Acreage Line Locomotives

LOCOMOTIVE - 1

A Unique Collection of 12 Locomotives

Many miniature railways take their inspiration from reality. The Acreage Line recreation is no exception. From 1900 till his death in 1960, Joachim von Reinbek amassed an extraordinary collection of 12 locomotives, one every five years, as payment of a debt earned in a game of skat with Kaiser Wilhelm II and Chancellor Otto von Bismarck. A 13th locomotive was lost at sea.

The Acreage Line recreation has a complete set of H0 reproductions of Reinbek's collection. Extensive research has been done to reconstruct the circumstances surrounding each locomotive. Despite obvious obstacles — there are no public records aside from those under seal in Berlin — there's enough information available to form an accurate picture.

Navigation via swiping, up and down cursor keys, or top menu

1900: Kittel Railcar

Von Reinbek had never operated a steam locomotive, but had fond memories of days riding trains in his childhood. So he started small. Very small.

The Royal Württemberg State Railways operated a small fleet of steam-powered rail cars built by Esslingen, a formative engineering firm that lasted over a 120 years when it was finally acquired by Daimler-Benz. Woefully underpowered, they were modified by an Esslingen mechanical engineer, Eugen Kittel.

Von Reinbek had a friendship with Kittel that dated back to their days partying in Stuttgart. The Kittel and Von Reinbek families had been friendly, so they felt quite at home, particularly at the local pubs.

During one night out Kittel was lamenting the poor performance of the Esslingen rail cars. Von Reinbek off-handedly suggested he flip the boiler around. The penny dropped in Kittel's brain, and his modified vertical boiler became the hot news in steam train circles.

Von Reinbek chose a Kittel-modified rail car as his first locomotive, and so began his collection.

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A Unique Collection of 12 Locomotives

Many miniature railways take their inspiration from reality. The Acreage Line recreation is no exception. From 1900 till his death in 1960, Joachim von Reinbek amassed an extraordinary collection of 12 locomotives, one every five years, as payment of a debt earned in a game of skat with Kaiser Wilhelm II and Chancellor Otto von Bismarck. A 13th locomotive was lost at sea.

The Acreage Line recreation has a complete set of H0 reproductions of Reinbek's collection. Extensive research has been done to reconstruct the circumstances surrounding each locomotive. Despite obvious obstacles — there are no public records aside from those under seal in Berlin — there's enough information available to form an accurate picture.

Navigation via swiping, up and down cursor keys, or top menu

1905: Prussian T 12

Running around in the single Kittel rail car was entertaining for a spell, but Von Reinbek had bigger fish to fry, namely whole trains. He needed a proper steam locomotive.

He chose a Prussian T 12, a popular locomotive around Berlin where Von Reinbek maintained a small flat often used by the Kaiser for private dalliances.

The T 12 was a bit of a steam hotrod in its day. Von Reibek even engaged his pal Kittel to tweak the performance. Ever the gambler, he took his locomotive out to the Berlin rail yards and dragged race the local engineers. Suckers.

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A Unique Collection of 12 Locomotives

Many miniature railways take their inspiration from reality. The Acreage Line recreation is no exception. From 1900 till his death in 1960, Joachim von Reinbek amassed an extraordinary collection of 12 locomotives, one every five years, as payment of a debt earned in a game of skat with Kaiser Wilhelm II and Chancellor Otto von Bismarck. A 13th locomotive was lost at sea.

The Acreage Line recreation has a complete set of H0 reproductions of Reinbek's collection. Extensive research has been done to reconstruct the circumstances surrounding each locomotive. Despite obvious obstacles — there are no public records aside from those under seal in Berlin — there's enough information available to form an accurate picture.

Navigation via swiping, up and down cursor keys, or top menu

1910: Bavarian S 3/6

In 1910 Von Reinbek got serious. The S 3/6 would be his first locomotive with a trailing tender. Neither rail car nor tank locomotive, the S 3/6 was a powerful locomotive whose design would pressage the great German locomotives to come.

The Kaiser himself used one. Von Reinbek set about collecting not only the locomotive, but a complete replica of his friend's personal train. This prompted a tit for tat with Wilhelm as each new piece of equipment acquired by Von Reinbek was one-upped by the Kaiser.

Boys will be boys.

