Kriegslokomotiven

Overview

Kriegslokomotiven (German: war locomotives) were German 2-10-0 steam engines produced between 1938 and 1945. They were designed by Richard Wagner who was Chief Engineer of the Central Design Office at the Locomotive Standards Bureau of the Deutsche Reichsbahn (DRG). Kriegslokomotiven were built in three main classes: class 50, class 52 and class 42.

At least 3,000 Class 50 engines were produced before the outbreak of the Second World War. Many of these were simplified for the sake of production once the war broke out. In 1942 all previously constructed Kriegslokomotiven were re-classified as Class 52. Between 1942 and 1945 6,000 Kriegslokomotiven were built. The Class 42 was a larger version of the Class 52 and was produced only in very small numbers. Due to the fact that seventeen different locomotive works produced Kriegslokomotiven it is difficult to determine an exact production number. Contemporary estimates average around 6,700 units making the Kriegslokomotiven among the most numerous locomotive models in the world.

After the war the Kriegslokomotiven were used by a variety of European countries mainly Germany and Austria but also France, The Netherlands, Belgium, Turkey and Eastern Europe. The simplicity and effectiveness as well as the large production number meant that many countries were slow to withdraw Kriegslokomotiven generally waiting until the 1970s. Kriegslokomotiven are still a staple in Turkey were they are used a secondary locomotives often as freight trains.

Preformance

Wagner had wanted locomotives which were longlasting and easy to maintain and unlike British engineers did not consider a high power-to-weight ratio a priority. The resulting Kriegslokomotiven had a low axleload of 15 tons and could haul 40% more freight than the Prüßen locomotives they replaced. They could haul 4,000 tons at 80km/h without significant strain.