Germany

Muegeln: The Saxonian narrow-gauge line Oschatz - Muegeln - Kemmlitz was different in many ways. It was the only surviving line outside the Saxonian mountains, it was the last line dominated by the Meyer-locomotives of class IV K and it was the only line without passenger traffic. As a former hub in the Saxonian narrow-gauge network Muegeln had the largest railway station of all lines, maybe the biggest narrow-gauge station in whole Europe. The locomotive shed in Muegeln was home for nearly a dozen of locomotives at the same time. Most of the engines of class IV K were based here once in their lifetime.

After the close down of the passenger traffic in 1975 the line had just freight traffic, primarily for transports of kaolin from the clay pits at Kemmlitz. At the beginning of the 80's the track condition became so poor, that the question was: Modernization or close down? Fortunately the decision was modernization. New tracks were laid in 1984 and the old rope-breaking-system was replaced in 1987 by using cars with air-brakes from the closed line at Schoenfeld-Wiesa and Wolkenstein. The fall of the Berlin wall in autumn 1989 brought engraving changes for the line: The rolling stock was modernized by diesel locomotives and narrow-gauge bulk cars, but the decrease of freight traffic could not be stopped. After the privatization in 1993 the freight services finally ended in 2001. The future of the line is now depending on the passenger traffic, taken up again in September 2000. In 2006 the line was enlarged by reactivating the section from Nebitzschen to Glossen (once closed down in 1975). Time will show if it's enough to make this line survive.

99.1542-2 was based in Muegeln for more than 85 years!		Two other engines based here for a long time were 99.1566-1 and 99.1608-1, standing in front of the shed in Muegeln.
99.1564-6, based in Muegeln since 1938, is shunting in front of the station building in Muegeln.		99.1584-4 passing the station Oschatz Sued less days before the privatization of the line.
99.1574-5 at Oschatz in July 1987.		99.1582-8 at the bridge in Oschatz - the largest of the whole line.
99.1566-1 at Nebitzschen junction.		99.1585-1 shunting at the clay works in Kemmlitz.
99.1584-4 passing the former station at Schweta in December 1989.		99.1585-1 at the steep gradient near Kemmlitz station.