For five days in May the steam traction returned to the areas of Odenwald and Hohenlohe. Those railway enthusiasts who witnessed the steam age of DB in the seventies could find themselves back in the old days. Authentic steam locomotives worked over scenic lines with matching coaches in perfect weather. We look back at the event and tell you what happened. Including many thanks to everybody involved!

Lauda is a magic location - at least for a specific group of railway enthusiasts. Those who witnessed the final years of DB steam in the seventies remember the names of the pilgrimage sites: Rheine, Rottweil, Ottbergen ... and: Lauda. To organise a Plandampf at this location brings advantages as well as risks: advantages, because one can expect many participants, and risks, because the participants come with high expectations.

We find the attractiveness of a Plandampf at Lauda being confirmed when a sufficient number of participants has subscribed already by deadline. More bookings arrive after the successful test run of 023 042 after its overhaul at Darmstadt-Kranichstein. The preparations for the Plandampf go smooth, much in contrast to the previous undertakings of the DBK and the Revierdampf-Team. Just a week before the event we receive the first bad news. Engine 64 491 from Ebermannstadt can not come because of some repairs. It is replaced by 75 1118 from Amstetten which had been reserved by DBK as a potential substitute some month before.

Wednesday, May 25 2005:

Due to a ban on leave for the loco crews the 23 042 can not depart from Darmstadt with its photo train in the early morning as planned. The train has to be shifted to the afternoon. The railway enthusiasts concentrate on the movements of the other locos and coaches from Crailsheim to Lauda. Those trains suffer from delays as well, because an extra DB freight disturbs the schedules on the line. The waiting enthusiasts are compensated by the blue skies. This perfect weather will remain for the next five days. At the evening four locomotives gather at former Lauda shed under steam: 023 042 (2-6-2), 50 3545 (2-10-0), 064 419 (2-6-2T) and 75 1118 (2-6-2T).

Thursday, May 26 2005:

This day the steam operations are co-financed by DB-Regio. The Plandampf trains between Lauda und Wertheim have been announced in the local newspapers to advertise the railway among the local population. „Bahnhofsfeste“ are organised at Lauda and Wertheim. Star of the show is 023 042, which returns to old stamping grounds after 30 years. In Wertheim, the scenic section along the old town and the Tauber river is packed with photographers.

Friday, May 27 2005:

Almost no sleep for the crews as the locomotives move from Lauda to Seckach over night. From sunrise on, the line from Seckach to Miltenberg is set under steam – a lot of steam. 15 scheduled passenger trains are hauled by steam locomotives over the summit near Walldürn until 16:00 in the afternoon. The highlight for steam surfers and train timers is Regionalbahn 14831 that runs from Miltenberg (dep 15:18) through Seckach to Lauda via Osterburken. The footplate crew of 23 042 has accustomed to the loco and gains some minutes to the diagram of a diesel multiple unit already on the bank to Walldürn, while the best performance is experienced later on the run along the electrified main line. Unfortunately the fast run terminates short after Boxberg-Wölchingen as the loco suffers from a damaged bearing. 23 042 arrives at Lauda with some delay and reduced speed. Like in the old days the staff gets busy with repair jobs. The planned evening train to Würzburg with night photo session has to be cancelled.

Saturday May 2005:

Wilfried Byrdus from the DBK has modified the programme over night and brings the joker into the game: Swiss-based 23 058 from Eurovapor calls for a stop-over at the Crailsheimer Dampfloktage en route from Ceske Velenice repair shop to Switzerland. The locomotive continues light engine to Niederstetten and takes over the duties of 23 042. The 23 058 returns to Crailsheim with 10 coaches of matching vintage stock – almost exactly 30 years after a similar train heralded the end of DB steam at Crailsheim shed. Meanwhile 23 042 reaches its former home towed by 50 3545. In the evening sun two class 23-DB pose under steam in Crailsheim shed. At the same time the infamous - Waldbrandwarnstufe 5' (forest fire risk level 5) proceeds from the north of Germany to the southern parts of the country. A meeting of special express trains with class 012 steam locos at Rheine is already cancelled, the Kurhessenbahn festival has to revert to 100 % diesel traction, and the Waldbrandwarnstufe is assigned to the area of Niederstetten just as our last Plandampf train has left the station.

Sunday May 29:

Before noon the steam train of DBK makes a run to Schrozberg with 64 491, but afternoon diagram has to be worked with a diesel. Waldbrandwarnstufe 5 has reached Crailsheim not before the very last train of the event. Indeed, we have been lucky!

After the event we see a lot of happy faces. The loco crews coped successfully with the challenge of scheduled trains, the DBK retains a small surplus in cash after the Plandampf and the Crailsheimer Dampfloktage, and the railway enthusiasts took many good photographs and videos. The captions in the magazines will read: Like the old days.

The Revierdampf-Team extends its thanks to all participants that have contributed their financial share, the crews on the footplate, the efficient and unshakeable organisation team from DBK, and everybody else who was involved in this event that turned out a big success.