News

25.05.2025: New heavyweights in the historic locomotive shed

It was actually supposed to be a quiet May 2025 after we had completed our ?Spring Steam? event. But things usually turn out differently than planned. Today we are delighted to welcome two heavyweight new additions to the museum and major work along our museum track to Wittenberge station.
The first new exhibit is the electric locomotive 142 118, which was built in the mid-1960s by LEW - Lokomotivbau Elektrotechnische Werke ?Hans Beimler? (Hennigsdorf). It was put into service by the Deutsche Reichsbahn in May 1967 and was stationed in Halle. It was used for passenger and goods trains until it was decommissioned in 1994.
As it was still quite sprightly, the locomotive was sold to Switzerland in 1995 and used there mainly for freight transport until 2003. As the topography there is known to be quite steep, it was adapted to the prevailing conditions. The biggest change was the installation of an electric resistance brake, which is used on downhill gradients when the traction motors operate as electric generators. This reduces the load on the conventional brake, in which brake blocks act on the wheels, and significantly reduces wear. An external feature of this conversion is that a current collector has been removed and electric resistors have been mounted on the roof instead. In the attached picture, these are the structures on the right half of the roof.

In 2003, the locomotive returned to Germany and was used by the Westfälische Almetalbahn on DB AG lines, also for freight transport. Since 2009, the locomotive has belonged to the ENON Group, which also includes Eisenbahngesellschaft Potsdam. The locomotive was decommissioned in 2022 after the inspection period expired. As there is currently no need for its further use, the locomotive has been made available to us as an exhibition object in our museum in Wittenberge. Thank you very much for this new and interesting exhibit.
Our second new addition comes from the same locomotive factory as the 142 119. It is also an electric locomotive, but in small format. It does not draw its power from an overhead lifewire, but from batteries. For this reason, the series is also known as an accumulator traction vehicle (ASF). Ours initially bore the number 126 when the Deutsche Reichsbahn delivered it brand new to the Wittenberge depot.


After the closure of the depot, it was sold to Eisenbahngesellschaft Potsdam in the 2000s, which eventually brought it to Rügen. From GDR times until 2016, there was a railway ferry connection from there to Lithuania (Klaipeda), partly because the Soviet Union did not fully trust its ally Poland and preferred not to have critical or strategic goods transported by rail through Poland. In Mukran, Soviet freight wagons running on broad gauge at home were converted to European standard gauge or vice versa so that they could run on European tracks. Our ASF was used for shunting the wagons within the gauge change facility. Incidentally, its maximum speed is an impressive 6 km/h.
As the Soviet wagons only had a centre buffer coupling and not the buffers, coupling hooks and coupling chains that we usually had, our ASF was equipped with such a centre buffer coupling on one side of the vehicle. It still has this today and is therefore quite unique.

Unfortunately, the ASF is currently not operational because the vehicle batteries have suffered quite a bit over the years and need to be partially replaced. For this reason and due to a lack of demand, Eisenbahngesellschaft Potsdam has given us the vehicle on permanent loan. Many thanks for that too!
Now let's take a look at our museum track outside the actual museum grounds, which runs from our signal box Wm to Wittenberg station. Major construction work is currently taking place along this track in preparation for the State Garden Show, which will take place in Wittenberge in 2027.


Incidentally, the station at the end of this track is also currently undergoing major refurbishment. It is due to be completed in the first half of 2026. Fortunately, there will once again be a ?mobility centre? with a ticket counter. In addition, the job centre, the technology centre and business development agency and the German Society for Non-Destructive Testing will move into rooms there. We are already looking forward to the opening because it will give the railway in Wittenberge another striking face and, unlike many other towns, the imposing station will once again shine in new splendour.

