Fireless Steam in Germany, August 2023

Keith Chambers reports ion his visit to Osnabruck

It was only by chance that I saw the fireless locos working at Herne and Osnabruck and was not too sure whether they were still operating when I visited each site. (Hopefully they still are!) I previously had no great interest in fireless locos but having seen these operating I have realised that they hiss, clank and chuff just like conventional locos. 

The works at Osnabruck is in an area called Gretescher Turm. When the branch line to the exchange sidings leaves the factory it is largely viewable from public roads and paths. However the best section for viewing seems to be from the point where the line leaves the factory to a level crossing where it crosses a main road called Mindener Str. This crossing is ungated. This stretch of the line is approx. 250 m. Immediately outside the factory gate is a foot crossing where a public path goes into the nearby forest. This path comes off a minor road called Burg Gretesch which runs alongside this section of the line. 

During my visit the loco was initially shunting inside the factory area but then shunted onto a train in a loading bay. It then hauled this train of ten large wagons down towards the Mindener Str. level crossing. This section of the line is double track which I was curious about but soon it became obvious why. Just before the level crossing the line becomes single and the train stopped there and the crew detached the loco which ran forward to clear the points which were then hand operated by the crew and the loco ran round the train using the second line. The loco then pushed the train towards the level crossing where it stopped and one of the crew who had remained there operated the traffic signals guarding the crossing and the train then proceeded across Mindener Str. and down towards the exchange sidings. Unfortunately I did not have time to wait and see any empties coming back so cannot comment on that. What I also notice is that the loco has been turned since the photos taken by Mark in 2013 on this site. Are they able to turn it or has it been away and come back facing a different direction?

According to Keith the loco was outside the factory on the line to the exchange sidings between 13.00 and 14.00 and staff confirmed that it operates Monday to Friday at about the same time every day.

The photos below cover a blow by blow account of the operation he observed, I believe captured from video on what seems to have been a dull day! Click on a thumbnail for a larger image.