Station Name: COLDITZold10.jpg)
In the summer of 1987 Deutsche Reichsbahn Class 50 2-10-0 No. 50 3673 struggles away from Bahnhof Colditz with a heavy sand train heading north towards Großbothen. The train has just passed Colditz W1 stellwerk (signal box) and is negotiating the level crossing adjacent to the former and quite distinctive warehouse building on Bahnhofstrasse. Using preserved steam locomotives, this scene could still be witnessed on special occasions up until the Muldentalbahn was truncated at Colditz in 1999. Note the kilometer post on the right, the distance being measured from the junction with the Dresden line just east of Glauchau (Sachs). The plot of land at bottom left was apparently used by a local resident for growing fruit and vegetables. Photo by Ralf Auruß old9.jpg) In January 1987 Deutsche Reichsbahn Class 50 2-10-0 No. 50 3673-6 heads a sand train for Glauchau. She has just passed Stellwerk Colditz W1 (signal box) and is about to negotiate Bundestrasse level crossing. The building on the left is shown on plans as "Wohngeb", meaning a residential property. It no longer exists and today the pavement has been extended over the track. As of 2022 the crossing barriers remained in rather dilapidated condition and partly hidden by foliage. No. 50 3673-6 was built by Borsig in 1941 as Reichsbahn No. 50 1347. She was rebuilt in 1961 and renumbered 50 3673, later becoming 50 3673-6. She was withdrawn in 1991 and eventually found her way to the Museo Ferroviario del Verbano, 21016 Luino, Varese, Italy and is maintained in operational condition. A total of 3,160 members of Class 50 were built.
Photo by Ralf Auruß old11.jpg) In September 1987 Deutsche Reichsbahn Class 50 No. 503551-4 stands opposite Bahnhof Colditz with the midday sand train for Glauchau with more wagons at the loading ramp (platform) in the left background. Usually locomotive numbers had either a space or a dot between the class number and locomotive number but there were exceptions and particularly where higher numbed locomotives were concerned, with No. 503551-4 being an example. This locomotive was new to traffic in June 1942 as No. 50 2669, becoming 50 3551 in February 1959 and 50 3551-4 in June 1970. She was withdrawn in April and sent to the Reichsbahn shops at Meiningen for conversion into a static boiler, presumably for carriage heating purposes. She was scrapped at Meiningen in April 1992. It is worth mentioning that Class 50 was an Einheitsdampflokomotive or Einheitslok in short, meaning 'Standard Steam Locomotive'. The famous Kriegslokomotive, or Kriegslok in short, meaning ''War Locomotive' was the Reichsbahn Class 52, the equivalent of the British Austerity locomotives and the USATC S160. The Reichsbahn Class 52 was, however, an altogether better machine and a few examples remain, in 2024, in service in Bosnia while others remain operational in preservation. A total of 7,794 members of Class 52 were built. On the station to the right can be seen the moped shed, the mopeds no doubt belonging to commuters. We must remember that 1987 was, just, still in the era of the Deutsche Demokratische Republik (German Democratic Republic).
Photo by Ralf Auruß old8.jpg)
In November 1991 Class 112 B-B diesel hydraulic No. 112 687-3 stands at Colditz with a loaded sand train. The locomotive number is barely readable but fortunately the photographer noted it and the locomotive is devoid of Deutsche Reichsbahn markings. The latter company formally merged with Deutsche Bundesbahn, the former West German organisation, on I January 1994 to create Deustche Bahn AG (AG = Aktiengesellschaft, meaning a shareholder-owned company, the shareholder in this case being the German Government). These locomotives are perhaps best known to enthusiasts outside Germany as the V100 Class. Built for goods working, light passenger working and heavy shunting there were numerous sub types with different power ratings and different class numbers in, mostly, the 100 and 200 number series. They were, in respect of power, comparable to the British Railways Type 1 and Type 2 diesel locomotives. Most, if not all, were fitted with steam generators for heating passenger trains. As of 2024 some remain in service with private companies, locomotive hire outfits and so on while others have retired to museums. Interestingly there was a plan to convert thirty examples for use on the one metre gauge HSB system (Harzer Schmalspurbahnen - the Harz Mountain Railway system) with the intention of replacing steam in normal service. This did not happen and only ten locomotives were converted and in 2024 only three remained, now used for shunting, works trains, snowplough duties etc. Their appearance on the narrow gauge, especially when seen towering above narrow gauge rolling stock, is a sight for the eyes to behold. HSB staff gave them the nickname "Harzkamel" (Harz Camel), apparently not because of their appearance but because of their tendency to mimic the motion of a camel. Happily the HSB system, which was once owned by the Reichsbahn, retains steam operation but alongside a fleet of modern diesel railcars. old2.jpg)
Colditz station looking south from the island platform in Aoril 1992. Passenegers are using one of the two boarded crossings to reach the platform. Although described as an island platform trains only used the face out of view to the right.
Photo by Paul Steane old3.jpg) Colditz station entrance from the booking office c.1990s. The cast iron sign suspended from the canopy is the equivalent of our running in board. There was no signage oin the other platform.
Photo by Mike Wood old4.jpg)
Passengers boarding a train at Colditz station in July 1992. Passengers reached the island platform by using the boarded crossing opposite the entrance. There appears to be no platform edge on the right side of the island platform suggesting only the left face was in use at this time.
Photo from from TB7.77. Flickr Photostream old5.jpg)
Colditz station exit seen from a passing train in 1992. Presumably, one dor was the entrance from the booking office and the other door on the right was the exit (ausgang).
Photo from from TB7.77. Flickr Photostream old6.jpg) Colditz station seen from a passing train in June 1993. A passenger is using the boarded crossing.Photo by David Flett from his Flickr Photostream old15.jpg) On 20 June 1998 a Class 628/928 railcar set was caught at Colditz operating T 17343 Grossbothen - Grauchua. The leading car, facing the camera is 628 582-9 with 928 582-6 at the rear. The unit wears the rather insipid peppermint green and white livery and of course carries Deutsche Bahn (DB) insignia. Just about discernible, the station name suspended beneath the platform awning is in the rather delightful Gothic font once so familiar in Germany. Deliberately or otherwise, the photographer positioned himself to give us as good idea of the island platform if, that is, one could call it an island as it only has one face, on the left, while to the right it simply slopes down to ground level. There wouid in any case be no need for a platform face on both sides, unlike with British practice with which two proper platform faces would be provided regardless of need. The rails at the main platform are quite heavily rusted, suggesting that by the time of this photograph all passenger trains used the island as seen here.
Photo by M Meyer old14.jpg)
Stellwerk Colditz B2 (Colditz command signal box) seen here when still operational in November 1999. German mechanical signalling is different to that in Britain where cables are used for signals and rodding for points. Germany uses a twin cable system for both. The weighted device seen here outside the signal box is a cable tensioner. At the opposite end to the weights, which are adjjustable, are pulleys which carry the cables for the frame inside the signal box. In this case cables are then carried in the conduit parallel to the track. Individual tensioners can also be found alongside the track, remote from signal boxes.
Photo by Jens Herbach from his Sachsensehiene.de web site
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