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07.05.2025: Review of the Spring Steam 2025

Last weekend, around 1,500 guests took the opportunity to visit us at our ‘Spring Steam 2025’. We are delighted with the number of visitors, which was quite high despite the cool and wet Sunday. We would like to thank all visitors for coming.
We also had a lot to offer. The 86 1744 of the Press Group and our steam locomotive Emma were available alternately for cab rides. In addition, there were once again the popular tours of the site with our small museum train, which ran from the turntable to the southern boundary of the site, changed direction there and travelled to the main station. From there, it took the track connection past the Potsdam railway's engine shed back to the turntable.
Those who wanted to lend a hand themselves could do so on our trolley rides or when setting the points on our signal box ‘Wm’. Many visitors also found out about the progress of the boiler inspection of our steam locomotive 50 3570, whose driver's cab we had made accessible. Anyone who wanted to see what a steam locomotive looks like from below was able to enter the inspection pit under our steam locomotive 50 3624. Wearing a helmet was of course compulsory for the adults and fun for the children.
Our thanks go to everyone who supported us at the event. In addition to the aforementioned press group, the volunteer fire brigade helped with their pea soup (the best pea soup you can imagine), Benny and his colleagues at the barbecue (always a pleasure) and of course our own colleagues and relatives, who once again provided delicious cakes. We would also like to thank our two transport police officers from the Pritzwalk museum signal box for coming along with their authentic service vehicle. By the way, it's great that you opened your own museum just a few days ago!
We would also like to thank all visitors who expressed their sympathy for the death of our long-time colleague and founding member of the association, Klaus-Peter Müller. We remembered him with mourning ribbons with the inscription ‘Thank you, Klaus-Peter!’ on various vehicles.
We are very satisfied with the event because our guests were too, the technology worked and there were no major or minor accidents. We are already looking forward to the next event at the beginning of July 2025.

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20.04.2025: Frühjahrsdampf im Historischen Lokschuppen Wittenberge

„100 Jahre Dampflok Emma“ heißt es in diesem Jahr im Historischen Lokschuppen Wittenberge und die Dampflokfreunde sind stolz darauf, ihren Besuchern die kleine schwarz-rot-grüne Lok in Betrieb vorführen zu können. Anlass hierfür ist die Veranstaltung Frühjahrsdampf am 3. und 4. Mai 2025, bei der Emma sich auf zahlreiche Besucher aus nah und fern freut. Als besondere Gratulantin wird auch eine Dampflok der Baureihe 86 vor Ort sein, die der Press-Gruppe gehört. Einige Gäste werden sie vielleicht aus ihrem letzten Sommerurlaub auf Rügen und Usedom kennen.
Beide Loks werden samstags zwischen 10 und 17 Uhr um die Wette dampfen, sonntags zwischen 10 und 16 Uhr. Besucher können sie dann nicht nur von außen bestaunen, sondern auch auf dem Führerstand mitfahren. Auch ihre Schwestern, die Dieselloks des Museums, freuen sich schon auf Besucher. Hier bieten freundliche Mitarbeiter des Museums seltene Blicke in die Maschinenräume und die Führerstände. Sehenswert ist auch das Stellwerk des Museums, von dem etliche Weichen und Signale im Museumsgelände gestellt werden.
Die Bahnfreunde bieten außerdem Rundfahrten im historischen Reisezugwagen der vorletzten Jahrhundertwende durch das Gelände an. Wer selbst für den Antrieb arbeiten möchte, der kann das auf einer Draisine erleben. Hunger und Durst können selbstverständlich vor Ort gestillt werden. Highlight jeden Tages werden die Fahrzeugparaden sein, die gegen 14:00 Uhr stattfinden. Dabei werden diverse funktionsfähige Exponate des Museums in Aktion gezeigt.
Eintrittskarten gibt es vor Ort zum Preis von € 8,- (Erwachsene) / 4,- (Kinder) / 20,- (Familien). Kostenlose Parkplätze stehen im Bahnhofsumfeld zur Verfügung. Wittenberge ist auch gut per Bahn zu erreichen, im Zweistundentakt in und aus Richtung Hamburg, Magdeburg und Pritzwalk sowie stündlich von und nach Berlin. Der Historische Lokschuppen ist fußläufig in wenigen Minuten vom Bahnhof zu erreichen.

