Dresden & the Saxon 750mm Lines in 1996

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Tuesday April 9

April 9 1996 saw me head out of Dresden on the 08:55 Chemnitz bound service. However short of the destination at Floha I got off to await the connecting service to take me to Cranzahl. The run from Floha was slow, despite being in a new DMU, but this didn't matter. The scenery along the line was lovely, it was almost a shame to have to get off at Cranzahl. However waiting in the gloom on this cold day was VIIK neu 2-10-2t 099 749-4 with the 11:45 to Kurort Oberwiesenthal. The weather was miserable all day but could not take away the beauty of the area the line runs through.

VIIK 099 749-4 climbs past some very typical houses on the way to Oberwiesenthal. April 9 1996

Having arrived at Oberwiesenthal VIIK 099 749-4 headed back on shed and the crew went for lunch. April 9 1996

Shortly after arrival at Oberwiesenthal the guard tried to strike up some conversation which was hard as his English was as bad as my German. However it transpired he too wanted to sell me something ! Against my better judgment I acquired a 'Deutsche Reichsbahn' locomotive plate. I very much doubt it is an original but it wasn't expensive and is a nice souvenir of the trip. I had plenty of time to spare at Oberwiesenthal. After some lunch I walked the short distance from the station to the Post Office from where I managed to send some postcards back to the UK successfully ! I also had time to look around the station yard before the next train arrived from Cranzahl.

The VIIKs certainly have small wheels ! 099 749-4 at Oberwiesenthal. April 9 1996

Once a very common feature on all German narrow gauge lines - a transporter wagon enabling a standard gauge wagon to be moved over narrow gauge routes. Oberwiesenthal April 9 1996

The next train up from Cranzahl almost immediately returned and I had to get this service back unless I wanted a very late return to Dresden. Given the weather there was really no choice to be made !

VIIK neu 099 750-2 climbs over the viaduct just before Oberwiesenthal station. April 9 1996

So I left on the 14:47 to Cranzahl which connected with the 15:44 to Floha. Here a cold wait was had for the 17:58 back to Dresden Hauptbahnhof.

The next day I also travelled some way out of Dresden for 750mm steam.
Back to April 8 1996 or April 7

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