A dream  comes true!

Drive a Stream Train Yourself

Pulling trains in a regular service timetable on the seven remaining narrow guage railways in Germany.

The routes including The Baltic Sea Coast, Harz Mountains, and in theErzgebegre

We would like to introduce ourselves we are:

“The Northern Lights” Club of the Honorary Engine Drivers and railway

friends (N-ELF)

From just being an enthusiast to becoming an honorary engine driver

I take it for granted that you have a general interest in trains, and could it be that you have a special  place in your heart for steam engines?

If that is so - it is also possible that your childhood dream was to actually drive one of these most wonderful, large, snorting ,(sometimes) dirty,smelly pieces of engineering:

Such a dream could become reality provided you have a good working knowledge of the German language.

This is essential for tuition and most of all for safety reasons on the footplate.

The 10 day course begins with theory in safety and steam technology and

continues with practical tuition under the guidance of a fully qualified engine driver.

At the end of the 10 day course there is a theoretical and practical examination on the basic principles of steam locomotion (water level, regulator, valve gear, brakes and safety regulations)

After passing the exam you will be awarded with the certificate

“Honorary Engine Driver” This allows you to drive steam trains under the supervision of a qualified driver, on the line where the training took place.

Are you interested to know more?

The Nordlichter- Ehrenlokführer und Eisenbahnfreunde (N-ELF)

will be very happy to welcome new members, so if you are a railwayman,

honorary engine driver or a railway enthusiast you are all welcome to join the club

The club does not have its own rolling stock, but we do have good contacts to various private and historic railways.

And we are happy to help you and offer advice.

 Club objectives

Our main objective is to promote the knowledge of steam, its development

and the preservation of our heritage railways throughout Germany.

Also the club promotes the “Honorary Engine Drivers” courses which are

available here in Germany

A very important part of the club is the information that we gather together

and published in our magazine “Nordlichte -Depesche” which appears

six times a year (only in the German language).

To order the magazine just click     here

If you would like to get in touch with us the adrress is

N-ELF

Carsten R. Neumann

Holunderbusch 1.

D-24113 Kiel

Tel. & Fax 0049 431 64 10 93 (after 20:00)