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30.07.2021: Current work
In the meantime we had to do some maintenance work on our steam locomotives. Steam locomotive 50 3570 needed some holes to be plugged in the ash box. So the industrious colleague heroically went inside the locomotive and welded the holes shut.
On the Emma steam locomotive, the task was to clean the so-called DeLimon oiler. It is used to supply the steam cylinders with oil so that the pistons and slides are lubricated. To do this, it was disassembled, the nozzles cleaned and reassembled.
The S200 diesel locomotive now shines in new splendour. It has shed its washed-out green paint scheme and now shines in a grey colour with black trim. The running gear is painted red.
The car transport wagon from Walter Ulbricht's government train also needs a little attention. So the tracks inside the car were cleaned and repainted to give rust no chance.
Work was also done on the property. So some rear doors and windows were repainted, which are located at the access to the property to our neighbours. They now have a more pleasant sight again.
Last but not least, we were able to salvage several lengths of rail from the neighbouring woods. With the help of an excavator, which was present at the time, the track yokes could be pulled out of the dense vegetation. The sleepers are rotten but the rails are still usable and serve as a basis for the future reconstruction of locomotive shed 1.
vehicles: 50 3570-4, Emma, S 200 13, Autotransportwaggon
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Historischer Lokschuppen ruht
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Restaurierte "Emma" schnauft nach 42 Jahren wieder03.07.2021: Trial steaming
Last weekend we fired up our operational steam locomotives for a test run. This required some preparations, some of which had already been completed last Friday. For example, the steam regulator on steam locomotive 50 3570 had to be installed and the steam dome had to be closed. Father and son did that.
Then the locomotive was pulled out of the shed and all lubrication points were oiled.
While this was going on, the coal tank for our little steam locomotives was loaded with coal.
Afterwards the locomotives were heated up one after the other.
Early on Saturday morning the supplies were replenished, like here the water supply of our steam locomotive Emma.
The turntable also got some lubricant. In the following picture one of the bolts is being lubricated, which keeps the turntable in position while the vehicles are moving up and down.
During the day we also found time to install the second axle of our Breuer tractor.
Reliably, however, the steam locomotive Emma did its duty. It shuttled with a passenger car from the locomotive shed to the station and performed some shunting tasks.
vehicles: 50 3570-4, Emma, Breuer Lokomotor
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26.06.2021: Preparation for the test steam
As our steam locomotives are to be fired up for a test run next weekend, a lot of preparations had to be made. Most of the work was done on our steam locomotive 50 3570, whose boiler overhaul was completed just in time. In the course of this, some boiler tubes were replaced and then a hydraulic test was successfully carried out. Now the steam regulator can be installed. For this purpose, the so-called steam dome on the top of the boiler was opened. We used this once again for final checks.
In the process, rare views from the inside of the boiler can be seen. The following picture shows the so-called ceiling anchors. These are the long metal rods to which the firebox is attached inside the boiler.
In the course of the boiler inspection, the safety valves were also refurbished. In the event of overpressure in the boiler, they ensure that the excess steam can escape from the boiler. A deafening spectacle.
A colleague preferred to enjoy the nice weather outside the locomotive shed. He took pity on the track markings that had been placed in the turntable pit. These had become somewhat weathered over the last few years. The turntable operator can orientate himself by these markings.
vehicle: 50 3570-4
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12.06.2021: Get ready for trial steaming!
Actually, we had planned our first big festival "after" the Covid pandemic for the first weekend in July. But the restrictions on such events in Brandenburg are still giving us a hard time, so we decided to postpone our festival until mid-August.
However, since many crew-members have already taken the first weekend of July off and are coming to Wittenberge, we are making a virtue out of necessity. So on Saturday, July 3rd 2021, we will put our locomotives into operation for test runs. Then we will see whether they have not yet forgotten how to drive. Guests are very welcome. But please remember, to be on the safe side, to already register for your visit via our website. This will make it easier for us to comply with the Covid-requirement that no more than 100 people are on the premises at any one time.
But before that, there is still a lot to do. Our little steam locomotives needed some visual refreshment. So we took advantage of yesterday's nice weather to give them a thorough cleaning.
In addition, the work on the future tender of our steam locomotive 50 3570 continued. Once again we made the typical experience: If you take a closer look at a historic vehicle, you will find more and more pieces which need some TLC. So we found that some metal sheets on the front side were heavily corroded. They were now cut out and replaced by new ones.
After the diesel locomotive S 200 had been standing in the locomotive shed without paint for quite some time, now was the opportunity to start with the new paint job. First all windows were masked, the headlights were removed and brake hoses and windscreen wipers were packed to prevent them from accidentally getting paint. Then the locomotive was primed. A colleague also overhauled the locomotive's horns at home.
There was also progress with the buildings. We started to plaster the walls in our future small parts store and to close the holes in the floor.
There is now more daylight in the water tower. We were able to remove two small windows at the level of the large water tank below the roof, clean them, re-glaze them and reinstall them. This may sound a little unspectacular. But you have to imagine that we removed the windows at dizzying heights and salvaged them via an extremely steep, 12-metre-high ladder and then brought them back into the tower the same way after the restoration. This is not for people with a fear of heights.
And last but not least, we had the hardness of the water we use to feed our steam locomotives determined. The degree of hardness indicates how much lime is dissolved in the water. This information is important to determine the correct dosage of water treatment agents for use in our locomotive boilers. Conveniently, we have the hardness level written on the water cranes in our compound.
vehicles: 50 3570-4, S 200 13
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29.05.2021: It's on
Under the motto "It's on" we did some work last Saturday. First, our Emma was pulled out of the shed into the sun. The little locomotive underwent some maintenance work. For example, a bench seat was removed from the driver's cab, which will be reconstructed in the next few days.
Sweat was running during further work on the steam locomotive 50 3570. Here a refurbished blowdown valve was mounted under the boiler and water level indicators were screwed on in the driver's cab.
Paint also ran through the spray nozzles of our painter, who painted two diesel engines, one of which will soon be put on display.
Water ran through the nozzle of our high-pressure cleaner. A hard-working colleague cleared the examination pit of dirt where Emma usually stands.
Finally, the VW engine of the Breuer tractor is running again, which another colleague brought to life in homework. In the near future we will be able to reassemble the tractor.
vehicles: 50 3570-4, Emma, Breuer Lokomotor