A one day tour from Köln Hbf to freight lines of the Ruhr featuring haulage by ex-DB V200.135 and ex-DR E42.151 and a visit to Bochum Dahlhausen museum.

Our day will begin at Köln Hbf around 08.30, with our train made up of vehicles provided by Centralbahn AG hauled by an ex-Deutsche Reichsbahn E42 electric locomotive, E42.151. Leaving Köln Hbf we head to Köln West where we join the freight lines around the City through Bonntor, Kalk and Kalk Nord, then forward to Opladen (location of Benders scrapyard where many DB locomotives are being broken up) and Duisburg Wedau. Continuing with the freight line through Oberhausen West we parallel KBS416 just after Oberhausen Hbf to Essen Dellwig then head to Bottrop Süd and onto Essen Karnap, Gelsenkirchen Schalke, and Wanne-Eickel. Bypassing Wanne-Eickel Hbf on freight lines we head up to Recklinghausen Ost yard where V200.135 will be attached to rear of the train.

The V200 will take us the short distance to Recklinghausen Hbf before the E42 takes over again for the run to Gladbeck West via Herten and Gladbeck Buer Nord. The V200 will again lead the formation the 1.3km’s to Gladbeck Zweckel, where it must run round the train to allow us to traverse the next section of line from here to Dortmund Hbf as the majority of the route has no overhead wires! Leaving Gladbeck Zweckel we take KBS426 as far as Gelsenkirchen Bismarck where we join the freight line avoiding Wanne-Eickel to Herne. Rejoining KBS426 we travel through Dortmund Bövinghausen to Dortmund Hbf where the V200 must again run round the train. Leaving Dortmund Hbf we head to Dorstfeld to join the freight lines which parallel KBS415 as far as Bochum Hbf. Here we take KBS450.1 to Essen Steele Ost where we reverse and head to Bochum Dahlhausen for our visit to the museum site. On arrival our train will be shunted into the museum area and once the necessary formalities have taken place you will be allowed access to the large collection of steam, diesel, and electric locomotives housed here, with approximately 1 hour being allowed for this visit.

Once everyone is back on the train we will rejoin the mainline and begin our return journey to Köln Hbf travelling first to Essen Hbf and onto Mülheim and Oberhausen. Shortly after passing Oberhausen Hbf we join the freight only line through Oberhausen West to Duisburg Hochfeld Süd and forward to Rheinhausen. Here we take the line towards Moers as far as Trompet where we will reverse to give us access to the freight lines to Krefeld Hbf via Krefeld Linn. From here we follow KBS416 through Viersen to Helensbrunn where we join the freight avoiding line around Mönchengladbach and Rheydt. Rejoining the passenger line just after Rheydt we are on our final section of the day to Köln. Our route below shows us travelling via Grevenbroich and Bedburg but we understand the avoiding line returns to the mainline after the junction to this line. Therefore we expect the train may be rerouted from here possibly via Aachen or Neuss. We expect to arrive in Köln Hbf around 19.00 hours, thereby allowing you ample time to see some of the City sights or travel further afield.

We have already requested DB Netz provide a full detailed routing for this train as soon as any information is received regarding this we will post it on our website and send out a message to the yahoogroup.

E42.151 is an ex-Deutsche Reichsbahn Class 242 locomotive currently privately owned but operated on a daily basis by Centralbahn AG on freight services.
V200.135 was built in 1965 and withdrawn from service in June 1988 and has been in use with private operators ever since. The locomotive is currently owned and operated by Bocholter Eisenbahn.

Requested route and traction:

Köln Hbf – Köln West – Köln Bonntor – Köln Kalk Nord – Opladen – Düsseldorf Eller – Düsseldorf Rath – Duisburg Wedau – Oberhausen West – Essen Prosper-Levin – Gerschede – Gelsenkirchen Nordstern – Crange – Baukau – Recklinghausen Ost (rev) – Recklinghausen Hbf (rev) – Gladbeck West (rev) – Gladbeck Zweckel (rev) – Wanne Unser Fritz – Wanne-Eickel West – Herne Hot – Dortmund Bövinghausen – Dortmund Hbf (rev) – Dortmund Lütgendortmund – Bochum Langendreer – Bochum Hbf – Essen Steele Ost (rev) – Bochum Dahlhausen (rev) – DGEG museum (rev) – Bochum Dahlhausen (rev) – Essen Steele Ost – Essen Hbf – Mulheim – Oberhausen Hbf – Oberhausen West – Trompet (rev) – Duisburg Muhlenberg – Krefeld Linn –Krefeld Kriba – Krefeld Hbf – Viersen Helenabrunn – Rheydt Rs – Grevenbroich – Horrem – Köln Hbf

Departure from Köln Hbf will be around 0830, returning approximately 1900

Requested motive power: ex-DR E42.151 (Centralbahn AG) and ex-DB V200.135 (Bocholter Eisenbahn)

Our train will be formed of 4 or 5 non air conditioned vehicles owned by Centralbahn AG (subject to availability), a buffet service will be provided from a buffet car within the formation. We have asked for numerous photo stops during the day.

Click here for PDF versions of the full brochure and booking form

The above route, motive power, and museum visit are not guaranteed and are subject to alteration and availability on the day. All times quoted are estimated and may be amended!

*= Passengers from outside the UK may book at the lower rate at all times due to incurring Bank transfer costs

We offer discounted fares on this tour for children travelling with responsible adults. Please enquire for more details.

The exchange rate used for calculating the sterling fares for this tour is £1 = €1.18 and your cheque will be presented to our Bank on or just after Friday 24th of September

Hammer Eisenbahnfreunde: are running a charter train from Hamm to Altenahr on Sunday 10th of October with V200.033! See for full details: http://www.museumseisenbahn-hamm.de/cgi-bin/termin_anzeigen.cgi?id=38

Hotel accommodation in Köln: Accommodation in Köln over this weekend is quite expensive possibly due to an event (a motorbike, scooter and bicycle fair) at the Messe thereby you are advised to look at nearby towns and Cities for cheaper options.(www.hrs.de)

Proposed dates for 2010:

20th November - since the October German tour is nearing completion this date will not now be used

Proposed dates for 2011 will be posted as soon as they are available