Bahnbetriebswerk
It is an installation that carries out the maintenance, minor repairs, refuelling and cleaning of locomotives and other motive power.
The smaller facility, the Lokomotivstation (also Einsatzstelle or Lokbahnhof) akin to the British sub-depot or stabling point, is affiliated to a Bahnbetriebswerk.
In 1845, John Blenkinsop made it clear that it was considerably cheaper to service locomotives at regular intervals than not to repair them until they broke down.
From the 1860s, all railway companies separated the functions of traffic operating (working the locomotives) and mechanical engineering.
On the creation of the German Empire the system described above was adopted by everyone and, in addition, many private railways were nationalised with the result that this approach was eventually followed by those too.
Initially the DR turned large Lokbahnhöfe into Bahnbetriebswerke, but on the foundation of the Deutsche Reichsbahn-Gesellschaft things changed suddenly.
This development was accelerated by the changeover in traction, because considerably fewer personnel were needed for diesel and electric locomotives.
Many smaller stabling points (Lokbahnhöfe) were promoted to Bahnbetriebswerke, primarily in order to ensure better maintenance of the locomotives on the spot.
For diesel and electric locomotive servicing the DR generally made do with existing facilities; the construction of new, modern installations was only carried out in a few cases.
This totally new arrangement started a wave of rationalisations in Deutsche Bahn that led to the closure of works and Betriebshöfen.
In addition to the replenishment of operating supplies - water, coal and braking sand - the cinders had to be emptied from the grate and smokebox daily.
Modern diesel and electric locomotives need very little maintenance thanks to a large number of maintenance-light and non-wearing components.
For that reason there are only a few Bahnbetriebswerke today compared with those in the steam era and they often concentrated on the maintenance and repair of an entire locomotive class.
In the Deutsche Bahn today's Bahnbetriebswerke, called Betriebshöfe, are increasingly independent and divided up between several DB AG business areas.
In the majority of Betriebshöfe, jobs are also carried out for other companies, for example, the maintenance of private railway stock.
The work is not just carried out during the day, but predominantly at night, when large numbers of locomotives are not needed for traction duties.
Even in the planning stages, consideration must be given to ensuring there is enough additional real estate that can be bought without difficulty if it is later decided to extend the facility.
[2] As well as the maintenance of locomotives, several Bahnbetriebswerke are also responsible for looking after special trains - even the changeover of traction has not changed that.
The most important units are emergency trains (to re-rail rolling stock that has derailed) and snow clearance equipment.
There were even Kraftwagenbetriebswerke (Kbw) in the Deutsche Reichsbahn in the GDR that were responsible for the servicing and repair of all railway works vehicles.
These included a few buses and lorries to supplement rail services, but were mainly internal fault-clearing, delivery, supply or specialised works vehicles.
