sternschenze - Hamburg Dammtor
Hamburg Dammtor - Hamburg Hbf
Hamburg Dammtor - Hamburg Hbf
Hamburg Hbf - Bremen Hbf
09:18
09:20
09:20
10:55
13:56
14:18
14:37
14:51
14:51
15:12
15:12
15:30
15:56
16:25
16:42
16:53
18:01
18:11
18:11
20:04
IC2314
ICE575
ICE575
ME81513
ME81518
ICE1028
RE21021
IC2170
IC2170
IC2193
IC2193
MEr81958
ME81522
ME82022
ME82021
S21
S21
IC2073
IC2073
MEr81926
05:10
09:09
09:09
10:06
12:10
05:30
13:21
09:58
09:58
11:56
11:56
15:20
14:10
16:15
15:33
16:27
17:46
14:56
14:56
18:38
Köln Hbf - Westerland
Hamburg Altona - Stuttgart Hbf
Hamburg Altona - Stuttgart Hbf
Hamburg Hbf - Cuxhaven
Cuxhaven - Hamburg Hbf
Nürnberg Hbf - Hamburg Altona
Kiel Hbf - Hamburg Hbf
Frankfurt (M) Hbf - Westerland
Frankfurt (M) Hbf - Westerland
Westerland - Göttingen
Westerland - Göttingen
Hamburg Hbf - Tostedt
Cuxhaven - Hamburg Hbf
Hamburg Hbf - Bremen Hbf
Bremen Hbf - Hamburg Hbf
Hamb. Bergedorf – Hamb. Elbgaustrasse
Hamburg Elbgaustrasse - Aumühle
Westerland - Dresden Hbf
Westerland - Dresden Hbf
Hamburg Hbf - Bremen Hbf
Thursday 12/09/2013
The alarm went off far too early, a shock to the sytem after several relaxed late starts. As the room was without
breakfast we headed over to the station to get a coffee and a bite to eat before catching a #6 tram to the airport (€2,40
each). I thought I was still dreaming when we passed a red double decker bus on the approaches to the airport so I
headed back to it for a second look, discovering that it’s now an advert for the nearby McDonalds! Check in was
painless, the flight boarded on time and despite being fuller than our outward flight we managed to keep a row of three
to ourselves so we had a bit of room to spread out. Rather annoyingly the row behind contained three lads who
fidgeted non stop so we were quite pleased to hear that the expected flight time was a mere sixty minutes. The early
arrival heralded another RiotScare fanfare – not that difficult when most of their journey’s are padded – a trick they
probably learnt from BR.
After a quick coffee stop at Stansted we made our way into London and called into the Hamilton Hall at Liverpool Street
for brunch, a repeat of the start of the holiday but with different beers on offer including one of the WetherspoonAmerican collaboration brews (Wadworth / Chelsea Brewing Co “Sunset Red” 5.0%). I then went into Paddington mode
and turned down a Metropolitan underground service as “it wasn’t going our way” but I completely forgot that we were
playing the Newport avoider card and going via Brum so could have caught it to Euston Square! The wait for the next
service meant that we just missed a train from Euston but we weren’t in a rush so we were more than happy to call into
the Euston Tap for a quick pint of Arobor “Summer Porter” 5.0%. The Pendolino to Birmingham wasn’t too full but this
time I was slightly annoyed to miss our planned service from New Street thanks to a slow run out of Euston as we now
had a fifty nine minute wait for the next Hereford train – time for a pint in the Post Office Vaults then (June passed
comment that there was a pattern starting to emerge!).
After pints of Plai Ales “Inncognito” 4.8% and Growler “Growler Bitter” 3.9% we got back to New Street only to find a
rather wedged two car 170 with the doors already closed which got me wondering whether they were going to attach
another set. The answer was yes but it meant a ninety journey on one of London Midlands finest 153’s. On the plus
side we got a table to ourselves and some fresh air whilst 95% of the punters were shoe-horned into the 170!
Not what I expected to see as we arrived at Bremen Flughafen but an intriguing advertising medium for McDonalds – a shame that
their food isn’t as interesting as the bus!
Ryanair EI-EFX
09:15
Flughafen Bremen - Stansted airport
09:40
FR3631
09:15
Flughafen Bremen - Stansted airport
Summary
A very enjoyable trip but with so much gen available I always find trips to Germany enjoyable and relaxing despite the
railways not being what they used to. No doubt we’ll be back in December for our annual Christmas market trip.
The works visit was a fascinating experience and it was great to see some of my old favourite “Ludmilla’s” being given
an outing in addition to all the steam but the large volume of visitors made the visit frustrating at times. The weather
started off excellent but soon deteriorated which was disappointing but we made up for it by visiting some excellent
brewpubs.
