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11.11.2024: The winter work begins

Our 2024 season ended at the end of October with the last day the museum was open, when many visitors came to the engine shed to get a last whiff of the steam locomotive smell. After that, we began the part of the year in which we traditionally dedicate ourselves to the work that requires more effort.
In particular, this includes work on our steam locomotive 50 3570, which we would like to present in working order again next year. To do this, we have to complete a number of tasks that are quite time-consuming. This includes in particular the boiler repair, which is now being prepared. Last Saturday, we joined forces to wash out the boiler. To do this, all the wash hatches were removed. These are mushroom-shaped closures that seal small oval openings in the boiler wall, through which impurities and limescale residues can be flushed out of the boiler with a strong jet of water. As the nuts holding the plugs are sometimes extremely tight, they have to be heated red-hot with a flame so that they expand slightly and can be loosened.



We also removed the drain valves and safety valves from the drive cylinders. One is used to drain condensation in the steam cylinders. The others are for emergency draining if too much condensation has collected in the cylinders and the movement of the pistons presses so hard against the cylinder covers that they could burst. It is well known that water cannot be compressed.

Work on the tender also continues. Now that all the metal work on the inside of the tender has been completed, we can turn our attention to coating the water tank. It has a capacity of 26 cubic metres. We applied a special paint to prevent or at least slow down further corrosion.
Below is a picture of the inside of the tender. Here you can see that it has partition walls with a number of more or less large openings. These walls are intended to prevent the water inside from sloshing around too much when the locomotive accelerates or brakes.

Work is also being done on the exterior appearance of the tender. The remaining paint has been sanded or completely removed so that a primer coat can be applied soon. We hope that the outside temperatures will remain in the double-digit range for a little longer so that we can apply the final coat of black paint before the winter cold sets in.

Work also continued on our coach 197 805. Now that all the ceiling panels and ceiling mouldings have been installed, the ceiling can be painted. We hope that we will soon be able to lay a new linoleum covering on the floor.

We are delighted to see the finished works of the pupils from the Marie Curie Grammar School in Wittenberge, who - as we reported in our last newsletter - designed the walls of our new exhibition space in the south gable of the engine shed. Thank you again, you have painted some great things.


vehicles: 50 3570-4, 197 805-5

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16.10.2024: Autumn steam at the historic locomotive shed in Wittenberge

Last weekend, we heralded the coming end of the season for our museum with an event at which everything that can run under its own power in our museum was on the move. This included our diesel locomotives 320 001, 118 748, the steam locomotive Emma, our diesel shunters and - brand new in operation - our locomotive engine from Breuer. However, the star of the event was certainly the Press Group's steam locomotive 86 1744, which was available for cab rides in top condition. In addition, the company Lok OST kindly provided us with a V100 diesel locomotive, which could be admired as an exhibit and during the parade rides at around 14:00 on Saturday and Sunday. Thanks again to both companies for enriching our festival with their participation.
Fortunately, the weather was mostly fine and we were able to welcome around 1,400 visitors to our event. The fact that vintage car enthusiasts from the Altmark region visited us with their more than 20 historic vehicles certainly contributed to this, bringing additional life to the museum grounds. Thank you very much for your visit! Of course, the fire brigade once again gave their all with their famous pea soup, which was a real treat for the palate.
Here is a small selection of pictures from our event.













But even after the event, there is still plenty going on in the museum: a group of pupils from the Marie Curie Gymnasium are giving us a very special treat by designing some of the walls in our future exhibition space as part of an art project. They are painting railway motifs from Wittenberge on the walls based on photographs. We are thrilled and would like to say thank you for the fantastic motifs.

