The November 2022-released volume in the long-running Eisenbahn Kurier series of publications taking a nostalgic look at the railways of Germany 25 years earlier. This volume examines the railways of the former East Germany in 1997, covering broadly the area operated by Deutsche Reichsbahn immediately prior to German re-unification.
The volume describes and illustrates key events that took place during the year and general changes to both passenger and freight traffic. It features intercity and urban railways, as well as taking a look at locomotive and rolling stock developments during the year.
Key events in 1997 included the final withdrawal from DB of the Class 201 diesel locomotives (ex DR Class V 100) and test runs of the unusual double-deck railcar of Class 670 in Saxony. The year also saw the last uses of special narrow-gauge wagons on standard gauge track and the 100th anniversary of the Cranzahl-Oberwiesenthal heritage line. Developments on the Berlin S-Bahn are also dealt with extensively in one chapter.
EK Themen 64: DB vor 25 Jahren – 1997: Ausgabe Ost examines all of these topics and uses high quality illustrations throughout. A list of all locomotives and multiple units that were new or withdrawn from stock during 1997 is included, as well as a full list of all locos in service during the year with depot allocations. German text. 98 pages