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A Unique Collection of 12 Locomotives

Many miniature railways take their inspiration from reality. The Acreage Line recreation is no exception. From 1900 till his death in 1960, Joachim von Reinbek amassed an extraordinary collection of 12 locomotives, one every five years, as payment of a debt earned in a game of skat with Kaiser Wilhelm II and Chancellor Otto von Bismarck. A 13th locomotive was lost at sea.

The Acreage Line recreation has a complete set of H0 reproductions of Reinbek's collection. Extensive research has been done to reconstruct the circumstances surrounding each locomotive. Despite obvious obstacles — there are no public records aside from those under seal in Berlin — there's enough information available to form an accurate picture.

Navigation via swiping, up and down cursor keys, or top menu

1915: Lost at Sea

In 1915 World War One was turning into a potential quagmire. Von Reibek wanted no part of it. He loaded his trains on a ship and beat it for the Americas.

In his haste the longshoremen were a bit careless in tying down the cargo. One of the locomotives ended up at the bottom of the Pacific Ocean near Jenner, California where the Russian River entered the ocean.

No one knows for sure what kind of locomotive it was, but it's likely he secured a replacement in 1920.

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A Unique Collection of 12 Locomotives

Many miniature railways take their inspiration from reality. The Acreage Line recreation is no exception. From 1900 till his death in 1960, Joachim von Reinbek amassed an extraordinary collection of 12 locomotives, one every five years, as payment of a debt earned in a game of skat with Kaiser Wilhelm II and Chancellor Otto von Bismarck. A 13th locomotive was lost at sea.

The Acreage Line recreation has a complete set of H0 reproductions of Reinbek's collection. Extensive research has been done to reconstruct the circumstances surrounding each locomotive. Despite obvious obstacles — there are no public records aside from those under seal in Berlin — there's enough information available to form an accurate picture.

Navigation via swiping, up and down cursor keys, or top menu

1920: Bavarian B V1

The first locomotive to be shipped to American after Von Reinbek's relocation was a Bavarian B VI steam engine. Built in 1863, it was retired in 1920.

The painting at left has a rare image of Von Reinbek with his beloved shepherd, Schatzi. Schatzi was run over by that very locomotive only a year later.

Von Reinbek, not one for deep sentiment, commented the only thing dumber than a German Shepherd was a train engineer.

His odd, wall-eyed logic was not lost on the locals who made sure to keep all domestic animals far away from Von Reinbek's compound.

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A Unique Collection of 12 Locomotives

Many miniature railways take their inspiration from reality. The Acreage Line recreation is no exception. From 1900 till his death in 1960, Joachim von Reinbek amassed an extraordinary collection of 12 locomotives, one every five years, as payment of a debt earned in a game of skat with Kaiser Wilhelm II and Chancellor Otto von Bismarck. A 13th locomotive was lost at sea.

The Acreage Line recreation has a complete set of H0 reproductions of Reinbek's collection. Extensive research has been done to reconstruct the circumstances surrounding each locomotive. Despite obvious obstacles — there are no public records aside from those under seal in Berlin — there's enough information available to form an accurate picture.

Navigation via swiping, up and down cursor keys, or top menu

1925: German DRG Class 01

The DRG Class 01 didn't get rolling in Germany until 1926. So how did Reinbek manage to get one a full year before? Bribes, naturally. He also managed to have it outfitted with experimental deflectors that wouldn't come into wide use for several more years.

By poaching the Krupp prototype, Reinbek set back the German plans for standardization. He didn't care. He just wanted a new locomotive. A big one.

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A Unique Collection of 12 Locomotives

Many miniature railways take their inspiration from reality. The Acreage Line recreation is no exception. From 1900 till his death in 1960, Joachim von Reinbek amassed an extraordinary collection of 12 locomotives, one every five years, as payment of a debt earned in a game of skat with Kaiser Wilhelm II and Chancellor Otto von Bismarck. A 13th locomotive was lost at sea.

The Acreage Line recreation has a complete set of H0 reproductions of Reinbek's collection. Extensive research has been done to reconstruct the circumstances surrounding each locomotive. Despite obvious obstacles — there are no public records aside from those under seal in Berlin — there's enough information available to form an accurate picture.

Navigation via swiping, up and down cursor keys, or top menu

1930: German DRG Class 81

The embarrassment of the BR01 bribery debacle caused much outrage back in Germany. Reinbek was looking for another large locomotive, but a mixup — some say intentional — resulted in the shipping of a BR81.

