Discussion on Petition for Preservation of "Railway-Romanticism" - Organizer Eager to Engage with SWR-Intendant

In the heart of Germany, a beloved documentary series about railways has been cancelled, leaving thousands disheartened. "Eisenbahn-Romantik," a show that has inspired railway fans like Ulrich Klumpp to explore various train stations, locomotives, and carriages in the southwest and throughout Germany, is no more.

The public broadcaster SWR announced its decision to cancel the series, a move that has sparked a wave of protest. Klumpp, a 57-year-old businessman from Speyer, initiated a petition to save "Eisenbahn-Romantik," which has garnered approximately 13,000 signatures on the Open Petition platform since the end of June. The number of signatures is subject to change as more people continue to sign it.

The cancellation of "Eisenbahn-Romantik" is particularly hard-hitting in the southwest, where railway tradition runs deep. The distinctive theme music for the show, "Sentimental Journey" by Les Brown, was a familiar tune for many.

Hagen von Ortloff, considered the inventor of "Eisenbahn-Romantik" and the only presenter of the series, has appealed to SWR to keep the editorial team. The show, initially intended as a filler in the SWR programme, became a hit series, broadcast on SWR since the early 1990s, and also on ARD and ARTE.

Each episode of "Eisenbahn-Romantik" featured special tracks, train stations, locomotives, and carriages in various regions. At the start of each episode, images of the vintage narrow-gauge locomotive of the Museumsbahn Ochsenhausen-Warthausen in Upper Swabia were shown. One episode that Klumpp greatly regrets the cancellation of is about the Sauschwänzlebahn in the Black Forest, which he has probably watched at least 20 times.

The state parliament faction has become involved in the debate about the cancellation of "Eisenbahn-Romantik." The AfD faction in the state parliament has criticized the cancellation, accusing SWR of "cruelly cancelling" the show.

Klumpp hopes to meet with SWR director Kai Gniffke to discuss continuing the production of "Eisenbahn-Romantik." However, no specific date has been mentioned for the next meeting. The editorial team responsible for the show will be dissolved by the end of the year, and no new episodes will be produced.

Despite the cancellation, the love for "Eisenbahn-Romantik" remains strong among its fans. The petition to save the series continues to grow, a testament to the show's enduring appeal and the passion it has inspired in its viewers.

Discussion on Petition for Preservation of "Railway-Romanticism" - Organizer Eager to Engage with SWR-Intendant