Article: Meiningen maintenance depot: expertise becomes cultural heritage
DB Fahrzeuginstandhaltung’s Meiningen Depot has achieved a very special milestone: it has been nominated as intangible cultural heritage for Germany and is now included on Thuringia’s regional list. The official award ceremony, at which the depot was formally recognised, took place in Erfurt on 4th of June.
“Inclusion on the state list shows just how valuable our team’s knowledge and craftsmanship are. It’s wonderful to see these traditions being recognised,” explains Susanne Jung, Head of the Meiningen depot.
What does intangible cultural heritage mean?
The term “intangible cultural heritage” may seem unusual at first glance. Ulrike Engel, sustainability expert at DB Fahrzeuginstandhaltung, explains: “Tangible cultural heritage is everything that exists in a structural and physical sense – what you can see and touch. Intangible cultural heritage, on the other hand, is what we cannot see. It consists of living traditions and skills that are passed down from generation to generation. Everything that our colleagues in Meiningen have mastered today is worth protecting – knowledge that isn’t simply written down somewhere but is preserved through practice and by passing it on to the next generations.”
In the field of steam locomotive maintenance, this means that very few people today still possess the skills required to repair and maintain these historic locomotives. “If no one knows how a steam boiler works anymore and this knowledge is not passed on, it will be lost forever,” says Engel.
Pride and responsibility
Susanne Jung emphasises: “Every day, our staff ensure that knowledge relating to steam locomotive maintenance is passed on. In doing so, we are not only preserving technology, but also a piece of living history.”
The nomination honours more than just the Meiningen workshop. It is a tribute to all those who keep history alive through their knowledge and dedication – and a signal for the future of rolling stock maintenance.
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