Before visiting a railway depot, the gods had set the registration in the locomotive management. 

In order to keep short-term train cancellations or foreseeable delays as low as possible, there were always a few train drivers on standby in the lounge of a depots. 

One of these train drivers was then given to us in the depot Hamm, Wanne-Eickel or Freilassing for company and entertainment. These officials in the driving service had a lot of stories to tell or admonished us when we were allowed to climb onto the driver's cab of a 104 in the depot Hamm to take pictures: "Don't touch anything, otherwise the thing will go off and I don't know why" (The colleague was probably not familiar with old-building locomotives). 

With the rush of visitors in the large depots at the end of the steam era, such as Ottbergen and Rheine, an insurance sum had to be paid for the inspection. In return, we were allowed to move freely in the depot, after appropriate admonition. In Ottbergen this was only entered in a book by name. In Rheine, a visitor's card was also issued, which was later to be worn visibly on the depot site - even with a ribbon.

Resting time: Here 012 100-4 simmers photogenically in the depot. The two gentlemen in grey are certainly part of the staff.

Disused: If 011 062-7 looked quite normal on our first visit and was only "disfigured" by the railway friend standing in front of it, the machine now looks quite plucked. Even if only written on with chalk, it was a great service to be able to read the locomotive number from this perspective because of the open smoke chamber door. Someone's been doing some thinking.

Express train steam: D 735 has been changed from electric locomotive to 012 066-7 in Rheine and leaves Rheine station here in the direction of Norddeich.

The platform at Rheine station looks like a damp wipe when 012 100-4 arrives here with D 715 from Norddeich. An electric locomotive will take over the train for the next leg of the journey to Munich. Loco 012 100-4 will be able to recover from the strenuous journey in the depot.

Analog display: We were already used to platform displays with automatically operated directional films from the Hagen metropolitan railway station. Here in Rheine, the destinations and types of trains were still pushed up and down by hand and the time "turned in".

Export support: 042 241-0 brings here a load of brand new Audis for shipment from Emden to the rest of the world. At that time, old and new were in succession. Wherever in the world today, there are probably not too many of these Audis left. Loco 41 241, as it is now called again, has survived and is currently (2020) in the Netherlands.

Change of traction: At this time, the change from electricity to steam for the trains of the Emsland line took place daily in Rheine. The only picture I took of it is how 012 100-4 leaves her train from Emden direction and goes from the station to the depot. On the left side of the picture there is a 140 waiting to take over the train as well as some railway enthusiasts. Panic was the order of the day. The end of steam operation especially with 012 was in sight.

Waiting zone 1: For Emsland trains heading north, the steamers waited in the track apron of Rheine like here 012 066-7.

Steam under electric power: The journey continued to Salzbergen under electric power. 012 066-7 is really going strong here with its heavy express train.

Waiting zone 2: Here at the Schleupestraße level crossing, pedestrians and vehicle traffic on the road must give priority to the Dampfross.

Perspective: At the end there was the obligatory depot- visit on 29. 05. 1975. This railway day ended with a view through the driving wheel set of an unknown locomotive to 042 226-1.

I win: Here it looks like the electric locomotive squad, led by 140 661-0, has gained the upper hand. 

The steamer on the right already has a lid on the fireplace and the locomotive signs have already disappeared from the boiler door. 

The electrical crew is still resting at the Bw Rheine.

Nuclear fission vs. water vapour: Two different technologies for energy production meet each other.

 Of course, only the class 042 locomotive moves past the nuclear power plant in Lingen as the lead of a sister locomotive. 

Fortunately, the nuclear power plant remained in the same place until it was shut down.

Not for third parties: For strategic reasons the timetable of this train probably could not be passed on.

Did 042 320-2 want to defend itself here with military means against the replacement of the steam operation?

This is the visual timetable of the journeys with indication of the train numbers, planned traction units and train formations for the section Münster Hbf / Bentheim to Leer (Ostfriesland)

The pilot goes off board: With lead locomotive 220 077-2 D 2915 from Bentheim arrived in Salzbergen on 10. 09. 1977. 

The lead locomotive has stopped and 023 076-3 will pull the 9 Bm of Nederland Spoorwegen alone towards Rheine.

Return of empties: Much noticed by the photographers present for the special trips, 043 475-3 here brings back empty car transport wagons from the port of Emden in the direction of the manufacturers' factories for reloading. 

I wonder if the railroad police still had the situation under control.