German Class 50 2-10-0 in the Snow

In mid February the large freight locomotive 555.129 (formerly 50.1171) was in steam for a group of British enthusiasts in the north of the Czech Republic.

This engine was built during German occupation in Plzen (Pilsen) and so is actually native to Czech lands, even though of course it is based on the German standardized glass design. The loco was also briefly in use in South Moravia, before spending most of its post war careerr with OBB and GKB in Austria.

Until 2025 it was owned by the Austrian special train operators Brenner and Brenner, but hadnt run in years.

Because of its Czech connection and past, it was sold to the Czech Republic in summer 2025 and now is part of the collection at the shed in Dolni Lipka, near the Polish border, where a large railway museum with an active steam fleet is being developed as a private-public-partnership.

Aside from 4 operational steam locomotives, there are also elegant green Schlieren coaches there, former SBB express cars dating from the 1930s and splendidly restored. There is also a vintage 1907 Ringhoffer teak dining car, as the real "piece de resistance".

All appear in the snow and with lots of huff and puff in these few scenes and captured footage from late February.

The Kriegslok 555.0153 also appears in the short film, as it was also in steam then.