Locomotive Factories - Germany: Books (3/3)

Lokomotiven (1910) - Sächsische Maschinenfabrik Rich. Hartmann AG, Chemnitz

In 1910, the Sächsische Maschinenfabrik Rich. Hartmann Aktiengesellschaft from Chemnitz presented its locomotive program on more than 100 pages in this catalog, which was reprinted 100 years later.

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Vectron - Moderne Siemens-Lokomotiven für Europa

Ten years ago, Siemens presented the "Vectron", a new locomotive platform for European traffic. It is the technical successor to the tried and tested Siemens locomotives of the EuroSprinter family and has quickly become a real bestseller at Siemens. Within just ten years, the production mark of the 1000th machine was reached.

The largest part of the Vectron platform is made up of modern electric locomotives, which are produced as two-system alternating current locomotives (Vectron AC), as pure direct current locomotives (Vectron DC) or as multi-system locomotives (Vectron MS) depending on the purpose and area of use.
In recent years, further variants have been added, including the "Smartron" as a low-cost alternating current single-system locomotive, the diesel locomotive Vectron DE and the combined diesel/electric locomotive Vectron DM (dual mode).
The Vectron locomotives have now become an indispensable part of international railway operations, with almost 50 railway companies from all over Europe using these locomotives for freight and passenger transport.

In our book we reflect on the history, development, technology and current use of the locomotive family in Europe. This book therefore offers everything about the "Vectron" success story.
A good 400 photos illustrate a locomotive type that, with its unmistakable design language, also tempts people to experiment with colours and produces a variety of colours and designs for the numerous railway companies like hardly any other modern locomotive family.

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Maybach-Motoren und Automobile im Rhein-Neckar-Dreieck und der Pfalz

This title includes, beyond the common denominator of Maybach engines, all vehicles powered by them on land, at sea or in the air in or above the designated region. The book itself is designed as a chronological documentation, expanded to include a comprehensive bibliography with additional literature and photo references as well as a detailed index of subjects, places and people.

The trigger for this documentation was that on August 4th/5th 1908 an airship, the Zeppelin airship LZ 4, passed through the region for the first time and thereafter up until 1940 numerous crossings were made by legendary airships. In this respect, there are numerous 100-year anniversaries coming up in the next few years, for which this documentation can serve as a reference work and provide information, including the people involved and the history in the form of balloon flights.

It is also highlighted that the Mannheim-Rheinau-based airship company Schüttte-Lanz delivered numerous military airships, the so-called SL airships, during the First World War, including for operations from the Mannheim-Sandhofen Army Airship Hangar.
Other chapters report on the distribution of high-quality but expensive Maybach automobiles and their owners in the Rhine-Neckar triangle and the Palatinate between the two world wars, as well as on exhibits of the Maybach brand in museums.

A detailed chapter is devoted to rail traction and Franz Kruckenberg, who has chosen to live in Heidelberg, as the key designer of the legendary rail zeppelin and other rail vehicles.
Finally, an appendix on engines manufactured by Maybach in early 1920 for the equally exclusive MARS motorcycles confirms the wide range of production options available to the Maybach company, including their distribution in the Rhine-Neckar triangle and the Palatinate at the time.

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