Meiningen celebrates a quarter of a century of steam locomotive days

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    • The annual "Dampfloktage", or steam locomotive days, at the Meiningen maintenance depot are a staple event on DB Fahrzeuginstandhaltung's calendar. And this year was marked by a special number, for steam locomotive fans have been coming for 25 years now from near and far to enjoy what has become a traditional event. The highlight of this year's jubilee was a visit from the DB Museum by a replica of the historic "Adler" – the first steam locomotive to be used in Germany.

    On the first weekend of September, the time had come again: around 10,000 visitors from all over Germany made the pilgrimage to Meiningen to take in a puff of history at its steam locomotive maintenance depot. They were able to experience historic rail technology up close in between the large array of locomotives on display at the locomotive exhibition and on tours of the maintenance depot.

    One highlight for many visitors and employees on site was the roadworthy replica of the "Adler" – the first steam locomotive in Germany – which had arrived for the weekend from the DB Museum in Nuremberg. But the “Adler” is not a newcomer to Meiningen. After suffering damage in a fire, the employees of the Meiningen steam locomotive maintenance depot undertook restoration work on it from 2006 to 2007. Now visitors could enjoy a ride on this vintage locomotive.

    The maintenance depot also offered rides on its own locomotive, the 50 3501 – along with training to become an honorary train driver. After half an hour of instruction and induction on the locomotive, candidates were able to put their hands to the vehicle themselves and drive up and down the grounds of the maintenance depot.

    Marcel Scholz, head of Meiningen steam locomotive maintenance depot, declared he was very pleased with the event: "Once again, we had a successful weekend with wonderful weather. The positive feedback we received from visitors and partners shows us that we are giving people a great offering here." In addition to the event jubilee itself, there was another reason for celebration: the Thuringian Ministry of Economics took the opportunity to pledge its financial support for the world of steam locomotives. This funding will go towards building a steam locomotive museum on the grounds of the maintenance depot.