At this point we can also reveal a secret: The diesel locomotive 118 754, which was previously kept in our museum as an exhibit, was towed to Mansfelder Land at the beginning of the week. In a workshop in Klostermannsfeld, the locomotive will undergo a major overhaul over the next few months. Once this work has been completed, it will hopefully be available again for journeys throughout Germany. We are extremely pleased about this and will report on the progress of the work here from time to time. The following pictures show the train before departure in Wittenberge and near Förderstedt south of Magdeburg.


vehicles: Emma, 118 748-3, V 320 001-1, Breuer Lokomotor

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12.10.2024: Autumn steam in the historic locomotive shed in Wittenberge

On 12 and 13 October 2024, steam locomotive enthusiasts will be celebrating their traditional Autumn Steam Days at the Historic Engine Shed in Wittenberge. There will once again be plenty to marvel at and experience, as the Brandenburg's largest railway museum will once again be steaming and dieselising. The railway enthusiasts are particularly looking forward to a visit from the Press Group's steam locomotive 86 1744, which some visitors to the Baltic Sea may remember from their last visit to Rügen or Usedom last summer.
It and the museum's vehicles are available for viewing and for cab rides. Those who prefer a more leisurely pace can take a ride in an old passenger coach from the beginning of the last century on a circuit through the museum grounds, take a ride on the turntable or drive a muscle-driven trolley. Of course, there will also be plenty of refreshments on offer. The volunteer fire brigade will once again be providing support with its home-made pea soup.
The museum is open from 10:00 a.m. on both days and closes its doors at 5:00 p.m. on Saturdays and 4:00 p.m. on Sundays. Tickets are available online via the museum's website (www.dampflok-wittenberge.de) and on site for €8 (adults) and €4 (children aged between 5 and 14). A family ticket for € 20 is available for families.
Photo enthusiasts will have the opportunity to capture some staged scenes from everyday operations on film or chip after the end of the public visiting hours on Saturday 12 October 24. During the blue hour at dusk from 5.30 pm, locomotives and staff will strike a pose. However, a separate admission ticket is sold for this at a price of € 40, which is available at the entrance to the museum.

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08.10.2024: Our chimes in everyone's ears

We are particularly pleased that ARD is reporting on our collection of chimes in the Historic Engine Shed in Wittenberge as part of its podcast about the railway adventure - incredible journeys, amazing experiences. It is the result of a decades-long collection by Wolfgang List from Stendal, who sadly passed away last year. His family passed the collection on to us in trust. It is an honour for us to present his work to the public in our museum.

Of course, it takes time to install the chimes, some of which weigh several hundred kilos. But four active members of our museum in particular have taken on the task and are rightly proud of their work. The systems are now gradually being electrically connected so that they can also be demonstrated in operation. But listen for yourself to what our colleagues have to say about their adventure. You can find the podcast from 29.9.2024 about our collection along with other railway stories at the following link:
https://www.ardaudiothek.de/sendung/abenteuer-eisenbahn-unglaubliche-reisen-erstaunliche-erlebnisse/84370266/

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07.10.2024: Final spurt for autumn steam in the historic locomotive shed in Wittenberge

Big events always cast their shadows ahead. This also applies to the autumn steam event on 12 and 13 October 2024 in Wittenberge Historic Engine Shed. Steam locomotive 86 1744 from the Press Group has already arrived in Wittenberge today to provide plenty of steam next weekend.

Anyone who wants to see her and the other vehicles in the museum in action can do so next Saturday and Sunday from 10:00 am. They and the museum's vehicles will be available for viewing and for cab rides. Those who prefer a more leisurely pace can take a ride in an old passenger coach from the beginning of the last century on a circuit through the museum grounds, go for a spin on the turntable or drive a muscle-driven trolley. Of course, there will also be plenty to eat and drink.
Tickets are available online via the museum's website (https://www.dampflok-wittenberge.de) or on site at a price of €8 (adults) or €4 (children aged between 5 and 14). A family ticket for € 20 is available.
Photo enthusiasts will have the opportunity to capture some staged scenes from day-to-day operations on film or chip after the end of the public visiting hours on Saturday 12 October. At the blue hour at dusk from 5.30 pm, locomotives and staff pose for the event. However, a separate ticket is sold for this at a price of € 40, which is available at the entrance to the museum

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