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13.04.2025: News

Dear friends of our museum, dear guests,
We have to start today's newsletter with some sad news that has shaken us all very much. Our long-standing colleague and co-founder of our association, or rather the initiator of all our endeavours, Klaus-Peter Müller, passed away last weekend at the age of 82. Klaus-Peter leaves a huge gap in our ranks, as he supported the association with drive, determination and a huge network and saved us through many a dark hour. We say ‘Thank you, Klaus-Peter!’ for everything. We will carry the memory of you in our hearts and continue your work. Klaus-Peter Müller will be duly remembered at our spring steam event on 3 and 4 May 2025.
Despite the sadness, we are of course looking forward to the event. It will once again give you and us the opportunity to let plenty of steam blow around our noses. Not only will our now 100-year-old steam locomotive ‘Emma’ be in operation. We are also trying to get an operational class 86 steam locomotive from the PRESS Group, which you may have seen on your last summer holiday on Rügen or Usedom. The steam locomotives and some diesel locomotives will not only be available for viewing at the event. We also offer cab rides on them. A great experience!
Please see the attached poster for details of the opening times and other general conditions. If you would like to help us, please print out the poster and put it up in public places (e.g. on the notice board in the supermarket) so that as many people as possible know about our event.

Our own steam locomotive 50 3570 is still ‘undergoing treatment’. As we have already reported, all the tubes have been removed from the boiler so that they can be replaced with new ones. In the meantime, the boiler overhaul has made further progress. Here the pipe walls have been ground. These are the metal walls in the boiler between which the pipes run. The openings that accommodate the pipes must actually be circular so that the new pipes can actually be installed pressure-tight.


Work was also carried out on our class 114 diesel locomotive. Here, our colleagues cleaned the so-called gap filter. This is a device that filters metallic impurities out of the engine oil. Such a slotted filter consists of several hundred layers of thin metal sheets, between which the engine oil is pressed and which catch the impurities.

Work also continued on the museum site, as we want to prepare it as well as possible for our visitors before the museum opens for the season on Easter Saturday. To this end, some colleagues have put up historical warning signs to remind you, dear visitors, that railway vehicles may be travelling on the nearby tracks. Safety is always an issue these days and we must ensure that there is no unwanted contact between people and machines.


The redesign of the level crossing leading from the gatehouse to the engine shed also contributes to the issue of safety. We are endeavouring to complete the paving work by Easter Saturday so that you can reach the museum easily.

If the construction site is still in place next weekend, please take appropriate care. However, access to the museum will be possible in any case. We look forward to your visit and will be there for you every Saturday from next Saturday until October. Don't forget: Spring steam on 3-4 May 2025!

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12.03.2025: We are working on the boiler of our steam locomotive 50 3570

Over the past few weekends, we have been hard at work on the boiler of our steam locomotive 50 3570. As previously reported, all the pipes inside were to be removed and replaced with new ones. This work is tedious and dirty, so we are pleased that this work has now been completed. Today's pictures show some snapshots of the work. The first step was to loosen the pipes from their anchoring and then pull them out of the inside of the boiler. This not only requires labour and sweat, but also a lot of oxygen and acetylene for the welding torches. It should be borne in mind that the pipes are quite heavy and unwieldy. They weigh between 40 and 80 kilograms, depending on the diameter. So you have to be strong to complete the work. But the drink at the end tastes all the better and you are guaranteed not to need to go to the gym afterwards.







Work also continued on the interior of our 197 805 coach. The wall insulation and panelling have now been completed and are being painted. We are following the historical colour scheme. The window strip is given several layers of light green colour, which also contains a proportion of beige. Once the paint has dried, wooden mouldings are fitted to cover the gaps between the wall panels.

We would like to draw your attention to the start of our museum season. The museum will be open regularly on Saturdays from Holy Saturday (19 April) until the end of October.
Our spring steam event will take place on 3 and 4 May. The now 100-year-old steam locomotive Emma will be in operation. We are also endeavouring to find a replacement for our steam locomotive 50 3570, which in all probability will not be ready by May. But you can still look forward to the event - it's going to be steaming.

https://dampflok-wittenberge.de/download/2025-05-03-fruehjahrsdampf.pdf
vehicle: 50 3570-4

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