Class 001 Steam Locomotive

50 years ago: Departure of the German Federal Railroad class 01
It was a legend and the king of the German rails: The mighty class 01 Pacific express locomotives, which left their stamp starting in 1928 on high quality express train service in Germany. Fifty years ago, these rail stars had to retire finally from the DB. Prior to that it had a big appearance at the stronghold of steam locomotives in Hof. There it pulled express trains, limited stop fast trains, and passenger trains, some of them double-headed to Regensburg, via Kulmbach to Lichtenfels and there as a special highlight across the famous Schiefe Ebene, a 2.5% grade near Neuenmarkt-Wirsberg. In 1972, Hof was still employing 14 proud class 01 units, among them road number 01 111, the best maintained unit. Steam locomotive fans from all over the world made the pilgrimage at that time to Franconia to experience the last great 01 gala close up. In the fall of 1974, the chapter about the 01 then ended finally on the German Federal Railroad. Road number 01 111, which had kept its old design boiler and front skirting, was saved from the scrapyard. It now stands at the foot of the Schiefe Ebene Grade in the German Steam Locomotive Museum in Neuenmarkt-Wirsberg and harkens back to a chapter in German locomotive history rich in glory.

Prototype: German Federal Railroad (DB) express steam locomotive, road number 001 111-4. The locomotive looks as it did in 1972. Version with an older design boiler, closed front skirting, and "Witte" design smoke deflectors.