While Reinbek didn't yet have a need for a shunting engine, he came to appreciate the stout little tank engine. A few small modifications made it lively and fast as well.

When his BR01 huffed and puffed on some of the steep grades, the BR81 made a good companion in an ad hoc consist. Eventually Reinbek used it for hauling wine barreled at his personal vineyard. The BR81 wine train was a welcome sight for Reinbek's staff for many years until rampant alcoholism forced the retiring of the locomotive.

Hic.

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A Unique Collection of 12 Locomotives

Many miniature railways take their inspiration from reality. The Acreage Line recreation is no exception. From 1900 till his death in 1960, Joachim von Reinbek amassed an extraordinary collection of 12 locomotives, one every five years, as payment of a debt earned in a game of skat with Kaiser Wilhelm II and Chancellor Otto von Bismarck. A 13th locomotive was lost at sea.

The Acreage Line recreation has a complete set of H0 reproductions of Reinbek's collection. Extensive research has been done to reconstruct the circumstances surrounding each locomotive. Despite obvious obstacles — there are no public records aside from those under seal in Berlin — there's enough information available to form an accurate picture.

Navigation via swiping, up and down cursor keys, or top menu

1935: German DRG Class SVT 877 Flying Hamburger

If it was fast, Reinbek wanted it. The Flying Hamburger was fast. Crazy fast. Streamlined, quiet, and exceedingly cool, the Flying Hamburger would set records that stood for over 60 years.

Reinbek threw caution to the wind and opened his wallet. This time around, Germany was secretly preparing for another war. It's rumored that the Fuhrer himself approved the shipment after Reinbek gave him the number to one of his many Swiss bank accounts. The case of Russian River Pinot helped, too.

It would be the last time Reinbek would pay for a locomotive — after all, he'd won them fair and square. But he didn't regret his decision. It would become a favorite.

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A Unique Collection of 12 Locomotives

Many miniature railways take their inspiration from reality. The Acreage Line recreation is no exception. From 1900 till his death in 1960, Joachim von Reinbek amassed an extraordinary collection of 12 locomotives, one every five years, as payment of a debt earned in a game of skat with Kaiser Wilhelm II and Chancellor Otto von Bismarck. A 13th locomotive was lost at sea.

The Acreage Line recreation has a complete set of H0 reproductions of Reinbek's collection. Extensive research has been done to reconstruct the circumstances surrounding each locomotive. Despite obvious obstacles — there are no public records aside from those under seal in Berlin — there's enough information available to form an accurate picture.

Navigation via swiping, up and down cursor keys, or top menu

1940: German DRB Class 41 Modified

Von Reinbek needed a freight locomotive. Not really for hauling freight, he just wanted one to match to an oddball tender he'd fabricated in his shop. It had a small cabin.

Reinbek sent the tender design to Germany and asked that one be incorporated into a BR41 2-8-2 locomotive. They offered to outfit a BR50 with the cabin tender. Reinbek wasn't a fan of the 2-10-0 locomotive. "Too many wheels," he said, "And besides, it's a Nazi design."

He settled on a standard BR41 and matched his homebuilt tender to it. Back in Germany, Reinbek's tender design was stolen and incorporated into about 700 BR50s.

The tender was discontinued allegedly because of condensation that formed on the windows making them useless. Or so went the official story. Unofficially Reinbek threatened to expose the tale behind his train arrangement, which would have been a scandal when Hitler least needed it.

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A Unique Collection of 12 Locomotives

Many miniature railways take their inspiration from reality. The Acreage Line recreation is no exception. From 1900 till his death in 1960, Joachim von Reinbek amassed an extraordinary collection of 12 locomotives, one every five years, as payment of a debt earned in a game of skat with Kaiser Wilhelm II and Chancellor Otto von Bismarck. A 13th locomotive was lost at sea.

The Acreage Line recreation has a complete set of H0 reproductions of Reinbek's collection. Extensive research has been done to reconstruct the circumstances surrounding each locomotive. Despite obvious obstacles — there are no public records aside from those under seal in Berlin — there's enough information available to form an accurate picture.

Navigation via swiping, up and down cursor keys, or top menu

1945: German Schienenzeppelin Railcar

During the construction of the Flying Hamburger there was a second high-speed railcar in development: the Schienenzeppelin. Only one was ever built.

