William Wilson was the first train driver in Germany. According to the German Wikipedia, he was born in Aberdeen. He came to Germany to drive the first train from Nuremberg to Fürth in December 1835. On the first trip he wore a top hat and tails. He was an employee of Stephenson and intended to stay for only a few months, but for some reason or other he stayed. He died in 1862 and is buried in Nuremberg.

So presumably this is him in marzipan:

You may wonder what the words Gott sei Dank are doing here. They are the cry of someone whose computer has no audio ability when clicking on the link to what I fear is the official Fürth jubilee song, Hier bin ich zuhaus.

(Unfortunately discovered via zonebattler’s homezone)

Peruvian handknitted finger puppets. They seem to be Fair Trade – wool and patterns supplied from the Netherlands. 3 euros each.

Altstadtweihnachtsmarkt, Waagplatz
Weekdays 16:30 – 20:00
Weekends 13:00 – 20:00
Ends on December 16th

Not much good news today, me hearties, but at least this:

Die von Ingo Klöcker zum Jubiläumsjahr gestaltete Flabeg-Spiegelglasstele in der Adenaueranlage bleibt auch während der Fürther Kirchweih stehen. Das hat OB Thomas Jung angesichts der Kosten von 10 000 Euro für die geplante Versetzung beschlossen. Die Kirchweihbuden müssen nun um das Kunstwerk herum gruppiert werden.

Thank goodness for that, though it’s not for the right reason. I had no idea this nice column commemorating the mirror industry in Fürth was only a temporary amusement.

Large numbers of trains and buses are gathered in Fürth for a railway festival this weekend. Some of the buses are on the local routes too. The highlight was the christening of an ICE train with the name Fürth, which is ironic as they no longer condescend to stop here. Here is a Düsseldorf bus and some other impressions.

Further to my earlier pictures, I see that plaques put in place on July 13 may be covered and unveiled by the mayor on July 23:

I should spend more time hanging out of the window.

The theatre, 5 hours before Angela Merkel passes through:

Entrance to the Amtsgericht, Bäumenstraße 32: