On the way back from Miniaturwunderland we diverted to Bruchhausen - Vilsento visit the local narrow gauge railway museum
1 Bruchhausen-Vilsen boasts to be the first heritage railway in Germany and is now in many respects a focus point in the community of the many narrow gauge railway museums in the country. The day we visited was not a scheduled riding day so I had mailed them in advance if there would be anyone around. In response we were offered a guided tour! We were greeted most cordially and we were shown around most knowledgeably.
2 We visited Miniaturwunderland in Hamburg the day before. We found that on our way back we could easily visit Bruchhausen-Vilsen
3 First we were offered a peek in the "control room" which is preserved in much of its original state.
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5 The goods handling shed
6 "Kleinbahnen", the German expression for overland local railways, usually narrow gauge, explained on a 1910 railway map. The railways in green are the Kleinbahnen in particular in former Prussia,
7 We hapened to have gorgeous weather for our guided tour.
8 At the far right a standard gauge railway freight car on a narrow gauge conversion car. Further afield a triplet of narrow gauge railway cars. At the far end the shed which we will visit.
9 This is how standard gauge cars were moved around on narrow gauge railways.
10 The goods handling shed
11 The triplet of narrow gauge cars. The leading one is a transition car which is used to couple up standard gauge cars to narrow gaugse trains
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14 Another way of transporting standard gauge cars is placing them on a conversion bogie, "rollbock", one under each axle
15 The bogies are rolled into a pit and the acr is rolled over the pit en while doing so is lowered onto its bogies
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18 As it would soon become clear the museum is currently restoring a 1897 7S Mallet. The boiler in view is the new boiler for the Mallet.
19 The interior is still empty
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21 Another transition car for the standard gauge cars on rolling bogies. In addition to providing a different buffering and coupling the car also provides extra braking power as the rolling bogies are unbraked.
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23 An overview of the shed area
24 Outside construction of a new lcomotive hall is underway
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26 An old boiler is cut open for demonstration purposes to show how a boiler actually works.
27 The exteNsively tooled workshop.
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30 After having met the chief mechanical engineer we visited the loco shed where I was given the opportunity to record the loco's present in every detail.
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33 Hermann from 1911 was jacked up to receive refurbished wheelsets. Although the loco has an operational status it is unlikely to run this season.
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36 We were allow to climb onboard! Space is at a premium in narrow gauge locomotives so by nature the possibilities to capture the essence of the footplate are very limited.
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43 Hoya is the only original locomotive from the Bruchhausen-Vilsen line to survive
44 Hoya comes from the time that Hanomag still built locomotives (it ceased locomotive production in the early 1930s)
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47 Despite missing the rear axle Hoya will be completed soon and will run this season
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49 A whatsy-thingy on the running board... I am not easily puzzled by appliances on steam locomotives but her is one. I have no idea what it is.
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51 The axlebo of the missing rear axle
52 And again I hopped onboard!
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61 Hoya's coupling rods I presume
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64 Spreewald is famous in the heritage railway scne in Germany. I must admit it is a pretty locomotive with very pleasing and elegant proportions
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66 Wheel arrangement 2-6-0
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79 Top speed 40 km per hour. Okay, but 666 m per minute sounds a bit silly to me. I assume it is for practical reasons. This locomotive (as many of its kind) had to speedometer. So you can time the loco in a minute and if it has passed more than seven hectometer poles you are driving too fast.
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83 Locomotive "Plettenberg", a typical example of a fully enclosed cab.
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97 And finally I turned my attention to the mallet that is currently undergoing restoration
98 It was very difficult to get a complete image of the Mallet chassis. The essence of a Mallet is that the rear set of driving wheels in fixed in the mainframe of the locomotive (right on the photo). The leading set of driving wheels (left) is housed in sort of bogie that swivels at its rear end.
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100 Tha valve gear
101 As clearly can be seen, many parts have been replaced during restoration.
102 The rear drving wheels, as said: fixed in the mainframe
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104 The suspension and the axle boxes have been renewed as well
105 The half moon shaped orm is whe the boiler rests on the main frame. The two plates on either end are rubbing plates which allow the boiler to expand and contract when heating or cooling without distorting the frame.
106 Here is the hinge point where the leading bogie swivels. The frame of the bogie can clearly be distinguished from the mainframe above it.
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108 Again, many parts had to be renewed.
109 The cylinder casting of the leading bogie.
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111 The rubbing plate between bogie and mainframe. One function is to rest the weight of the front end of the locomotive on the bogie. The other function is to allow free movement of the bogie under the locomotive.
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115 Al the drive rods waiting to be assembled.
116 Another connection between the mainframe and the bogie is this muscled set of springs. They force the bogie into a straight position and dampen the movement of the bogie to prevent "hunting".
117 One of the two forks had an oopsy.
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119 There was much more to see. Maybe next time
120 A farewel especially to the famous triplet Hoya, Spreewald and Plettnberg. O boy, I know of these names for over fifty years and I have seen all three of them in one day!
121 A remarkable visit. A special thanks you for Volker for showing us around so kindly. If anyone of the viewer may get in the area, visit this museum!