The Hotel, Beer and Rail gen follows on below….
© Neil
Aitken
14/09/2013
Hotel Gen
I booked our Bruxelles hotel using www.booking.com and our London hotel through www.laterooms.com while Richard
kindly took care of the Tel Aviv hotel (www.hotels.com) and our night in London on our return (www.laterooms.com).
Hotel Plagwitzer Hof
Gießerstraße 28
D-04229 Leipzig
Tel: +49 341 4928606
E-mail: service@plagwitzer-hof.de
Web: http://www.plagwitzer-hof.de/
Located approx five minutes walk from Leipzig Plagwitz station (also terminus of tram #14). A twin room including
breakfast cost €72,00 and free WiFi was available. Reception was not 24/7.
Hotel Eigen
Kurt-Wüsterneck-Straße 1
D-06132 Halle
Tel: +49 345 77556
E-mail: info@hotel-eigen.de
Web: http://www.hotel-eigen.de/
Located approx ten minutes walk from Halle Ammendorf station (tram #5 stops outside). A twin room without breakfast
cost €49,00 and free WiFi was available. Reception was not 24/7.
Hotel Atlanta
Hinüberstraße 1
D-30175 Hannover
Tel: +49 511 33860
E-mail: hotel.atlanta@htp-tel.de
Web: http://hotel-atlanta-hannover.de/
Located approx ten minutes walk from Hannover Hbf. A twin room without breakfast cost €48,00 and free WiFi was
available. Reception was not 24/7. Note – there may currently be additional noise from adjacent building work.
Hotel Centrum Königshof
Pulverteich 18
D-20099 Hamburg
Tel: +49 40 284 0740
E-mail: koenigshof@centrum-hotels.de
Web: http://www.hotel-hamburg-koenigshof.de/
Part of the Novum chain (who also have several other hotels nearby) Located approx five minutes walk from Hamburg
Hbf (south entrance). A twin room including breakfast cost €143,10 for two nights and free WiFi was available.
Reception was 24/7. Note – there may currently be additional noise from adjacent building work.
City Hotel
An der Weide 18-19
D-28195 Bremen
Tel: +49 421 3648052
E-mail: info@city-hotel-bremen.de
Web: http://www.city-hotel-bremen.de/
Located less than five minutes walk from Bremen Hbf. A twin room without breakfast cost €59,00 (prices were higher
due to an event) and 24 hour WiFi use was available for €1. Reception was 24/7. Note – there was a 7% surcharge for
credit card payments.
Beer Gen
The following were visited during our trip. The majority were in Germany and I used Steve Thomas’s excellent book
and accompanying German Breweries website to assist with the planning. The others were some of our regular guest
ale haunts, now including I’m glad to say, one in Hereford!!!
Hamilton Hall, London Liverpool Street.
One of the better Wetherspoon’s in a very ornate building. Normally has a good range of beers.
Brauhaus Napoleon, Leipzig-Probstheida.
An excellent brewpub in a south east suburb, easily reachable from the Hbf by tram #15 (Prager/Russenstr). The
regular range of beers is a light, dark and wheat. Food is also served.
Open daily 11:00 – 24:00.
Bayerischer Bahnhof, Leipzig-Südost.
Another excellent brewpub located in part of the historical old station. It’s easily reachable from the Hbf by tram #16
(Bayrischer Platz) and is soon to be reconnected to the rail network by the new city tunnel. Famous for its Gose beer, it
also sells a light, a dark and a wheat. Food is also served.
Open daily 11:00- 01:00?
Hallesches Brauhaus, Halle-Mitte.
City centre brewpub,easily reachable from the Hbf by tram #2/5/7 (Markt). Their regular beers are a light, a dark and
the unfiltered Hallsch. Food is also served.
Open daily from 11:00?
Brauhaus Diamant, Magdeburg-Neustadt.
Located in the shadow of the Diamant brauerei, close to Neustadt station The regular unfiltered pils is supplemented by
bottled specials. Food is also served.
Open Sun – Thu 11:00 – 22:00, Fri – Sat 11:00 – 23:00.
Herrenhauser Brauerei, Hannover.
A large family owned brewery near to Leinhausen station but the adjacent “Braustübchen” tap is now Charly’s sports
bar but the Pils was on tap.
Brauhaus Ernst August, Hannover.
A large city centre brewpub, restaurant and night club,about a ten minute walk from the Hbf. The unfiltered Hanöversch
is supplemented by seasonal specials.
