Powerhouse. The Saxon IV K: a highlight of railroad history in model form too.

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1 Powerhouse Museum loco Schönheide The Saxon IV K: a highlight of railroad history in model form too. Text: Helge Scholz Photos: Eberhard Mädler, Helge Scholz, SDG, Dampfbahn-Route Sachsen, Bob Gellatly, Kötzle

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4 Big Summer 2013 Model highlight 17 April 1, 2013 a very special day for : the oldest survivor, in working order, and the latest LGB model come face-to-face. Not an April fool s day joke this was unfortunately serious: the oldest surviving IV K has to take a break. For the last time for the moment made her last trip on the Schönheide Museum railroad between Schönheide Mitte and Neulehn. But with her was the brand-new LGB model of And that had a significant reason. First of all, to the prototype: the Schönheide Museum Railroad Association has brought back rail operations between Schönheide and Stützengrün with the aim of presenting the 1960s in a museum atmosphere. It was a long haul before Since 1996, the Schönheide depot has been home to a third IV K. As a long-term loan from the community of Rothenkirchen, has strengthened the steam loco fleet of the museum railroad. Between 1976 and 1996, she stood as a monument in front of the former station of Rothenkirchen. Together with 95 sisters, she started her life in the Saxon Machine Works in Breathing space until the next fire is lit today s museum operations could be started. Railroad enthusiasts, former career railroaders and local residents got together in a spirit of optimism in April 1991 to found the association. One high-profile result was the reconstruction of 4.5 km (2.8 miles) of the dismantled line to create today s museum railroad. A further result was the acquisition of two IV K machines from the then German State Railroad. There were celebrations in the Zwickauer Mulde valley when on August 10, 1992, locos and arrived in Schönheide Ost and were transported on low loader trucks to the engine shed, or Heizhaus, as it is known in Saxony. Pictures which must not be consigned to history! So that can in future once again be of service to the Schönheide Museum Railroad, LGB is helping the association in the locomotive s necessary restoration.

5 18 Model highlight Big Summer Saxony-Anhalt Nature reserve Dübener Heide LEIPZIG Wurzen Döllnitz Valley Railroad 2 1 Colditz Thuringia ZWICKAU CHEMNITZ 3 Erz Mountains PLAUEN Vogtland Annaberg Buchholz 2 Schönheide Fichtelberg Railroad 3 Bavaria 4 5 6

6 Big Summer 2013 Model highlight 19 RIESA MEISSEN Brandenburg Lössnitzgrund Railroad FREIBERG DRESDEN 5 Weisseritz Valley Railroad 8 Glashütte Pulsnitz HOYERSWERDA Pirna Upper Lusatia Rathen Spa Saxon Switzerland BAUTZEN Forestry railroad Muskau 7 6 GÖRLITZ Poland Zittau Narrow-Gauge Railroad 1 Wilde Robert on the Döllnitz Valley Railroad steams between Oschatz and Glossen or Kemmlitz through the pleasant castle and heathland of Saxony. 2 The major Schönheide Museum Railroad s WCd narrow-gauge festival takes place annually. 3 The Fichtelberg Railroad carries railroad fans from Cranzahl to the highest town in Germany, to Oberwiesenthal. 4 The Pressnitz Valley Railroad from Steinbach to Jöhstadt is kept in trim by the members of the largest railroad association in Germany. 5 The Weisseritz Valley Railroad runs from Freital-Hainsberg to Kipsdorf in the romantic east Erz Mountains. 6 In the Zittau Mountains National Park, the line runs from Zittau up to the idyllic spas of Oybin and Jonsdorf. 7 Between Bad Muskau and Weisswasser the Muskau Forestry Railroad snakes its way through part of the unique Fürst-Pückler Park. 8 In the magical Elbland The Lössnitz Dackel winds its narrow-gauge way from Radebeul to Radeberg. Seiffen Spa 4 Pressnitz Valley Railroad Czech Republic 7 8

7 20 Model highlight Big Summer 2013 She certainly doesn t belong on the scrap line yet. Brilliant: with LGB support, the prototype will run once again. Time has left its mark: on the museum railroad s Saxon IV K, the running gear has to be overhauled a long-drawn-out and expensive procedure which the association on its own cannot afford. Chemnitz. Carrying works number 1779, she began her service on February 6, 1892 on the Royal Saxony State Railways. In her first years, she alternated between Mügeln, near Dresden, Potschappel and Freital. From 1900 she worked between Mügeln and Geising, then from 1917 for 10 years between Grünstädtl and Oberrittersgrün, then was loyal to the Mügeln network, until she was transferred away to Kirchberg in She came to Schönheide in 1973, and was officially on the strength there until When the Schönheider Museum Railroad Association took on the rescue of the oldest surviving IV K, her second life started with the road number on December 12, Now, however, an expensive running gear overhaul is due. Refurbishment costs for the running gear with its four cylinders, four wheelsets and 20 bearings are put at some 115,000 euro but the association cannot raise so much money on its own. LGB will be supporting the refurbishment costs of the machine, which is why the model of in its original condition as a loco on the Schönheide Museum Railroad was announced at the 2013 Nuremberg International Toy Fair. Thus for the longest-serving and surviving Saxon IV K begins as it were a third life on LGB gauge. For every model sold, the association in Schönheide will benefit by 25 euro. A friendly move by LGB! In exchange, LGB enthusiasts will receive not only a very special model, but also a complimentary ticket to ride on the Schönheide museum railroad. This ticket will accompany every LGB model of sold (see also page 29). If this financial support makes it possible for the volunteer workers to place the renovation of s running gear with a specialist workshop, the oldest serving IV K will be avail- Fighting side-by-side for preservation A summary of Prototype: A total of 96 of these Meyer articulated locos were purchased for the Royal Saxon State Railways. The oldest survivor of these is of the Schönheide Museum Railroad. Model: DCC interface, driven on all four axles with two powerful Bühler motors, smoke generator, operating mode switch, traction tires, triple headlight which change ends with direction of travel. Cab lighting, 12 current collectors, a voltage limiting system, a general purpose socket and more. Length over buffers 47.5 cm (18-11/16"). Item number: (further info under able on approval for a further six years service on the museum railroad. She could also make guest appearances on other narrow-gauge lines at narrow-gauge festivals not only in Saxony but over the borders from Saxony too. In addition, after expiry of the six year period, the association could obtain two successive one-year extensions to the approval period. The original on a display plinth? An unthinkable prospect for every model railroad fan. Let s keep our fingers crossed that the LGB- IV K finds lots of takers to contribute to preserving this very valuable piece of Saxony s cultural narrow-gauge heritage. And we wish the Schönheide Museum Railroad many visitors to be hauled through the landscape by the other two 99 s.

8 Model highlight 21 Original and model are of matching quality: whether it s on the Schönheide Museum Railroad steaming through the idyllic Vogtland or running round your own garden it s an impressive journey back in time.