This book has been prepared in line with the proven and popular photographic diary style that the Author has used in other books covering his early years of steam photography (East Germany 1978, India 1980, China 1981 and Zimbabwe 1982). It records a one week trip to the central parts of West Germany, during April 1973, the main purpose of which was to experience three centres of Pacific working, two of which would cease shortly thereafter. As a financially deficient 21 year old, whose pecuniary position was worsened by the recent acquisition of a new girlfriend, the scope of this visit was limited to rail travel accompanied by minimal knowledge of the steam situation then pertaining. Nonetheless, an enjoyable visit ensued with 15 different classes of steam locomotives observed,
two-thirds of which produced locomotives in steam and working. More than 300 different steam locomotives were encountered during this visit, quite a significant number given that little more than a thousand remained active on the Deutsche Bundesbahn at this time. That said, steam locomotives were still receiving major overhauls at this time, and they remained active in West Germany until late 1977, albeit in gradually diminishing numbers. At least in West Germany there was not the headlong rush into the elimination of steam as the Author had experienced in his then home country. This 1973 visit certainly revitalised his interest in real steam.
The photographs were taken with fairly basic equipment and are not representative of the Author's later works, but it is available for those interested : but please check out the preview pages first.