Joe,

You were close to steam railfan heaven when you were stationed in Berlin & commuting through Magdeburg. That's the gateway to the Harz Narrow Gauge rail network which still provides commuter services hauled by 2-10-2 Tank Engines over 140 kil of track. The trip up the Brocken (the old East German listening post into the West) is on the bucket list of most rail fans who love steam. The engines date from the 50s though there are a couple that are smaller & much older (1918)Mallets with 0-4-4-0 configuration. I spent a week there in 2008 based in Quedlinburg & Weinerode and had a ball.