Hi all,
We had been to the south east of West Germany and spent two night at Neunmarkt Wirsberg near Hof to photograph the 01 Pacofics, then made our way north in a semi circle dropping of at various locations before making for home. On the last day we would finish up here at Gelsenkirchen Bismarck in the central Rhur. This was one of the large steam depots with a workshops for repairing engines.
There were 10 engines here mainly for repairs and outside was this lone class 050 2-10-0 is being being coaled up under the massive moving crane that could move up and down above the two tracks next to the coal pile. The Germans seemed to like this type of crane, in the distant mist is an enormous one used for loading coal probably on to barges on the Rhein Herne canal. Outside the buildings in the distance a class 044 had just been overhauled all nicely painted. This was 1972 and they were still putting back into service these large 2-10-0 freight engines.
Friday 25th February 1972.
Regards
Ledg.