In the 1960s, the steam locomotive was very much in decline in West Germany. The German federal railway put in place a plan to eradicate steam by 1973, in favour of more modern diesel and electric traction.
However, an unexpected economic upturn gave rise to a need for additional rail services and a consequent requirement for additional locomotives. Thus, the end of steam locomotive working was delayed, and many withdrawn locomotives had to be rapidly pressed back into service! Steam traction experienced something of a renaissance, amplified by the oil price crisis in 1973/74 which led to the urgent reinstatement of coal-fired steam locomotives.
Schluss-Akkord: Der Bundesbahn-Dampfbetrieb 1970-1975 is a high quality large-format album of colour and black & white photographs illustrating this remarkable twilight of the steam locomotive. It takes the form of a journey around West Germany, looking at the main line steam traction that could be found in each area in the period from 1970 to 1975.
Over 450 photographs show steam locos working on all manner of different service, passenger and freight, and also at rest in depot and roundhouse settings. A brief overview of the services in each area is provided at the start of each chapter and all photographs are captioned with additional detail. German text. Hardback. 256 pages.