During the train journeys from Zwickau to Dresden during these stays I saw the steam trains of the Weißeritztalbahn in Freital-Hainsberg, but I never went there in GDR times.
Narrow Gauge Steam Trains of Deutschen Reichsbahn 1975 bis 1979
My first trip to the GDR led me to our relatives in Wilkau-Haßlau and the surrounding area in the summer of 1974. At the age of 15 years my visa entries were still made in my parents' passport.
The first narrow gauge contact was rather a flop:
From the bridge over the station Wilkau-Haßlau the tracks of the narrow gauge railway in direction Kirchberg were still visible. But if you're late, you won't see any narrow gauge trains there. Unfortunately, operations had already been discontinued a year earlier.
Also the second visual contact was not really used:
But later I went by train and sometimes by car to take pictures.
My visits were to the Lößnitz Dackel from Radebeul Ost to Radeburg, the Fichtelbergbahn from Cranzahl to Oberwiesenthal and the Preßnitztalbahn from Wolkenstein to Jöhstadt.
The Reichsbahn staff on the narrow-gauge lines were much more open-minded than their colleagues from the "big railroad" with regard to photographing railway facilities and further concessions.
The Lößnitz Dackel:
For the journey from Wilkau-Haßlau to the Lößnitzgrundbahn I used the big Reichsbahn. From Zwickau Hbf to Dresden Hbf the D 961 was probably the most used one. This train arrived in Dresden at about 8 o'clock a.m. and there was enough time to continue with a passenger train to Radebeul Ost.
Mandatory:
Besides the obligatory view into the depot, there were also interesting things to see in the station: In the station Radebeul Ost 99 1786-5 shunts on 29. 12. 1975 with trolleys. At that time there was still freight traffic.
Narrow-gauge railway atmosphere:
It was really idyllic in Radebeul in the Pestalozzistraße. The line runs almost completely from Radebeul Ost station to the Weißes Ross stop on the edge of this road.
Here 99 1783-2 in the direction of Radeburg. A cyclist stops specially to give her young railway enthusiasts a better view of the train. Another one races with the train.
Unfortunately not perfect!
Why did I get annoyed when this ultra-modern western vehicle drove into the picture. Moskwitsch 407 car, steam engine and in the background the cyclist would have been almost perfect.
Well, in the meantime the Ford could also have an "H" license plate for classic cars. ( If it still exists. ) Loco 99 1783-2 will probably still be around somewhere in 2020.
Flexibility:
During our visit in April 1979 we somehow landed without official permission on the cab of the 99 1783-2 and were allowed to ride along from Radeburg.
The Fichtelbergbahn:
The journey from Wilkau-Haßlau to Oberwiesenthal took place on 15. 08. 1977 by car.
I can't say if it was because I was afraid of the stickers on my western car or because there was no other parking possibility at the station Oberwiesenthal. Anyway, I used the guarded parking lot for 2,00 M (from the minimum exchange).
Another 20 pfennigs had to be raised to purchase a platform ticket.
And off we went.
Here 99 1780-8 enters the station Oberwiesenthal on 15. 08. 1977 coming from Cranzahl.
Also on the Fichtelbergbahn there was still freight traffic on 15. 08. 1977. Here 99 1778-2 in Cranzahl ranks.
In Neudorf, the future generation of railway fans will be introduced to the 99 1780-8 line with the pram.
Train 14318 caused a lively passenger exchange in Neudorf. The supervisor is waiting to give the order to continue the journey to Cranzahl. To the far left of the 99 1780-8 I even brought my old Renault 4 into the picture.
The Preßnitztalbahn:
Also by car we went in August 1977 and in April 1979 to Wolkenstein & Co.
During the first tour in 1977 on the narrow roads towards the Erzgebirge I was a little bit surprised at the beginning about the serpentine driving of the few local vehicles in front of me. Keeping correctly to the right-hand driving law as a novice driver, I understood the reason for the local driving style after first impression giving pothole contacts. I also drove evasive afterwards, looking ahead.
As an "Edge-Ruhrpottjunge" I was not quite familiar with the local dialect. Since the internet search was not available at that time, I stopped on the way to ask for a place to eat as close as possible. The route description contained the instruction "am Kiehlschrank rechts", which was incomprehensible for me. This only became clear when I approached one of the refrigerator production facilities in the Erzgebirge Mountains, which was unexpectedly for me. So, turn right at the refrigerator plant, of course.
Somewhere between Jöhstadt and Wolkenstein I parked my old Renault 4 at the roadside in the forest to wait for a steam train.
My first contact, here with 99 1590-1
My geography teacher, with whom we undertook several railway tours to Rheine and Ottbergen, would have said "Garden railway near Bollersen" about this great environment.
99 1590-1 has arrived in Wolkenstein.
We had the first train contact at the water house in Steinbach with 99 1582-8 and a luggage car.
Klaus was filming with Super 8 at that time. After a short chat with the staff I continued my journey alone with my car. Klaus was allowed to ride in the luggage car and film from it.
Through the wonderful winter landscape the journey went along and over the Jöhstädter Schwarzwasser towards Schlössel.
At the locomotive shed in Jöhstadt 99 1582-8 was made "ready for bed" for a break in the locomotive shed.
Also on this narrow-gauge railway there was a considerable number of passengers. Here at the stop Großrückerswalde on the way to Wolkenstein.
After the arrival of the passenger train in Wolkenstein there were some shunting tasks to be done. Here 99 1585-1 with trolleys is shunting on the three-rail track in front of the signal box.
During the visit in the locomotive shed in Jöhstadt we continued to talk to the staff and dusted off two engine driver or heater caps. As far as I can remember, the transport of Klaus in the luggage car and the delivery of the caps was paid in CAMEL-currency.
At the departure from the GDR we had a queasy feeling because of the engine driver caps.
It was just a matter of uniform parts. We wondered if that could be trouble. . .
In the customs declaration, we had therefore listed each of them quite "neutral" a cap next to a smoking man and various model railway items (as consumption of the "minimum exchange"). Fortunately we did not have to show these.
Unfortunately there is no normal passenger traffic let alone freight traffic on most of these routes. While the first trains on the narrow-gauge lines were running before 5 a. m. on weekdays, today railway tourists can sleep in, have a quiet breakfast and board the first trains after 9 a. m. Only on the Lößnitzdackel can the early riser on school days make a round trip to Radeburg from Radebeul Ost at quarter past five in the morning and be back in time for breakfast at quarter past seven.
Fortunately, the majority of these railways will still be able to travel by steam in 2020!