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Locomotives Class 01 Steam Locomotive Class 50 Steam Locomotive Class 64 Tank Locomotive Class E17 Electric Express Locomotive Class E44 Electric Locomotive Freight Cars Passenger Cars First Class Second Class Third Class Fourth Class Mitropa Coaches

Locomotives

 

Class 01 Steam Locomotive

 

     Hundreds of these standard gauge 4-6-2s were produced between 1926 and 1936, along with the similar Class 02 and Class 03. As might be guessed by the class name, these were the first standardized express passenger locomotives built for the Reichsbahn, and by the mid-Thirties are in common use on any kind of fast train in Germany.

     A bit heavy for the pre-War railways, by the early Thirties the German tracks, turntables, etc. had been upgraded enough for this locomotive to operate everywhere.

 

• Length over tender:  78' 7"

• Weight loaded:  120 tons

• Power:  2210 HP

• Top speed:  81 mph

• Wheel arrangement: 4-6-2 "Pacific"
  

• Maximum train weight:  1200 tons (at 40 mph)

• Tender capacity:  10 tons coal, 8000 gallons water

 

Class 50 Steam Locomotive

 

 

     More than 3,600 of these standard gauge 2-10-0s were produced between 1934 and 1944.  Although they are no longer used in revenue service in Germany, some of them continue to operate into the 21st Century in other countries around the world.

     The first BR-50s were manufactured for the Deutsche Reichsbahn Gesellschaft (DRG) -- the German State Railway. With an axle loading of only 15 tons, they could be used with few restrictions across the entire DRG system.  When Germany was partitioned after World War II, a majority of BR-50s was allocated to the Deutsche Bundesbahn (West German Federal Railway). 

     The BR-50 design was conservative, and most of them lasted in service with little need for modification until the demise of standard-gauge steam operations in Germany.  Some also saw service in Austria, France and The Netherlands.  The famous Kriegslokomotiven of the BR-52 class (produced from 1942) were a much simplified version of these locomotives.

 

• Length over tender:  75' 3"

• Weight loaded:  95.5 tons

• Power:  1630 HP

• Top speed:  50 mph

• Wheel arrangement:  2-10-0

• Maximum train weight:  1200 tons (at 40 mph)

• Tender capacity:  8 tons coal, 7300 gallons water

• Water consumption:  average 45 gallons per mile

• Coal consumption:  average 50 pounds per mile

 

Class 64 Tank Locomotive

 

 

     Dating from 1928, quite a few were built up to 1940. They were used for commuter and short-line passenger services.

 

• Length: 40' 8"

• Weight loaded: 82 tons

• Power: 950 HP

• Top speed: 55 mph

• Wheel arrangement:  2-6-2

• Maximum train weight: 

• Fuel and water capacity:  3 tons coal, 2400 gallons water

• Water consumption:  25 gallons per mile

• Coal consumption:  30 pounds per mile.

 

Class E17 Electric Express Locomotive

 

     Constructed from 1928, total produced 38. Amusing note:  the first electric locomotives in German service with drivers' seats (the drivers stood, in previous designs).

 

• Length: 52' 4"

• Weight: 117.5 tons

• Power: 2800 HP
  

• Top speed: 81 mph (schedule speed is usually no more than 72 mph top speed)
  

• Wheel arrangement:  2-4-4-2 (or rather, 1-Do-1, in electric locomotive terms)
  

• Maximum train weight:  570 tons about a dozen first-class coaches)

• they use 15 kilovolt electric power, at 16.667 Hertz AC

 

Class E44 Electric Locomotive

 

 

     Constructed from 1930, a powerful and reliable design. 187 were built, in service until 1991.

