On 01.07.2012, Siemens invited everyone to come and take a look at its Wegberg-Wildenrath test center. Visitors could run the T2 and T3 test oval with Schienenbusse and a Belgian Desiro-ML. There was a world attempt with BRIO-tracks. Girls were extracting DNA from unions etc etc. There were many Siemens trains standing around. Some open for public, others hidden in the background. We wouldn't be surprized of all 15 Velaro-D trainsets were present. The same for many Desiro-ML trainsets (for example 08521, 08523) and locomotives for Belgium. Trams were being repaired after heavy crashes, locomotives were refitted with ETCS. Much to see. A big thanks to Siemens to give us this opportunity. Our report of the day:

EuroSprinter for sale! (black vs. white)
For anyone still interested: Siemens still has three 189 series locomotives for sale: E 189 845, 822 and 823. All three were present during the day, parked next to a black one: ES 64 F4-995.

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PCW Thunderbirds are go!

In Wegberg, Siemens has several locomotives used for shunting. The have PCW numbers. PCW 6 is a red Vossloh G800BB, PCW 7 is the EuroRunner and the EuroSprinter godfather is now PCW 8. The question however still remains, will PCW 8 ever run again? For two years now, the machine is parked in Wegberg, have some sort of damage... PCW 7 presented itself in two different sizes. However, the model was a silver scale locomotive, with small inkjet-printed paper logos and graphics.

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Everybody Vectron!

A long waiting queue was there all day. Everybody wanted to climb into Vectron 193 922, parked outside. We did not go in, but made some nice close-ups of the exterior and some impressions. Again a tip for everyone looking for works numbers (193 924 = SMP 21697) of Siemens locomotives: go to cab no.1, check the frame right above the right buffer. Good luck!

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Hide and seek
Some locomotives did not like all the attention. One had to know what to look for to find them. All in the back of the halls we could see 193 901 (the only Vectron now with the old, Belgian front bow) and Rail One's 474 102. Hidden in the bush outside, two Traxx locomotives were spotted; 186 121 (edit) in Fyra-colors and IGT 246 011 still celebrating German's 150th railways anniversary. Behind ES 64 F4-453 we could identify ES 64 F4-409 and Nordcargo 474 201. - DvdR

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SNCB 19 vs Vectron and the auto-coupler
Around fifteen HLE 19 series locomotives were seen in Wegberg. The 1909, 1906 and 1913 were in front of the public. We took the opportunity to make some good close-ups of 1906 and its Schwab-coupler system, that what makes the HLE19 different from its normal HLE18 sisters. Also note the special steel, futuristic construction behind it.

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And in the mean while in Mönchengladbach...
And in the mean while in Mönchengladbach... ES 64 F4-406 with CFI-logos is ready to go back to Italy. - TW