News

29.06.2026: An eventful June

Dear friends of our museum,

We can look back on a very eventful June 2026. At last, we are accessible by rail once again. On 14 June 2026, Deutsche Bahn opened the (Hamburg –) Hagenow – Berlin line to public transport, six weeks later than originally planned. On the one hand, we were very pleased about this.

On the other hand, the construction delays unfortunately meant that on 13 June – the first day of our ‘Summer Steam 2026’ event – our visitors could only reach us by road. It was also extremely difficult to bring in guest rolling stock, although the Neustrelitz railcar 771 001 and the electric locomotive 188 105 did manage to make it to us. Unfortunately, the announced diesel locomotive 202 655 could not be transferred, as its commercial operations were not compatible with the limited time slots available for transfer via the construction tracks. It’s a bit of a shame, but what didn’t work out this time will certainly be possible in the future.

Right up until the very end, test runs were still taking place on the lines around Wittenberge. Heavy freight trains filled with ballast were constantly travelling along the lines to ‘run in’ the new tracks. A test multiple unit was also in operation, which resembles the familiar ICE multiple units in design. The first two pictures show the multiple unit from the outside and a view from its driver’s cab window of the Elbe bridge in Wittenberge.




Our event was well attended. We welcomed around 1,400 guests. That is a pleasingly high figure, given that – at least on Saturday – the only way to get there was by car or bus. One of the highlights of the event was undoubtedly the sightseeing tours through Wittenberg harbour. We would like to extend our warmest thanks to our colleagues from the Hafenbahn Neustrelitz e.V. association, who made these tours possible with their railcars.

The presence of locomotive 188 105 certainly provided a unique contrast. Not only was it painted entirely white, but it was also just a few days old and had not even clocked up 1,000 kilometres on the odometer. Quite a contrast to our museum vehicles, some of which have already clocked up millions of kilometres during their active service. Special thanks go to Steven Schacht, who looked after the locomotive.

The rest of the supporting programme was also impressive. It included turntable demonstrations, handcar rides, rides on the Breuer tractor and opportunities to ride in the driver’s cab of our steam locomotive EMMA, as well as tours of our Wm signal box and our disaster relief train. Our little museum train also made its rounds around the site. A new feature this time was that, during our circular tours around the station area, we now pass through remotely controlled points. Over the festival weekend, the points were operated from Berlin. A big thank you once again to the Berlin signalmen at DB Netz. Everything went extremely smoothly.

On 13 June, the town of Wittenberge also held a grand opening ceremony for the station building. Many of our visitors therefore took the opportunity to explore the newly renovated building and were delighted. We say “Congratulations, Wittenberge!”.

We’ve now been thinking about which photos to share with you in this newsletter. We’ve gathered quite a few, and most of them are excellent and capture the atmosphere well. We’ve therefore decided to include a link to a slideshow here, so you can enjoy the photos at your leisure. The slideshow lasts about 5 minutes. So, what could be better than grabbing a drink now or later and taking your time to look through the photos? Click on the link below to open the slideshow. Enjoy!

https://1drv.ms/v/c/fc75646ec636605a/IQDafcMVRdebRp8UHobPV5X0AV1YHHrUOyzPTm3B1d2W0d8?e=RBf3k6

What else has been happening? First of all, diesel locomotive 118 748 has temporarily left us, as some work still needs to be carried out on an engine and the roof sealing. We are also taking this opportunity to fit a new digital radio system. The following three pictures show it being transferred to Gera and during the fitting of the radio system.





Work has also continued on our steam locomotive 50 3682. The boiler has now been exposed to such an extent that it can soon be lifted off the frame.



As you can see, things are always exciting here. If you were unable to make it to our last event, you’re welcome to visit us on Saturdays between 10.00 and 17.00 (last admission at 16.00) to watch our colleagues at work. Who knows, perhaps you’ll get the itch to have a go yourself? We’d be delighted to have you!
vehicle: 50 3624-9

related articles (News):

---

07.06.2026: Summer Steam – The guest list is filling up

We are delighted that, with Summer Steam just around the corner this coming weekend, 13–14 June 2026, the list of guest locomotives is still growing. As things stand, we will be welcoming visitors from Gera and Halle in the form of at least one diesel locomotive and one electric locomotive.

As for the diesel locomotive, we will be welcoming another representative of the V100 class, of which we also have one example in our collection. However, the guest locomotive with the registration number 202 655, which still regularly hauls freight trains today, will be presented in green livery, unlike our own locomotive.

NEWSIMAGE#!2026-06-07-die_daesteliste_fuellt_sich-06.jpg#!

The two electric locomotives will be considerably more modern than the diesel locomotive already presented. Electric locomotive 188 105 was only put into service a few days ago and comes from the Traxx series by the manufacturer Alstom. With around 6,000 hp, it is a powerhouse on German railways. The practical thing about it is that it can draw the electricity required for its propulsion both from the overhead lines of various European countries and from a built-in diesel generator. This enables it to reach our museum grounds under its own power.

NEWSIMAGE#!2026-06-07-die_daesteliste_fuellt_sich-07.jpg#!

Further locomotives have been requested. Whether they will arrive or, if necessary, be replaced by others depends on the short-term order situation of their commercial owners.

---

03.06.2026: Summer steam 13./14.06.2026

Dear friends of historic railways,

On the weekend of 13 and 14 June 2026, the wheels will be turning once again in Wittenberge. We therefore warmly welcome railway enthusiasts of all ages to our ‘Sommerdampf 2026’ event at the Historic Engine Shed. Our steam locomotive Emma will, of course, be back in action and will be competing with her modern sisters from the diesel locomotive fleet.

