Dresden & the Saxon 750mm Lines in 1996

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Wednesday April 10

Zittau and it's narrow gauge system was my destination on April 10 1996. Another trip from Dresden Hauptbahnhof, this time with a change of trains at Dresden Neustadt took me off to the most easterly of the surviving 750mm lines. The 08:28 from Dresden Hauptbahnhof suceeded in leaving rather late making the connection to the 08:37 very tight but fortunately DB seemed to be holding the connection. Arrival at Zittau was a little after 10am. The narrow gauge station is a short walk from the mainline station. On this route all the locos seen were oil fired rather than coal fired as on all the other systems I visited. After the poor weather the day before I was glad to have found some sun again !

Zittau narrow gauge station. April 10 1996

Zittau narrow gauge station. April 10 1996

From Zittau the line runs to two separate terminuses - Kurort Oybin and Kurort Jonsdorf. All trains run to Bertsdorf where the line splits for the two Kurorts. Bertsdorf was long famous for parallel departures, sometime I managed to experience but not photograph. I firstly headed to Oybin on the 10:36 service that ran right through.

VIIK alt 099 724-7 sits at Bertsdorf with a Kurort Jonsdorf train whilst on the left 099 729-6 waits to depart with the Oybin train. April 10 1996

VIIK alt 099 724-7 sits at Bertsdorf with a Kurort Jonsdorf train whilst on the left 099 729-6 waits to depart with the Oybin train. April 10 1996

VIIK alt 099 729-6 sits at Kurort Oybin station having arrived from Zittau. The station area is well known for the unusual rock fomrations that surround it. April 10 1996

VIIK alt 099 729-6 sits at Kurort Oybin station having arrived from Zittau. The station area is well known for the unusual rock formations that surround it. April 10 1996

VIIK alt 099 729-6 and the attractive station buildings at Kurort Oybin. April 10 1996

VIIK alt 099 729-6 and the attractive station buildings at Kurort Oybin. April 10 1996

VIIK alt 099 729-6, period lamp and the interesting rock formation at Kurort Oybin. April 10 1996
VIIK alt 099 729-6, period lamp and the interesting rock formation at Kurort Oybin. April 10 1996

Within the VIIK alt & neu classes several variations are visible. Here the front end of VIIK alt 099 729-6 shows the feedwater heater and pump arrangement. April 10 1996
Within the VIIK alt & neu classes several variations are visible. Here the front end of VIIK alt 099 729-6 shows the feedwater heater and pump arrangement. April 10 1996

VIIK alt 099 729-6 runs round her train at Kurort Oybin. April 10 1996

VIIK alt 099 729-6 runs round her train at Kurort Oybin. April 10 1996

Having returned to Bertsdorf behind 099 729-6, pulling the 11:50 from Oybin, the train terminated. The next through train from Zittau ran to Kurort Jonsdorf with 099 729-6 handling the connecting service to Oybin. This break in proceedings enabled me to have some lunch and get a few shots around the station at Bertsdorf before heading up to Jonsdorf.

VIIK alts at Bertsdorf. On the left 099 729-6 takes water whilst 099 724-7 rolls downhill from Jonsdorf with a working through to Zittau. April 10 1996

VIIK alts at Bertsdorf. On the left 099 729-6 takes water whilst 099 724-7 rolls downhill from Jonsdorf with a working through to Zittau. April 10 1996

As the Oybin connection stands on the right VIIK alt 099 733-8 arrives at Bertsdorf with the next train to Kurort Jonsdorf. April 10 1996

As the Oybin connection stands on the right VIIK alt 099 733-8 arrives at Bertsdorf with the next train to Kurort Jonsdorf. April 10 1996

VIIK alt 099 733-8 climbs through the trees beyond Bertsdorf with a Kurort Jonsdorf service. April 10 1996
VIIK alt 099 733-8 climbs through the trees beyond Bertsdorf with a Kurort Jonsdorf service. April 10 1996

Having now covered the line I headed back to Bertsdorf where I again changed trains. 099 729-6 hauled me back to Zittau leaving Bertsdorf at 13:54. Once there I headed back over to the mainline station to watch the trains go by and to wait for the next Dresden Neustadt bound service.

Diesel Hydraulic 219 192-2 at Zittau station at the head to the next Dresden bound train. April 10 1996

Diesel Hydraulic 219 192-2 at Zittau station at the head 15:35 Dresden Neustadt bound train. April 10 1996

The train back to Dresden was one of the few that ran really late during my entire trip however this didn't really matter - I wasn't in a rush to get anywhere. Instead I sat back and enjoyed the rapid acceleration and accompanied noise from the hydraulic when is actually got the chance to run. I believe the line was being substantially upgraded and was subject to lengthy speed restrictions, hence the late running.

Thursday April 11

April 11 1996 was a fairly quiet day. Having covered the narrow gauge lines successfully I had a day 'free'. If the weather had been better I would have spent some time out on the Frietal Hainsberg line. However with the cloud retuning I had a gentle walk around Dresden and its' reconstructed buildings. I also walked out to the park to look at the 15" gauge line which wasn't running. In the afternoon I visited the state transport museum which I found very interesting and would recommend. It covers trains, planes and road vehicles. The main railway exhibit is a Meyer 0-4-4-0t however there are some other interesting locos there as well.

Buildings along the south bank of the River Elbe, Dresden. April 11 1996

Buildings along the south bank of the River Elbe, Dresden. April 11 1996

Looking across the Elbe to Neustadt. April 11 1996

Looking across the Elbe to Neustadt. April 11 1996

And in to Friday April 12....

The next day, April 12, I left Dresden on train 2734, the 10:04, as I was making my way to Wernigerode for the last few days of the trip all spent on the Harz Mountains Railway system.

Back to April 9 or April 8 or April 7 1996

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