A relic of a bygone era. That’s the Johann Reiners Locomotive in Bremen. Right here before you stands a symbol of Findorff’s history. This isn’t just any old train engine. This is locomotive number 1. It pulled the very first train on the Bremen-Tarmstedt line.
The Kleinbahn Bremen-Tarmstedt. Most people knew it simply as the Jan Reiners. Named after Johann Reiners. He chaired the railway committee. For nine years he pushed for its construction. He brought the railway to the bogs north of Bremen.
Imagine the scene in 1900. The inauguration. This locomotive steaming into history. It wasn’t fast. A mere 30 kilometers per hour. Some considered it unhealthy. But it was revolutionary. It connected Bremen to the peat bogs. Peat was vital fuel. It replaced the slow peat boats. The journey that once took peat farmers two or three days. Now took just 90 minutes.
Excursionists also flocked to the Jan Reiners. Bremen residents went “to Kutscher Behrens.” Country folk went to the city. The annual Freimarkt fair drew huge crowds. The train was a lifeline for everyone. But its early days weren’t smooth. Farmers piled peat too high. Drunk fairgoers uncoupled wagons. Reliability wasn’t a strong suit.
The Johann Reiners Locomotive ran until 1954. It followed a route that is now a popular bike path. The locomotive itself was eventually donated to the Findorff citizens’ association. Today it sits proudly as a landmark. A reminder of the Jan Reiners’ crucial role in Bremen’s past. It’s more than just metal and steam. It’s a testament to human ingenuity. A symbol of progress. A part of Bremen’s unforgettable story. Now you can see it with your own eyes.