Meiningen: Steam locomotive becomes museum attraction

It was an unusual sight that recently presented itself in Meiningen: An old steam locomotive, a Prussian T13 from 1913, floated through the air with the help of a crane. The locomotive was lifted into an exhibition room of the "Steam Locomotive World of Experience", which is currently being built in an old canteen building. In the future, it will be the main exhibit and will amaze many steam locomotive fans. The locomotive was provided by the Meiningen maintenance depot of DB Fahrzeuginstandhaltung. "The locomotive will be displayed on three levels to give future visitors an understanding of the technology and functioning of a steam locomotive. You will see a cutaway model of a steam locomotive," explains Stefan Ley, head of maintenance depot in Meiningen.

Successful interplay of old and new technology

For this purpose, the Meiningen specialists cut open the locomotive and partly manufactured new parts. In addition, the parts had to be installed on a special support structure. This required the use of numerous innova­­tive techniques, some of which were new to everyone involved. "The exhibit is a successful example of the interplay between new technology and old technology," Ley reports. Another challenge was the cooperation with "jangled nerves GmbH", a renowned agency for exhibition architecture from Stuttgart. Again and again, there were changes to the plans and new ideas that had to be implemented at short notice. "The processing of this locomotive was an unusual and special challenge for us, which could only succeed thanks to the strong commitment of all employees," emphasises Ley.

First important milestone

On 10 May, the time had come: the exhibit was completed and lifted into the new museum on the factory premises in the presence of Carmen Schmieder, Managing Director Finance and Controlling of DB Fahrzeuginstandhaltung and numerous representatives of the town of Meiningen. This marks the first important milestone in the construction of the new museum. The remaining part can now be completed around the exhibit. To ensure that nothing happens to the exhibit in the process, it will be carefully packed away in the next few days. The planned opening date of the "Steam Locomotive World of Experience" is the beginning of 2024, when the locomotive will be unpacked again and the last remaining work can be made up until all interested people can then visit the Museum and its showpiece.