 

• Length: 50' 1"

• Weight: 78 tons

• Power: xxxx HP
  

• Top speed: 55 mph
  

• Wheel arrangement:  "Bo-Bo" (two 4-wheel trucks)

• they use 15 kilovolt electric power, at 16.667 Hertz AC

 

Freight Cars

 

• Type SSmys and Sa 705 six-axle heavy load flatcar, 60' long (for heavy tanks, etc; about 25 tons empty weight, 80 ton payload)

• Type SSy four axle medium to heavy load flatcar, 40' long (about 19 tons empty weight, 52 ton payload)

• Type Gr "Kassel" short two-axle box car, 25' long (12 ton empty weight, 15 ton payload). Usually labeled for "40 men or 8 horses" capacity, though this varies.
  

• Type Gl "Dresden" long two-axle box car, 35' long (15 ton empty weight, 15 ton payload)

• Type On gondola, 25' long, 3' tall sides (11.5 ton empty weight, 22 ton payload)

• Type R stake wagon, 35' long, very low sides (13 ton empty weight, 15 ton payload)

• Type OOmk four axle coal car (12.7 ton empty weight, 30 ton payload)

• Type Uhk two axle tank car (12 ton empty weight, capacity 3600 gallons)

• Type SSt 662 six axle heavy steam crane.

 

Passenger Cars

 

     There are some compartments in some first, second and third class carriages for people traveling with dogs; there are also kennel coaches, or compartments in baggage cars with kennel facilities.

 

First Class

 

interior of a German first-class salon car in September of 1937

 

     By the mid-thirties, first-class compartments have four seats -- but each "seat" is either two or one person wide, thus six people can be seated. First-class areas (in compartments or open cars) have wood paneling, carpets, upholstered arm and head rests (all in red plush fabric).

 

• Type A4ü-26 first-class express coach, 71' 3" long, weight 44.6 tons. Seven 6-person compartments, lavatory at one end. Constructed from 1926.

• Type AB4yg first- and second-class coach, 61' 8" long, four axles. The first class section seats 24 people (2 + 1 style), the second class section seats 36 people (2 + 2 style); first and second class are separated by a set of center boarding doors on each side. There is a lavatory at each end of the coach. A similar coach (B4yg) has only second class seating; another variant has a baggage compartment at one end.

• Type ABC4ü-29 multi-class express coach, 71' 3" long. One first class 6-person compartment, one second class 8-person compartment, and seats for 40 third class passengers; lavatory at one end. Constructed from 1929.

 

Second Class

 

     Second class passengers get individual seats (unlike the more sofa-like first class seating). The seats, arm and head rests are upholstered in broadcloth; the floors are linoleum.

 

• Type Bi-29 open plan second-class coach, 46' long, seats 38 persons (9 rows of facing paired seats on each side of the aisle, except two seats facing the lavatory). Two axles, constucted 1929-1930.

 

Third Class

 

     In third class, the seats, arm and head rests are wood; the floor, walls and ceiling are all painted metal. However, from 1933 onwards a program of installing varnished oak paneling on the walls of third class went into effect.

 

• Type Cid-27 open plan third-class coach, length 45' 8' long, seats 66; typical of the simple four-wheel Donnerbüchse ("Thunderbox") of the 1920 and 30s. They have open platforms at the ends.  

• Type Ci-33 side-passage third-class compartment coach, 42' 6" long, seven 8-person compartments, lavatory at end.

 

Fourth Class

 

     I'm not certain, but I suspect these are similar to third class, but without arm or head rests, and generally more crowded. Fourth class coaches are never hauled on express trains.

 

• Type D-21b fourth class compartment coach, 45' 8" long, five 12-person compartments ("hard seats"), one 6-person "women only" half-compartment. Constructed 1922 to 1927; in 1928 these were converted to third class, without becoming any more comfortable.
  

 

     Note that most sleeping and dining cars on the Reichsbahn are constructed and operated by the Mitropa company (a central European competitor for the Wagons-Lits company).

 

Mitropa Coaches

 

     The sleeping and dining coaches operated by Mitropa for some big "all express" trains were a bit wider and longer than other German rail coaches; they are painted burgundy red. Fourth-class sleeping cars were included, with open compartment three-high bunks.