143 972-8 "Emma" (D-DELTA/ 243 972-7) Hanover Linden 2022 09 23

10.34: DeltaRail's "Emma" on a modal heading west through Linden.

Note it is carrying its old DR number that it carried from 1989 until the 01/01/1992 merger of railways under Deutsche Bahn with Reunification.

 

A fire at Blankenberg on 18/05/1989 damaged the original lok 243 223-5 (LEW Works No. 18972 of 1987).

 

With this and other damaged Trabbis needing replacement, 5 spare frames and bodyshells numbered 20968 to 20972 were built at LEW (VEB Lokomotivbau Elektrotechnische Werke „Hans Beimler“ Hennigsdorf) in 1989.

 

So 20971 bacame 243 972-7 using the stripped parts from damaged 243 223-5.

 

Becoming 143 972-8 under DB, it was a East German based lok until 1998.

 

It then spent 2 years at Mannheim and 16 years at Freiburg where I first saw it.

 

Its last DB home depot before switch off was officially Seddin when it worked for DB Cargo from 14/12/2016.

 

It's last DB overhaul was in 2009 (REV IS630 23/09/2009) and it was retired on 11 July 2017 as its 2nd Verl extension was running out.

 

Bought by DeltaRail on 10/01/2018, it got a full overhaul and repaint at AW Dessau (REV IS630 16/07/2018).

 

As can be seen, it is now in the old DR maroon which suits it very well 😊 👍

Done