The 2-10-0 freight steam locomotive 52 # 8168 of the Bavarian Railway Museum in Nördlingen (BEM) has a fairly young crew, including a woman as stoker. Surely great as a couple to look after and drive such a locomotive! The 52 # 8168 was built by Krauss-Maffei AG (München-Allach) in 1943 for the Deutsche Reichsbahn as 52 # 3574. After WW II owned and operated by the Deutsche Reichsbahn (DR) of the German Democratic Republic (GDR). In 1966 reconstructed in the RAW Stendal to 52 # 8168 and 1992 withdrawn, purchased by the BEM. From 1992 to 2008, the locomotive waited for an examination. Already in 2005, the refurbishment was to be tackled, but it was not until December 19, 2007 that the boiler inspection could be completed. The locomotive was then put back into service at Easter 2008 after three years of refurbishment. In November 2008, some rework was done on the locomotive at DLW Meiningen. During the subsequent test run, damage occurred to the locomotive's governor, so that it had to be towed back to Meiningen. During the transfer trip to Nördlingen on November 27, 2008, the locomotive again suffered damage and had to be towed back to Meiningen for the second time. In the winter of 2011/2012, the locomotive received a boiler inspection in Nördlingen. On May 3, 2012, the load test run took place in front of a freight train to Gunzenhausen. The locomotive took part in the BEM's facing steam and photo train event around Nördlingen in May 2018. The locomotive was exhibited at Göppingen station on the occasion of the Märklin Days 2019 on September 14 and 15, 2019. The locomotive was used in front of heavy freight trains on the lines around Nördlingen during the "Rübenverkehr im Ries" plan steam event on September 23 and 24, 2021.
