Germany: Saar and Mosel Valleys on 4th December 1971

An overnight trip out, a day with steam, and an overnight trip back. In dreadfully dull and cold December weather. But a trip with Don Benn in the lead, so we covered a vast amount of ground. A short run behind an SNCF, (French Railways), 141R Class 2-8-2 from Saarbrucken. In amongst the 023 Class 2-6-2s in the Saar Valley. A chance to photo Ehrang, (Trier), steam loco shed as we passed on a local train. A great session photting 044 Class 2-10-0s on freights at Schweich. An evening travelling behind more 2-6-2s in the Saar Valley, (until past 22.00), before we gratefully sank into our seats on the 23.53 Trier to Paris Est. Steam activity from 05.00 to gone 22.00. A Don Benn trip at it's very best!

DB, (German Railways), 023 Class 2-6-2 locos at Saarbrucken locomotive shed before dawn on a very dull 4th December 1971. I got very few photos of the Saarburcken shed area and as this was typical of the sort of weather and photographic conditions for that day I felt it appropriate to include it here! DB, (German Railways), 023 Class 2-6-2 number 023 103-5 at Saarbrucken prior to working train P2818 the 09.17 to Merzig, on 4th December 1971. DB, (German Railways), 023 Class 2-6-2 number 023 054-0 leaving Merzig with train P4833, the 10.34 Merzig to Saarbrucken on 4th December 1971. DB, (German Railways), 050 Class 2-10-0 number 050 821-8 arriving at Merzig with a short freight from Dillingen on 4th December 1971. DB, (German Railways), 044 Class 2-10-0 number 044 568-4 passing Trier witha freight to Ehrang, (Trier), on 4th December 1971. Note brother Don turning to take his going away shot! DB, (German Railways), 044 Class 2-10-0s and other DB steam locomotive classes at Ehrang, (Trier), steam loocmotive shed on 4th December 1971, the photo taken from aboard train P2459, the 13.30 from Trier. DB, (German Railways), 044 Class 2-10-0s and other DB steam locomotive classes at Ehrang, (Trier), steam loocmotive shed on 4th December 1971, the photo taken from aboard train P2459, the 13.30 from Trier. DB, (German Railways), 044 Class 2-10-0s and other DB steam locomotive classes at Ehrang, (Trier), steam loocmotive shed on 4th December 1971, the photo taken from aboard train P2459, the 13.30 from Trier. Two DB, (German Railways), 044 Class 2-10-0s waiting departure from Ehrang yard, (Trier), with a heavy freight train that will pass the adjacent steam locomotive shed and head on towards the Saar Valley on 4th December 1971. The photo taken from aboard train P2459, the 13.30 from Trier. DB, (German Railways), 044 Class 2-10-0 number 044 178-2 climbing through Schweich with a freight train from Ehrang, (Trier), to Koblenz on 4th December 1971. DB, (German Railways), 044 Class 2-10-0 number 044 143-8 drifts downhill prior to stopping in Schweich station whilst heading a freight train from Koblenz to Ehrang, (Trier), on 4th December 1971. The action as it happened, a series of photos combined to show the progress of DB, (German Railways), 044 Class 2-10-0 number 044 332-5 climbing up past Schweich with a freight train from Ehrang, (Trier), to Koblenz and past a stationary freight train, (heading into Ehrang, (Trier) from Koblenz and hauled by 044 143-8), on 4th December 1971. Now some single shots from that sequence. Showing DB, (German Railways), 044 Class 2-10-0 number 044 332-5 climbing up past Schweich with a freight train from Ehrang, (Trier), to Koblenz and past a stationary freight train, (heading into Ehrang, (Trier) from Koblenz and hauled by 044 143-8), on 4th December 1971. DB, (German Railways), 044 Class 2-10-0 number 044 332-5 climbing up past Schweich with a freight train from Ehrang, (Trier), to Koblenz and past a stationary freight train, (heading into Ehrang, (Trier) from Koblenz and hauled by 044 143-8), on 4th December 1971 DB, (German Railways), 044 Class 2-10-0 number 044 332-5 climbing up past Schweich with a freight train from Ehrang, (Trier), to Koblenz on 4th December 1971. DB, (German Railways), 044 Class 2-10-0 number 044 688-0 drifting downhill towards Schweich with a freight train from Koblenz to Ehrang, (Trier), on 4th December 1971. DB, (German Railways), 023 Class 2-6-2 number 023 073-0 heading downhill to a stop in Schweich station on train P2452, the 12.38 all stations from Koblenz to Trier on 4th December 1971. It may have been a very cold day, and we had been on the lineside a fair while, but fingers were still working well enough to take another series of photos. Combined here to show the progress of DB, (German Railways), 044 Class 2-10-0 number 044 135-2 climbing up past Schweich with a freight train from Ehrang, (Trier), to Koblenz on 4th December 1971. Now some single shots from that sequence. Showing DB, (German Railways), 044 Class 2-10-0 number 044 135-2 climbing up past Schweich with a freight train from Ehrang, (Trier), to Koblenz on 4th December 1971. DB, (German Railways), 044 Class 2-10-0 number 044 135-2 climbing up past Schweich with a freight train from Ehrang, (Trier), to Koblenz on 4th December 1971. DB, (German Railways), 044 Class 2-10-0 number 044 344-0 drifting downhill towards Schweich with a freight train from Koblenz to Ehrang, (Trier), on 4th December 1971. DB, (German Railways), 044 Class 2-10-0 number 044 482-8 climbing up past Schweich with a freight train from Ehrang, (Trier), to Koblenz on 4th December 1971.

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