Open Mon – Thu 08:00 – 03:00, Fri – Sat 08:00 – 05:00, Sun & BH 09:00 – 03:00.
Härke Brauereiausschank, Peine, tap for the adjacent Härke Brauerei.
A short walk from Peine station into the pedestrianised shopping area brings you to the brewery tap which feels just
like a brewpub. The light, dark and wheat are all availabe and food is also served.
Open Mon – Fri from 11:00, Sat from 10:00. Closed Sun.
Gilde Brauerei, Hannover
A huge brewery in the south of the city (approx 15 minutes walk from Bismarckstrasse station), now in the hands of
Anheuser-Busch InBev. The “Brauhaus” tap opposite the brewery now appears to be a Spanish restaurant! A
suggested (but untried) alternative is the Gilde-Bräu-Stübchen, Bothmerstr. 25
Blockbräu, Hamburg
A new brewpub located opposite Landungsbrücken S-bahn station in one of the historic St. Pauli harbour buildings.
They brew an unfiltered pils and a wheat. Food is also served.
Open daily 11:00 – 24:00.
Brauberger, Lübeck
A brewpub located in the town so about a fifteen minute walk from the Hbf via the impressive Holstentor. One unfiltered
beer is served straight from the barrel so if youorder a pitcher it’s only lightly carbonated. They serve food including an
eat all you can buffet.
Open Mon – Sat from 17:00.
Ratskeller, Stade
A brewpub located in the basement of the old town hall, about a ten minute walk from the station. The three regular
beers (light, dark and red) are supplemented by seasonal specials. Food is also available.
Open daily 11:00 – 23:00.
Altes Mädchen Braugasthaus, tap for the adjacent Ratsherrn Brauerei, Hamburg
The brewery, bottleshop and tap are all located in an old warehouse/factory complex that’s been refurbished for small
businesses. It’s opposite Sternschanze S-bahn station (use the east exit). The whole range of Ratsherrn beers are
available, including a taster tray of five beers. Food is also served.
The tap is open Mon - Sat from 12:00, Sun from 10:00.
Schüttinger, Bremen
A city centre brewpub located a stones throw from the historic altstadt. It’s a 15 minute walk from the Hbf or a short run
on tram #4/5/6/8.
Open Mon- Fri 12:00 – 01:00, Sat 11:00 – 02:00, Sun 11:00 – 22:00.
Euston Tap, London Euston
Located in one of the old gate towers outside Euston station and normally serving eight cask ales and a range of
kegged craft beers.
Post Office Vaults, Birmingham
Handily located less than five minutes walk from New St, this basement pub has eight beers on tap and good range of
foreign bottled beers.
Beer in Hand, Hereford
This micropub opened at the end of August and regularly features around ten ales served straight from the cask as well
as a selection of real ciders and some bottled ales from mainly Belgium and the USA. There’s no lager, no music, no
fruit machines, no TV and no cretins – my kind of pub!! ;-)
Railway Gen
I’m a member of several private railway groups on Yahoo, used for posting news and trips reports as well as loco
diagrams/observations. Unfortunately, Yahoo seem to have upset the apple cart with their new Neo operating system
which no-one likes!! New members are welcomed but it is expected that members post gen when visiting the country.
ERG - http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/europeanrail/info - A general group for all European countries.
DB-locoinfo - http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/DB-locoinfo/info - A group specialising in German Railways.
Friday 06/09/13
143.850 = RB26433
146.522 = X68905 (propelling)
181.209 = IC1955 (on the blocks at Leipzig Hbf)
Saturday 07/09/13
182.024 = spare at Erfurt
182.513 = spare at Erfurt
182.514 = RB16315 (not 100% sure of the service)
182.518 = RB16331
182.505 = RB16326
Five tours ran to Meiningen for the works open day from the following locations:Frankfurt = 52.4867 (with 211.200 on rear).
Cottbus = 03.2155 (with 231.012 on rear ex Halle, booked but vice the original quoted 242.001).
Leipzig Plagwitz = 232.158 (vice 232.004).
Berlin = 03.1010 (with 219.158 on rear).
