Between 2009 and 2015 Austrian Federal Railways (ÖBB) have modernized 23 snow ploughs to increase their reliability and improve the ecology. The old, oil-dripping plain bearings have all been replaced by new modern roller bearing wheelsets delivered by DLM. The special technology of these roller bearing wheelsets had been developed for the likewise modernization of the steam locomotive 52 8055. It allows the use of roller bearings without modification of the frame. The heavy snowfalls in large parts of Austria gave the snowploughs a lot of work. Clearing the track by means of a snow plough is very attractive to look at, as can be verified by the short video:

On December 1, 2018 the new boiler has been lifted into the boiler room of the screw steamer SS Spiez, see pictures taken by Robert Horlacher. The all-new two-cylinder steam engine is unfortunately not yet ready, which is mainly due to the generally excellent workload of the Swiss manufacturing industry. Tailor-made never meant priority within manufacturing proceses, but this time it was simply impossible to get things done in an acceptable time frame.

On the occasion of the 20-year anniversary of the reopening of Puffing Billy's Gembrook section on October 18, 2018, oil-firedNA-class steam locomotive 14A was officially presented to the public. The picture shows Puffing Billy's technical managers David Clowes (left) and Tim Heeks in front of decorated 14A.

The new three-pass boiler for SS Spiez has been built by the German manufacturer Bay Boilers BBS and approved by TUEV. The boiler produces 1000 kg of superheated steam at 16 bar and 420°C. The modern steam plant with the automatic boiler and the new remote-controlled steam engine replaces the old Diesel motor. The pictures (BBS) show the boiler without the insulation.

On  Mai 24, 2018 the oil-fired NA-class locomotive hauled the first official time-tabled passenger train and is since regularly used, mainly on the entire section to Gembrook. At the same time, firemen and driver training has been  extended. The main reason for the conversion to light oil firing was the elimination of fire danger and many a steam railway in Europe and the USA may now wish to have had the same foresight. Climate change results in more frequent and longer dry periods, even in countries once famous for rain. So the question to be asked more and more often is: would you rather have an oil-fired steam locmotive or a  replacement diesel in front of your train?

The Steam Centre of Winterthur recorded a high number of visitors and all steam trains run exactly on time. The picture shows the arrival of coal-fired 52 2988 (052 988-3) with the feeder train from Rottweil, before 52 8055 took over. Photo Roger Waller