| Mollibahn - Steam On The Baltic Two more steam lines are to be found on the Baltic coast, near to the city of Rostock. The 900mm line which runs from the town of Bad Doberan to Kuhlungsborn is particularly interesting and unusual as the line comes right down through the middle of Bad Doberan! Upto sixteen trains a day navigate their way through the cars and pedestrians as they make their way to and from the main station where the line links with the main national network. Known as the 'Mollibahn' the line is operated by 2-8-2T locomotives and runs every day of the year including Christmas. Like most of the other narrow gauge lines in Germany it is no longer a part of the DB network but is owned by a private company and the steam service is supplimented by a bus service running between trains. Kuhlungsborn is rapidly developing as a major tourist resort with an extensive range of hotels and this is removing all traces of the old Communist identity from the area. However the approach into Bad Doberan takes the line down the tree lined Goethestrasse which retains the cobbles for which East Germany was so notorious. All locomotives face towards Bad Doberan and for car based photographers it is possible to photograph the train on the section between Kuhlungsborn and the passing loop at Heiligendammer and then again on the section from Heiligendammer to Bad Doberan. |
| The development of the Baltic coast area in the post-Communist days of former East Germany can clearly be seen as 2-8-2T No. 99-2323 crosses Alexandrinenplatz in Bad Doberan on its way to the terminus station. |
| No.99-2323 pauses briefly at Goethestrasse station on the outskirts of Bad Doberan. Although largely used by tourists this is still very much a working railway. |
| The Health and Safety Executive would no doubt suffer from collective apoplexy if this were England. However in a more enlightened country it is the responsibility of early morning motorists take evasive action as No.99-2321 comes down Goethestrasse in Bad Doberan |
| Attracting barely a glance 2-8-2T No.99-2322 negotiates the main street of Bad Doberan on a Sunday morning in March 2000. The main street is pedestrianised and early morning guarantees that even the pedestrians are still in bed or at church! |
| The curse of the Easter Bunny! Headboards like these are common over the Easter period and do little to enhance the photographs. A couple of days were therefore spent riding the line and in other non-photographic pursuits |
| The passing of Communism seemed to have done little to change the scene in Goethestrasse by Easter 2000. However the increasing Westernisation of the whole area and the impact of the recent G8 summit is likely to bring many sweeping changes to these scenes. |
| No.99-2321 passing through attractive scenery as it heads from Kuhlungsborn to Heiligendammen - not all of this wonderful line is in built up areas. Whilst searching out this location I came across a young lady indulging in a touch of sunbathing 'au natural' - quite a bonus really! |
| "Perhaps when I grow up I'll be an engine driver" Bad Doberan 24 April 2000 |