The 1950s was a time of austerity for Deutsche Reichsbahn, meaning the purchase of new steam locomotives to replace life-expired locomotives was impossible. Consequently, the DR embarked upon an extensive programme to modernise or rebuild many of its existing locos to prolong their working lives for many years to come.
Bahn Extra 5/2020: Reko- und Umbau-Dampfloks der DR is an illustrated review of this project, examining the many classes of locomotive that were rebuilt. It looks at the situation that gave rise to the programme and contains details of some of the work carried out, before going on to look at each rebuilt class in turn.
The book features rebuilt Classes 01.5, 03, 03.10, 22, 41, 50.35, 52.80 and 58.30, `coal dust’ Classes 17, 44, 52 and 58, and oil-fired Classes 44, 50 and 95. Additional features include a comparison between rebuilt and unrebuilt locomotives and a review of some of the work carried out at certain DR depots.
A chapter is devoted to the end of DR steam in October 1988 and a final section looks at locomotives that have survived into preservation. Also accompanying this review is a DVD containing 50 minutes of footage of celebrity preserved loco 03 1010.
Bahn Extra 5/2020: Reko- und Umbau-Dampfloks der DR is well illustrated throughout with colour and black & white photographs, diagrams and several tables of technical data. Tabulated lists of rebuilt steam locomotives are also included. 98 pages. German text.