German museum restores 1897 Austrian locomotive
A GERMAN railway museum that is seeking a British steam locomotive for display has completed the restoration of an Austrian 4-4-0.
The engineering team at Bahnpark Augsburg in southern Germany have spent five years restoring No. 415, which was built in 1897 for the Imperial & Royal Austrian Southern Railway Company and used to haul the court train of Empress Elisabeth of Austria, known as Sisi. Graz actress Sabine Rossegger, playing the role of the Empress, performed the engine's rededication ceremony on October 10.
It will now become part of the museum's exhibition ‘Time Travel – Locomotives Tell European History'.
As reported in issue 285, the museum is seeking a British steam locomotive – possibly a GWR 4-6-0 to restore in ‘Hogwarts Express' guise – to acquire or take on loan. Any offers can be directed to Marcus Hehl at markus. hehl@bahnpark-augsburg.eu