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01.03.2026: New project launched

In our last newsletter, we already hinted that something big was in the works. And it has to do with one of our class 50 steam locomotives, of which we have several in our inventory.

A few words about the history of the Class 50: it was part of the new construction programme of the former Deutsche Reichsbahn, which from the 1930s onwards wanted to put a fleet of steam locomotives on the tracks that was modern for its time and based on a uniform type programme. Although there were classes for different purposes, many parts were interchangeable. This significantly reduced procurement and maintenance costs. The Class 50 was a kind of universal type that could be used to pull both passenger and freight trains. A total of over 3,100 locomotives of this class were manufactured from 1939 onwards in various factories in Germany and in countries occupied during the war.

After the war, 350 of these locomotives remained in the Soviet occupation zone of Germany and were later used by the German Reichsbahn in the GDR. In the mid-1950s, it became clear that the locomotives would have to remain in service for a longer period of time because the planned switch to diesel and electric locomotives was delayed. For this reason, 208 Class 50 locomotives were refurbished between 1958 and 1962. This meant that they were fitted with new boilers and, in some cases, new tenders.

Our 50 3682, which was built by Krauss-Maffei in Munich in 1939 and put into service by the Deutsche Reichsbahn as 50 255, is one of the 208 locomotives mentioned above. It had an eventful life. From 1948 to 1952, it was used in what was known as column service. This involved transporting all kinds of machinery and goods claimed by the Soviet Union as reparations after the war to the Polish/Russian border, where they were transferred to Russian broad-gauge freight trains. Such journeys sometimes took weeks.

At the end of the 1950s, our locomotive was reconstructed at the Stendal repair workshop and has since been numbered 50 3682. It belonged to the Deutsche Reichsbahn until March 1993 and was then acquired by a fellow member of our association. We were able to keep it operational until 2019. However, the condition of its boiler then forced us to take it out of service. Unfortunately, the thickness of the material no longer allowed for safe operation.

Two pictures from the locomotive's museum service: hauling a freight train in March 2002 and use on round trips through the Port of Hamburg at the end of September 2007.




As we had to take its sister engine, 50 3570, out of service some time ago for similar reasons, it was decided to focus on rebuilding 50 3682 first. A replacement boiler in fairly good condition was procured for this purpose.

First, however, the locomotive's existing boiler must be removed. In order to lift it off the locomotive's chassis, all attachments and the locomotive's driver's cab must first be removed. This involves removing all fittings and controls from the driver's cab and dismantling all pipes and auxiliary units connected to the boiler. We are currently in this phase. Current pictures of the latest work on this are attached here. We will continue soon and keep you up to date here.






If you would like to support us in this project, you are very welcome to do so. There is plenty of work to be done, but also financial needs. Please feel free to contact our board (contact details in the imprint).
vehicle: 50 3682-7

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