Industries which had their
own source of steam used this to employ ‘fire-less’ steam locomotives
for their works- and transfer use. This was the case in the wire-rope
makers ‘Gempt’ in the middle of Lengerich. The connecting line left
the TWE near the Lengerich-Stadt station and ended at a turntable in
the works, to which the loading siding was connected. Vitally
important during the war, the works were provided with the fire-less
locomotive ‘Blitz’ in 1917, which carried out transfer work between
the works and the TWE. When, in 1964, the firm gave up using steam the
locomotive was put up for sale. The locomotive had previously been
overhauled in the TWE’s main works in Lengerich and duly got its ‘For
Sale’ coat of paint. But there were no buyers, and the loco lay
forgotten in an unused workshop. The ‘Sleeping Beauty’ was not
disturbed until the end of 1996 and redevelopment of the in the middle
of Lengerich including the Gempt site. The town entrusted the
locomotive into our care as a permanent loan and by Summer 1997 we had
restored her outward appearance. On open days we are pleased to
display this piece of Lengerich’s industrial history to the public. However,
due to missing boiler documentation, we are unable to put her into
service. A cultural centre rose on the ‘Gempt’ site and it was
originally planned to put ‘Blitz’ on open-air display there. But these
plans were reviewed and today a Blitz-like sculpture stands on the
spot. The valuable original remains under our protection.
|
|
Type |
Fire-less steam locomotive |
Manufacturer |
Henschel & Sohn, Cassel |
Fabrication N° |
15171 |
Year |
1917 |
Lenght over buffers |
6.900 mm |
Total weight |
19,0 t |
Power |
100 PSi |
Boiler pressure |
13 kp/cm² |
Driving-wheel diameter |
800 mm |
Max speed |
30 km/h |
Status |
optically
refurbished |
|