Book Behind the Scenes

Book with German text.
Railway documentary Stefan Carstens Behind the scenes
Five decades of railways – from hobby to profession
256 pages, format 21.8 × 29.7 cm, hardcover, approx. 260 photos and approx. 70 drawings and facsimiles, author Stefan Carstens

There are many "picture books" by various railway photographers; however, these books usually lack information about the conditions under which the pictures were taken. Often, such books were compiled by authors who did not know the photographers, making it impossible to include any background information.
Stefan Carstens has therefore decided to publish some of his photographs himself, along with the stories behind them. He took his first railway photos in 1967 at the age of 13: they certainly only have documentary value. In the 1970s, he undertook trips to photograph the last steam locomotives, first in West Germany, later in East Germany. This came to an end in 1979.
Why so early and what followed – the interest in mechanical signal boxes, signals, and freight cars – is also explained in this book. A significant portion of the book is devoted to the development of model making since the late 1970s, the creation of its publications up to the founding of the publishing house, as well as the consulting and collaboration with model railway manufacturers.