The records of the day show that it was scrapped for material needed by the German army. In truth, Reinbek pulled strings again and had it spirited to France and stored in a barn near Paris. At the end of the war he was able to smuggle it to the United States.

An official 1945 locomotive delivery never happened. With the Allies crawling all over Berlin, shipping a German locomotive to Sonoma would have raised too may eyebrows. Reinbek wisely waited.

And while he did, the Zeppelin flew in the woods.

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A Unique Collection of 12 Locomotives

Many miniature railways take their inspiration from reality. The Acreage Line recreation is no exception. From 1900 till his death in 1960, Joachim von Reinbek amassed an extraordinary collection of 12 locomotives, one every five years, as payment of a debt earned in a game of skat with Kaiser Wilhelm II and Chancellor Otto von Bismarck. A 13th locomotive was lost at sea.

The Acreage Line recreation has a complete set of H0 reproductions of Reinbek's collection. Extensive research has been done to reconstruct the circumstances surrounding each locomotive. Despite obvious obstacles — there are no public records aside from those under seal in Berlin — there's enough information available to form an accurate picture.

Navigation via swiping, up and down cursor keys, or top menu

1950: German DRG Kleinlokomotive Class II

Von Reinbek's deal got back on track after the war. But the powers that be weren't as keen to ship full-sized locomotives out of the country.

Reinbek had to settle for a tiny Kof shunting engine.

Rumor has it that he made a journey back to Germany after it arrived, causing a ruckus that would result in his arrangement being fully restored in time for the 1955 delivery.

The smart money says he played another hand of cards.

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A Unique Collection of 12 Locomotives

Many miniature railways take their inspiration from reality. The Acreage Line recreation is no exception. From 1900 till his death in 1960, Joachim von Reinbek amassed an extraordinary collection of 12 locomotives, one every five years, as payment of a debt earned in a game of skat with Kaiser Wilhelm II and Chancellor Otto von Bismarck. A 13th locomotive was lost at sea.

The Acreage Line recreation has a complete set of H0 reproductions of Reinbek's collection. Extensive research has been done to reconstruct the circumstances surrounding each locomotive. Despite obvious obstacles — there are no public records aside from those under seal in Berlin — there's enough information available to form an accurate picture.

Navigation via swiping, up and down cursor keys, or top menu

1955: German DB Class V 200

Always keen to acquire the most modern iron the German railroads developed, Reinbek bagged one of the two diesel-hydraulic prototypes soon after construction began on the official full production models. His impatience would prove to be a disaster.

Von Reinbek was driving during a speed run in the fall of 1958. Thinking he could get to a junction before the BR01 piloted by one of his staff, he gunned the throttle. Unfortunately, his wall-eyed vision saw his colliding with the BR01 rather than making the switch.

Slammed against the bulkhead, his leg crushed under the control panel, Reinbek knew this was the end of his racing, and his left leg. At 99 years old he was hobbled.

The V200 was left rusting on a siding out of his eyesight.

The 1958 wreck of the V200 and BR01

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A Unique Collection of 12 Locomotives

Many miniature railways take their inspiration from reality. The Acreage Line recreation is no exception. From 1900 till his death in 1960, Joachim von Reinbek amassed an extraordinary collection of 12 locomotives, one every five years, as payment of a debt earned in a game of skat with Kaiser Wilhelm II and Chancellor Otto von Bismarck. A 13th locomotive was lost at sea.

The Acreage Line recreation has a complete set of H0 reproductions of Reinbek's collection. Extensive research has been done to reconstruct the circumstances surrounding each locomotive. Despite obvious obstacles — there are no public records aside from those under seal in Berlin — there's enough information available to form an accurate picture.

Navigation via swiping, up and down cursor keys, or top menu

1960 : German DB Class 10

The BR10 was the last locomotive Reinbek would acquire, and ironically never ride. A locomotive collision the year before its arrival would cost Reinbek his left leg and his spirit.

Like many of the locomotives in his collection, a personal relationship with the German railroad industry gave him access to research and plans even before the Bundesbahn. When Reinbek caught wind of the BR10, he arranged for the secret construction of a third locomotive after the official delivery of the first two to German rails.

His personal "Black Swan" would sit unused in the yard until his death, at which point Reinbek's roundhouse staff loaded him into the cab and ran his lifeless body around his railway. It would be the last Reinbek train to run through the western Sonoma woods.

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