Nurnberg = 52.8195
All of the charter steam loco’s visitied DLW Meiningen for display / coaling during the day. 232.158 and 219.158 also
went on display, joining the following (including some which were undergoing overhaul):99.715 (giving cab rides)
99.735
99.749
99.5902
99.6001
01.202
01.0509
18.201
35.1019
41.1144
41.1150
50.3501 (giving cab rides)
50.3708
052.988
52.8079 (no number carried)
52.8154
52.8131
86.333
93.1360
95.1027
5519 (CFL)
"Hellbrunn" Krauss 1902/4814
310.279
311.632
E75.09 (originally E75.59, fire damaged)
E77.10
Sunday 08/09/13
112.128 = RE14025
112.170 = RE17620
114.006 = RB17526
114.024 = RE17610
114.027 = RE17617
140.808 = stabled at Hannover Nordstadt
140.855 = stabled at Hannover Nordstadt
143.152 = RB16169
143.289 = RB17821
143.816 = RE17687
146.124 = RE4884
182.010 = RE18113
182.011 = RE18120
218.452 = RE14072
EMU = RE14024
Magdeburger Hafenbahn “family day” gen:261.019, 232.004, 346.560, MY1138 & various other gronks were on display around the site but 228.321 had departed
Saturday evening.
The 11:00 & 12:30 shuttle services worked by 345.116 (ex DB) and 345.263 (industrial) top & tail.
The 14:00 & 15:30 shuttle services worked by 345.116 (ex DB) and MY1138 top & tail.
201.004 was giving cab rides (no chance of it swapping as some idiot parked his car on the line!).
201.046 (hybrid) was stabled on the MHG depot (no driver).
All in all a reasonable effort (as a family day out) but typical of a small preservation group it was lacking solid gen for
cranks.....
Monday 09/09/13
101.127 + 101.038 = IC1916 (T&T both powering)
111.132 = RE4847
111.198 = RE4843
112.168 = RE21040
112.176 = RB21390
140.681 = Stabled in Lehrte yard
146.105 = RE4415
146.502 = ME82837
146.509 = MEr81931
146.511 = ME82826 / ME82134
146.512 = ME82032
146.516 = ME82827
146.531 = ME82825
146.542 = ME82824 / ME82836
218.450 = RE14067 (day 4)
218.451 = RE14066 (day 2)
218.452 = RE14065 (day 1)
218.465 + 218.413 = IC18647 (T&T both powering)
218.470 = RE14072 (day 5)
218.473 = RE14073 (day 3)
218.834 = spare at Hannover
246.003 = ME81535
EMU = RE14015
Tuesday 10/09/13
101.008 = IC2374
101.026 = IC1129
101.049 = IC2071
101.097 = EC176
112.107 = RE4313
112.140 = RB21574
112.142 = RE21019
112.146 = RE21420
112.151 = RB21324
112.152 = RB21169
112.153 = RE21472
112.171 = RE21017
112.173 = RE21024
112.175 = RB21364 / RB21372 / RE21435
112.178 = RB21369
112.180 = RE21014
112.181 = RE21074
120.152 = IC2906 (vice ICE880)
120.201 = RE4335
143.163 = RB21326
143.276 = RB21124
143.340 = RB21164
146.502 = ME82133
146.503 = ME82012 / ME82117
146.534 = MEr81920
146.535 = MEr81958
182.530 = HKX1803
218.330 = RE21494
218.366 + 218.341 = IC2170 (ex Hamburg Hbf)
218.389 + 218.381 = IC2193 (to Hamburg Hbf)
223.010 = NOB81715
223.014 = NOB81713
246.007 = ME81518
246.008 = ME81515
V20.036 = (Deutz 1943/39655) preserved at Glückstadt (Freunde der Marschbahn)
Wednesday 11/09/13
101.031 = IC2314
101.079 = IC2193 (ex Hamburg Hbf)
101.108 = IC2108
112.103 = RE4303
112.143 = RB21362
112.148 = RE21021 / RE21022
112.150 = RE21412
112.171 = RE21012 / RE21020
112.172 = RE21460
112.173 = RE21010
120.205 = RE4313
143.163 = RB21312
143.295 = RB95761
146.503 = ME82019 / ME82109 / ME82121
146.504 = ME82008 / ME82020 / ME82122
146.507 = ME81926
146.508 = ME82018 / ME82021
146.509 = ME81917 / ME81918
146.510 = ME82112 / ME82117 / ME82124 / ME82022
146.512 = ME81627
146.513 = ME81611 / ME81625 / ME81626
146.516 = ME81908
146.535 = ME81623
146.536 = ME81962 / ME81965
146.537 = ME82017 / ME82119
146.539 = ME81958
146.541 = ME81922
218.307 +218.366 = IC2193 (to Hamburg Hbf)
218.314 +218.342 = IC2073 (to Hamburg Hbf)
218.381 + 218.389 = IC2170 (ex Hamburg Hbf)
246.003 = ME81518 / ME81521
246.004 = ME81522
246.005 = ME81513 / ME81520 / ME81523
246.008 = ME81522 / ME81525