The locomotives will be in operation on Saturday between 10 am and 5 pm, and on Sunday between 10 am and 4 pm. Visitors will then be able to not only admire them from the outside, but also ride along in the driver’s cab. Her sisters, the museum’s other locomotives, are also looking forward to welcoming visitors. Here, friendly museum staff will offer rare glimpses into the engine rooms and driver’s cabs. Also worth seeing is the museum’s signal box, from which numerous points and signals across the museum grounds are operated.

Railway enthusiasts will also be offering guided tours of the grounds in a historic passenger carriage dating from the turn of the last century. Those who wish to operate the traction themselves can do so on a draisine. Hunger and thirst can, of course, be satisfied on site. The highlight of every day will be the vehicle parades, which take place at around 2.00 pm. During these, various working exhibits from the museum are shown in action.

We are also working to organise sightseeing tours of Wittenberg harbour starting from the museum grounds. Unfortunately, we will not know the full details of these tours until shortly before the event. Whether they go ahead depends on the approval of the newly restored track facilities of DB AG at Wittenberge Central Station. We will announce whether the tours are taking place shortly before the event on our website www.dampflok-wittenberge.de and on our Facebook page “Historischer Lokschuppen Wittenberge”.

On Saturday, 13 June 2026, the newly renovated station building at Wittenberge Central Station, which is conveniently located within walking distance of our museum, will also be opened. The town of Wittenberge is hosting an Open Station Day there. As part of this event, the renovated rooms will be open to visitors. There will also be music, panel discussions and a varied family programme for all ages.

The station building can be visited free of charge. Tickets for our museum are available at the entrance to the museum grounds at a price of €8 (adults) / €4 (children) / €20 (families). Free parking is available in the vicinity of the station.

Kind regards,
Historischer Lokschuppen Wittenberge

---

31.05.2026: May brings new life

True to the old German saying ‘May brings new life’, it was time for our spring clean too. Over several consecutive weekends, we first cleared the turntable pit of overgrowth ...




... and the vehicles parked outdoors were cleaned.




It was well worth the effort and everything is now back in a presentable condition.

We are also delighted to have a few new vehicles. We were able to acquire a second-hand forklift truck. It replaces our old one, which suffered engine failure some time ago.



In addition, we have adapted two auxiliary bogies from the neighbouring carriage repair workshop so that they will soon be able to support the existing boiler of our steam locomotive 50 3682. As we have already reported, this is being replaced by a different boiler.



Work on our diesel locomotive 114 774 is also progressing. The existing radio system has just been removed so that it can soon be replaced by a modern digital radio system.





Our Wednesday group has once again been very busy. The team is currently working on the electrical connection for the bell systems, which we were able to acquire some time ago. The bells will soon be controlled centrally from a building in the former coal yard. To this end, trenches have been dug for the electrical cables, the necessary cables laid, and the trenches backfilled. The connection of the equipment will take place shortly.




A few days ago, a fellow club member also had the opportunity, through his work, to view the track layout from the roof of Wittenberge Central Station. Work here is almost complete, and everyone is eagerly awaiting the resumption of train services on the line between Ludwigslust and Berlin on 14 June. From then on, there will also be regular train services again from Wittenberge towards Stendal/Magdeburg and towards Pritzwalk.




Incidentally, on 13 June 2026, the station building will be officially opened by its new owner, the town of Wittenberge. There will be a varied programme of events (https://www.wittenberge.de/seite/713342/neugestaltung-des-bahnhofsumfeldes.html ) to mark the occasion, in which we will also be taking part, as we are celebrating our ‘Summer Steam’ on 13 and 14 June. We will provide further details about this here in a few days’ time.
vehicle: 114 774-3

related articles (News):

related articles (Press):

---

01.05.2026: Season’s Greetings for May Day

Dear friends of our museum, thirty years ago, Wittenberge would still have been celebrating the ‘International Workers’ Day of Celebration for Peace and Socialism’. Today, we simply celebrate 1 May and enjoy the fine weather and cheerful atmosphere.

The atmosphere was just as lively at our recent event in mid-April, when we celebrated our traditional spring festival. On Saturday alone, we welcomed over 800 guests.






We had quite a bit on offer. Our large diesel locomotives 118 748 and 114 774 were demonstrated in operation. Many fans were delighted to be able to take a look inside the driver’s cabs and engine rooms. Our colleagues from the diesel section were on hand to provide explanations.




In addition, our museum train and the Trabi draisine were out and about on the site.





The event was a great success, even though visitor numbers on Sunday fell short of expectations due to the rainy and windy weather.

Just in time for the event, our small sales room on the ground floor of the signal box was completed. Here, the colleagues who look after our guests on the driver’s cab rides have renovated the space and made it a little more cosy.





In addition, our control centre has been further equipped. Since the last event, announcements can be made from here via the public address system throughout the museum grounds. Furthermore, this is where we provide commentary on the vehicle parades that we regularly hold during our events.



Meanwhile, preparations for the major overhaul of steam locomotive 50 3682 are progressing. We have now managed to dismantle the driver’s cab and the air and feed water pumps and store them on specially prepared transport units.







As you can see, dear visitors, things are progressing rapidly at the museum. Please do come along and have a look around at your leisure. We are open for you on Saturdays from 10 am.

We would like to take this opportunity to draw your attention to our next event on 13 and 14 June. This will be a somewhat larger affair. Not only are we celebrating our summer festival in the locomotive shed, but the Wittenberge Council will also be opening the newly renovated main station that weekend. If you’d like to arrive in style on a special train, we recommend the Magdeburg Railway Friends. Their train will consist of passenger carriages from the Deutsche Reichsbahn, hauled by a historic diesel locomotive (https://www.mebf.de/sonderfahrt-zum-eisenbahnfest-wittenberge/ ). In addition to this special train, we’re expecting further guest vehicles, which we’ll report on here shortly.

---