Photos

The SSN Steamtrain days is a fantastic moment to see the old steam trains working.
One of these trains is the "65 018".

Between 1952 and 1956 18 class 65 locomotives were supplied to the Deutsche Bundesbahn.
The class 65 was designed and built by Kraus-Maffei in Munich. The construction incorporated a number of developments which had also been included during the construction of the class 23. The wheel arrangement 2-8-4 was chosen to support a coal supply of 4.8 tons which was a substantial quantity for a tank engine. The coal space is located behind the fully enclosed cab, with, beneath it, a water tank containing 8.25 cubic meters. The other 5.8 cubic meters were located in two tanks alongside the boiler. The class was built in two batches. The first thirteen examples were fitted with a conventional Knorr feedwater heater and a flat cab roof. The final 5 machines which entered service in 1955 and 1956 received a mix-type feedwater heater with a turbine pump and a round cab roof.
As an experiment, 65 018 received a lightened motion in order to improve the running. For a few months the engine was tested by the Eisenbahn Versuchsamt in Minden where it gave every satisfaction. Further production was, however, prevented by the continued modernisation of the DB. Thanks to its high tractive effort and horsepower, the class 65 was also suitable for medium freight trains. Initially, the class 65 hauled commuter trains in the Ruhr. The final 7 examples were equipped to haul push/pull trains. In 1966 the locomotives were divided between the depots of Darmstadt and Limburg a/d Lahn.
In the summer of 1981 the locomotive was rented to the SSN for 10 years and finally purchased in 1991. The locomotive is now the only remaining example of its type and can regularly be seen in main line service.

I crop the photo a little and I hope you like it.