Germany (February 2005)

Engelsdorf: The city of Leipzig was the centre of the electric railway-network in the middle of Germany right from the start in the early years of the 20th century. However, until the end of the 80s it was home for a number of steam locomotives too. The last engines of class 52.8 were in service on the lines to Trebsen, Grossbothen and Eilenburg - mostly with unimportant freight trains. Every year in winter-time several locomotives were needed for heating purposes at the shunting yards, in power plants and factories. This was the reason for a relatively high stock on steam engines. Because just less of them were in line-service, the used engines changed very often. In 1987 Engelsdorf became the last steam-depot in Halle' rail-district, in spring of 1988 steam services ended definitively - the end of an era.

52.8096-1 waiting at Beucha station.		52.8098-7 leaving Trebsen.
52.8154-8 powerfuly leaving Trebsen.		52.8154-8 waiting for crossing at Ammelshain.
52.8186-0 in Eilenburg' depot.		52.8186-0 and it's driver...

Meeting of two veterans of rail: 52.8098-7 and 254.052-4 at Engelsdorf' shunting yard.