Dr Rüdiger Grube
CEO and Chairman of the Management Board
Deutsche Bahn AG
Europaplatz 1
10557 Berlin
GERMANY

copies to:

Pan Radosaw Sikorski, Minister of Foreign Affairs
Pan Bogdan Zdrojewski, Minister of Culture and National Heritage
Herr Rüdiger Freiherr von Fritsch, German Ambassador
Mr David Morgan, President Fedecrail

17 September 2010

 

Dear Dr Grube,

I apologise for troubling you with what will at first glance appear to be a trivial matter. I hope that after you considered my letter, you will feel that this subject is far from trivial; indeed it is a delicate matter with international ramifications and also an example of how DB’s ideals with respect to Corporate Governance can sometimes fail to work.

You will be familiar with the Deutsche Reichsbahn's Class 52 (kriegslokomotive) steam locomotives (kriegslok built in large numbers during the Second World War). You may, however, be unfamiliar with the considerable affection that these locomotives are regarded in railway circles in Poland – these locomotives played a historic part in rebuilding the country after the ravages of the war and they remained in regular service until the early 1990s.

Until a few days ago, DB was the custodian of Ty2-5680, former DRB Class 52 5680. The locomotive spent much of its active life in Poland, working on the sand railways operated by PMPPW. It was preserved outside their offices at Jaworzno-Knieje, and so passed into the ownership of PCC Rail SA and subsequently DB Schenker Rail Polska SA.

Though there are quite a few Ty2s left in Poland, most have been seriously ravaged by thieves and the weather. Only three locomotives are substantially complete – two are in the custody of the railway museum in Chabowka, the third is Ty2-5680. Following the acquisition of PCC Rail by DB Schenker, I thought that the locomotive was safe for posterity. Imagine my horror to be told yesterday that the locomotive has been sold to a scrap metal merchant!

According to Polish law all artefacts constructed before 1945 are considered heritage items and cannot be scrapped or destroyed without permission of the responsible officials of the national and regional government. I trust that you will agree with me that the decision to scrap Ty2-5680 was an unfortunate mistake and that you will be able to reverse the sale and take steps to permanent secure the future of this historic locomotive.

The restoration of the locomotive to working order by the young people of Germany and Poland working together would be a wonderful way of cementing the improving relationship between our two countries.

Sincerely yours,

Andrew Goltz

Chairman – British-Polish Railway and Industrial Heritage Partnership