Visit Seelze depot and switchyard´s 100th anniversary show.
Seelze is about two miles away from my home, and it had been built between 1906 and 1909 to help shunt freight cars around the Hannover area. Today, ca. 5,000 freight cars are moved here, making it one of Germany´s biggest switchyards. In the 1960s, Seelze was also the first German switchyard where comuters were introduced to assist in assembling the freight trains.
In addition, Seelze also features a depot for freight engines (mainly classes 140, 151, 152, 155, 182, 185.1, 185.2, and 189) and diesel shunters (mainly class 290 and its radio-controlled derivatives). Repairs can be carried out here, with the exception of damaged frames and carbodies, which are usually repaired in Bremen as of now.
Te switchyard is 5,5 kilometers by 350 meters, features 13 kilometers of rail and 510 switches. The yard is tucked between the Mittelland Canal on one side and the town of Seelze on the other.
Weather was fine when I got to the anniversary show. Naturally, I went there by train, unaware that I´d have to walk the three kilometer distance between the passenger station and the freight depot. Finally, I got there:
From a distance, you can see the former East German class 155 electric freight engines in the front (also suitable for passenger service, albeit too slow to actually be used on passenger trains), a class 152 peeking out behind the 155s, and some class 294 shunters on the left side of the picture.
As the switchyard was in full use during the show, it was not safe to cross the tracks. We had to use an old supply tunnel to get to the engine hall instead, a bit of a catacomb and not for the claustrophobic.
And - we were there. DB Schenker, the cargo division of German Rail, set up a few "special" engines on the outside. Here is some fresh paint on a Soviet-built class 232 diesel. Due to its weight and emissions, these are currently being scrapped.
A special livery on a class 185.1 (the .1 and .2 can be told apart by the shape of the front, most notably the headlight area) promoting to become a DB Schenker trainee.
The "other side" of that engine.
A class 182 "Taurus" engine wearing a Porsche commercial and special livery. These are the same as the Austrian Taurus angines, and were acquired because the Autrian railways denied the class 152 usage in Austria.
Again, the "back" of the engine. Or is it the front?
A class 152 heavy freight engine in "Albatros" livery promoting... whatever.
The "Denglisch" (German/English) jingo is incomprehensible and - finally - abandoned by German Rail altogether. Good bye, and good riddance.
Another class 185.1 telling everybody how proud she is that she can be used in Switzerland! Again, special livery.
Germany´s oldest freight engine still in regular service, built in 1957. A class 140, pre-series version.
For you kettle lovers out there, a class 52 in East German Reichsbahn style.
Entering the repair hall, diesel engines were to be seen with their mouthes open.
Electrics lifted up with their wheels removed so the driving motors could be serviced.
At the bottom, you can see the stamps that will lift the wheelsets up, where they are fastened to the bogies again.
When wheel flanges have to be repaired by milling, they need not be removed; this is done here with an underfloor milling machine.
This of course does not apply to completely new wheelsets, as shown here: shiny and new!
On the way out, the engines that were ready to roll were parked in one row. Up front is a class 189, a multi-frequency version of the 152, built by Siemens.
And some more parked outside - mostly 182s and 185.1 and .2s.
There was still some work going on, so I decided to watch how a derailed engine is set back on track:
With some hydraulics...
...which are controlled here. I´d have loved to try myself, but am not sure whether my Insurance´d have paid in case of massive FAIL.
On my way to the beer and bratwurst stands, a 1950s historic "Schienenbus" railcar was riding around the area...
...and the local fire department demonstrated how the handle oil spills.
Looking back, it was a lovely day, with interesting insights into rail operation and some wonderful bratwurst and beer. Hope they´ll do this sort of show sometime again.
And, I also hope you all enjoyed the tour a little bit as well.
Seelze is about two miles away from my home, and it had been built between 1906 and 1909 to help shunt freight cars around the Hannover area. Today, ca. 5,000 freight cars are moved here, making it one of Germany´s biggest switchyards. In the 1960s, Seelze was also the first German switchyard where comuters were introduced to assist in assembling the freight trains.
In addition, Seelze also features a depot for freight engines (mainly classes 140, 151, 152, 155, 182, 185.1, 185.2, and 189) and diesel shunters (mainly class 290 and its radio-controlled derivatives). Repairs can be carried out here, with the exception of damaged frames and carbodies, which are usually repaired in Bremen as of now.
Te switchyard is 5,5 kilometers by 350 meters, features 13 kilometers of rail and 510 switches. The yard is tucked between the Mittelland Canal on one side and the town of Seelze on the other.
Weather was fine when I got to the anniversary show. Naturally, I went there by train, unaware that I´d have to walk the three kilometer distance between the passenger station and the freight depot. Finally, I got there:
From a distance, you can see the former East German class 155 electric freight engines in the front (also suitable for passenger service, albeit too slow to actually be used on passenger trains), a class 152 peeking out behind the 155s, and some class 294 shunters on the left side of the picture.
As the switchyard was in full use during the show, it was not safe to cross the tracks. We had to use an old supply tunnel to get to the engine hall instead, a bit of a catacomb and not for the claustrophobic.
And - we were there. DB Schenker, the cargo division of German Rail, set up a few "special" engines on the outside. Here is some fresh paint on a Soviet-built class 232 diesel. Due to its weight and emissions, these are currently being scrapped.
A special livery on a class 185.1 (the .1 and .2 can be told apart by the shape of the front, most notably the headlight area) promoting to become a DB Schenker trainee.
The "other side" of that engine.
A class 182 "Taurus" engine wearing a Porsche commercial and special livery. These are the same as the Austrian Taurus angines, and were acquired because the Autrian railways denied the class 152 usage in Austria.
Again, the "back" of the engine. Or is it the front?
A class 152 heavy freight engine in "Albatros" livery promoting... whatever.
The "Denglisch" (German/English) jingo is incomprehensible and - finally - abandoned by German Rail altogether. Good bye, and good riddance.
Another class 185.1 telling everybody how proud she is that she can be used in Switzerland! Again, special livery.
Germany´s oldest freight engine still in regular service, built in 1957. A class 140, pre-series version.
For you kettle lovers out there, a class 52 in East German Reichsbahn style.
Entering the repair hall, diesel engines were to be seen with their mouthes open.
Electrics lifted up with their wheels removed so the driving motors could be serviced.
At the bottom, you can see the stamps that will lift the wheelsets up, where they are fastened to the bogies again.
When wheel flanges have to be repaired by milling, they need not be removed; this is done here with an underfloor milling machine.
This of course does not apply to completely new wheelsets, as shown here: shiny and new!
On the way out, the engines that were ready to roll were parked in one row. Up front is a class 189, a multi-frequency version of the 152, built by Siemens.
And some more parked outside - mostly 182s and 185.1 and .2s.
There was still some work going on, so I decided to watch how a derailed engine is set back on track:
With some hydraulics...
...which are controlled here. I´d have loved to try myself, but am not sure whether my Insurance´d have paid in case of massive FAIL.
On my way to the beer and bratwurst stands, a 1950s historic "Schienenbus" railcar was riding around the area...
...and the local fire department demonstrated how the handle oil spills.
Looking back, it was a lovely day, with interesting insights into rail operation and some wonderful bratwurst and beer. Hope they´ll do this sort of show sometime again.
And, I also hope you all enjoyed the tour a little bit as well.
