Station Name: COLDITZold6.jpg)
In November 1999, shortly before services were withdrawn south of Colditz, a Class 628/928 diesel multiple-unit approaches Colditz from the Großbothen direction. It is heading for Glauchau (Sachs) according to the destination blind. The units wears the rather insipid early livery of peppermint green and white. introduced in the mid 1970s to replace, among others, the famous Uerdingen railbuses, construction continued into the 1990s. Class 628 are the Driving Motor cars and Class 928 the Driving Trailer cars, with in this scene No. 928.591 being nearest the camera. There are numerous variations among these units, including a small number of power twin sets. Many have now been sold off, perhaps most notably to Romania. The unit is passing Colditz B2 signal box. This was a 'Command' Box (Befehlsstellwerk 2), with the W1 box at the other end of the station site being a 'Dependent' box. In other words B2 was the main signal box . Note the ground signal, right, and points indicator, left foreground.
Photo by Ralf Auruß old7.jpg) The same 628/928 Class diesel unit in the photo above is here seen pausing at Colditz station, again in November 1999. The rear destination blind displays Großbothen and the photographer noted the train was heading for Rochlitz. This time car 628.591 is nearest the camera. The photographer also noted how the Mulde Valley Railway (Muldentalbahn) had become very rundown since the days of the Deutsche Reichsbahn. Colditz station was typical of the more minor stations in Europe with its low platforms and somewhat exposed island platform. Note the locally operated points complete with points indicator.
Photo by Ralf Auruß old13.jpg) Colditz was well known for its porcelain industry. In 1804 a ceramics factory was established in Colditz by Thomsberger & Hermann but large scale production did not commence until 1948 when the communist authorities established VEB Porzellanwerk Colditz. In 1969 this became VEB Porzellankombinat Colditz and remained so until closure. This was the factory served by the halt seen here in November 1999 shortly before closure of the railway. Among the factory's customers was the Mitropa organisation who operated railway catering and sleeping car services predominantly in Germany. Mitropa began in 1916 as Mitteleuropäische Schlafwagen- und Speisewagen Aktiengesellschaft, (Central European Sleeping and Dining Cars Incorporated). Mitropa is simply a conveniently shortened trading name version of 'Mitteleuropa' or 'Central Europe'. Mitropa ceased to exist following 2002 when onboard catering was taken over by DB Fernverkehr AG, an offshoot of Deutsche Bahn AG. What then remained of Mitropa was taken over by British companies Compass Group in 2004 and Select Service Partner in 2006. The reunification of Germany ultimately brought an end to the porcelain industry at Colditz and the site of the factory is now occupied by a fabric company, a Deustche Post depot and other businesses. The overgrown platform is extant.
Photo by Jens Herbach from his Sachsensehiene.de web site 1.jpg) Colditz station looking north in July 2000 seven months after closure due to faulty trackwork on the line between Colditz and Rochlitz, the tracks are rusty after seven months of disuse. Colditz goods shed can be seen in the distance on the right. The narrow island platform can be seen between the lines.
Photo by John Atfield 2.jpg)
Coldiyz c late 1990s, shortly befopre closure.
Photo
by Frieda Fischer
3.jpg)
Looking north at the station building c. late 1990s. The building is looking dilapidated and the track is very rusty, from photographic evidence this line was taken out of use before closure of the station with all trains running into the west face of the island platform. The canopy in front of the goods shed can just be made out in the distance.
Photo by Frieda Fischer 4.jpg)
Colditz station looking south c late 1990s. The station name suspended beneath the platform awning is in the rather delightful Gothic font once so familiar in Germany.
Photo by Frieda Fischer 12.jpg) Unlike in Britain where the British Railways diesel railbuses of the 1950s can only be described as a short-lived embarrassment, Germany made good use if her 4-wheeled railbuses and obtained decades of good service out of them, in part because they could tow trailers and in many cases be coupled in multiple to form trains of up to five vehicles. They were also quite popular with passengers. Seen here at Colditz, this is described by the photographer as the last scheduled service into Colditz in May 2000; a pair of what began life as Deutsche Reichsbahn Class VT 2.09. Developed by VEB Waggonbau Bautzen in 1955 they appeared from 1959 onwards and remained in operation into the 21st century. Control trailers appeared from 1965 and driving controls were fitted at one end only. There was no separate driving compartment originally, drivers being in among the passengers as it were, but in later years some at least were given segregated driving compartments. The concept was very similar to the perhaps more familiar, to people outside Germany, Uerdingen railbuses of the former Deutsche Bundesbahn, being the vehicles which British Railways Waggon und Maschinenbau railbuses E79960 - 4 were based upon. In this view control trailer 972 748 is nearest the camera, the other vehicle being motor car 772 148. The latter car was reputedly the final example to wear the red livery. Deutsche Bahn withdrew the final examples from regular service in 2004 although a number survive for special duties, engineering work etc. and on private railways. Some went to Usedomer Baderbahn, on the island of Usedom, and were still there in 2018 but believed out of use. Usedom is of course the location of the Peenemunde establishment where Hitler's V1 flying bomb and V2 rocket were developed.
Photo by Thomas Stranz 5.jpg) Colditz station looking south a few years after closure. Vegitation is gradually taking over the track and platform but station signs are still in place.
Photo by Max Schäfer 27.jpg)
Colditz B2 signal box opposite the entrance to the goods yard looking north in January 2005, 5 years after the line closed to all traffic. The line north was single track.
Photo by Ralf Auruß 28.jpg) Colditz goods shed in January 2005, the station is seen in the distance. The goods yard and shed closed on 27 May 2000 but since 6 November 1999 there was only access to the yard from the south with arriving and departing trains using the crossover on the right.
Photo by Ralf Auruß
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