Steam Locomotives - GDR: Books - History and Types (2/2)

Die Baureihe 50.40 - Die Neubau-Güterzuglokomotive der Deutschen Reichsbahn

The delivery of the 50 4088 to the Deutsche Reichsbahn on December 28, 1960 marked the end of new steam locomotive construction in the GDR.
These machines served their purpose quite reliably for around 20 years. The 50.40 series was mainly used in the northern districts, with only a few machines also operating briefly in more southern locations.

Due to the high maintenance requirements for the sheet metal frames and the progressive change in traction, the locomotives were quickly taken out of service at the beginning of the 1980s. Some were sold to various companies as heating locomotives.
The book highlights the remarkable innovations of the 50.40 series, which has many similarities with the new 23/35.10 series. The operational history and life stories are covered in detail by the specialist authors Dietmar Schlegel and Gerald Groß in this series book.

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Die Reko-50 der Deutschen Reichsbahn - Die Baureihen 50.35-37 und 50.50

The reconstruction of the 50 series in 1957 marked the most extensive modernization program of steam locomotives in German locomotive history at the Deutsche Reichsbahn. The term "Rekolokomotive" has since become firmly anchored in the vocabulary of the DR and railway literature.
A total of 208 of these locomotives were reconstructed by 1962, of which 72 were later given an oil-fired main firing system. For over three decades, the Reko-50, mainly in the Rbd Magdeburg, and the oil-fired machines in the Schwerin and Greifswald directorates played a crucial role in freight transport.

In addition to their use in freight transport, these locomotives were of course also used in passenger transport. Volume 40 of the "Eisenbahn-Bildarchiv" series presents around 100 first-class photographs from the series' 30-year operational history, particularly from the first two decades.
The 50.35-37 series officially ended steam locomotive use on the DR's standard gauge lines in 1988. This book is a worthy monument to a steam locomotive series that is elegant, robust and popular with staff.

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Die Baureihe 52.80 - Die Reko-52 der Deutschen Reichsbahn

NEW

The "Reko-52" is one of the most famous German locomotives and is also well known to many railway enthusiasts internationally.
It originally comes from the legendary "war locomotive" of the 52 series from the Second World War, one of the most frequently built steam locomotives in the world with over 6300 examples, which was used in many countries.
The German Reichsbahn of the GDR significantly improved 200 examples of this war locomotive as part of its reconstruction program and converted them into more powerful, modern machines, which led to the creation of the Rekolok series 52.80.
This robust and popular machine proved its worth until the end of scheduled steam locomotive use at the DR in 1988. In 2012, an impressive 120 examples were still preserved worldwide, some of them even operational.

In this edition, a team of renowned specialist authors presents the creation and use of the original types, the DR conversions and the actual reconstruction program of the Class 52.
Insight into the use in various railway depots, extensive statistical data and an overview of preserved locomotives complete this comprehensive work.

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Legendäre 18 201 - Die Geschichte der berühmten DR-Schnellfahrlokomotive

The locomotive number 18 201 embodies elegance, exclusivity and speed, and thus follows in the footsteps of the former steam locomotive 61 002, which, among other things, supplied the frame and the chassis - part of the famous Henschel-Wegmann train.

In 1960 and 1961, a locomotive was built in the workshops of the Raw Meiningen with a clear goal: to reach high speeds of at least 160 km/h in order to test the passenger coaches manufactured in the GDR.
When the 18 201 was handed over to the VES/M in Halle (S) in May 1961, the test institute received a unique machine that not only stood out due to its shape and color, but also exceeded the top speed of all steam locomotives of the post-war period.

This EK series book "Legendäre 18 201" explains in detail the creation, construction, use in the VES-M service as well as in regular operation with the DR and as a museum vehicle. Reports from former train drivers bring the history of this legendary machine to life.

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