Prussian State 0-8-0 Locomotives in Germany


Class Details by Steve Llanso of Sweat House Media

Class G7.1 / BR 55.0-55.6 (Locobase 1276)

Data from the US Military Railway Service Equipment Data Book for German Locomotives supplied by Allen Stanley from his extensive Rail Data Exchange in March 2004, supplemented by Albert Gieseler at [link], last accessed on 10 May 2011.

This basic eight-coupled drag freight engine design obviously satisfied requirements as more than 2,800 were built over a 24-year period in both simple-expansion (G7.1-shown here) and compound versions (G7.2-Locobase 1277).

More than half of the simples -- 660 -- were taken up by the DRG in 1923.


Class G7.2 / BR 55.7 - 55.13 (Locobase 1277)

Data from the table presented on pages 383, 385 of the Groupe VI. - GTnie civil. - Moyens de transport. DeuxiFme partie. Classes 32 (Tome I), part of the series of Rapports du Jury Internationale of the Exposition Unverselle Internationale de 1900 Paris Exposition, hosted on the website of Le Conservatoire numTrique des Arts & MTtiers ([link], Accessed 21 August 2005).

This was the von Borries compound version of the basic 8-coupled drag freight engine design. A third more compounds were produced (in a 16-year period) than simples (G7.1, which see), even though the ratio between HP and LP volumes was a bit low.

691 of the compounds entered DRG service in 1923.


Class G8.1/BR 55.25-55.56 (Locobase 1279)

Data confirmed and expanded by the US Military Railway Service Equipment Data Book for German Locomotives supplied by Allen Stanley from his extensive Rail Data Exchange in March 2004. See also Albert Gieseler's Dampfmaschinen und Lokomotiven entry on the G8.1 at [link], last accessed 4 November 2013 and diagram Lok: 150, Elsassiche Maschinenbau Geselleschaft from SACM locomotive book supplied by Dany Machi up at [link] as

Diagrammes des machines SACM construites a GRAFENSTADEN (October 2007).

Tube diameter is the interior measurement. External tube diameter was 52 mm (2.05").

According to Charlie Oxley's article in the Australian Live Steam publication Blast Pipe (March 2001) (accessed via the web in August 2002), this version of the G8 freight engine was built in huge numbers. He gives a total, including those for railways other than the KPEV, of 5,297 engines. The key to the design's success was its simplicity (simple expansion as opposed to the earlier G7's von Borries compound setup) and high superheat.


Class G8/BR 55.16-55.22 (Locobase 1278)

Data from Christian Lindecke's [link][link] and

from the US Military Railway Service Equipment Data Book for German Locomotives supplied by Allen Stanley from his extensive Rail Data Exchange in March 2004. See also Albert Gieseler's Dampfmaschinen und Lokomotiven entry at [link], last accessed 5 November 2013 and diagram UG Type 150, Societe Alsacienne de Constructions Mecaniques from locomotive book supplied by Dany Machi up at [link] as Diagrammes des machines SACM construites a GRAFENSTADEN (October 2007).

Superheated version of an eight-coupled drag-freight engine built over an eleven-year period. They had larger-diameter drivers than the earlier G7s (Locobase 1276 and Locobasd 1277) and were rated at 700 tons up a 1/2% grade at 40 kph (28 mph). Early problems with the superheater led to procuring the small class of G9s. Obviously the problem was at least tolerable because 656 were assigned numbers in the DRG in the mid-1920s.

After World War II, 200 put in up to a decade more of service on the Bundesbahn while 50 were taken into the East German Deutsche Reichsbahn. Some of the latter weren't retired until 1969.


Class G9 / BR 55.23-55.24 -superheat (Locobase 1282)

Data from the US Military Railway Service Equipment Data Book for German Locomotives supplied by Allen Stanley from his extensive Rail Data Exchange in March 2004, supplemented and slightly amended by [link], last accessed 14 May 2011.

Converted from the saturated-steam 8-coupled that was larger than the G7 series but built in much smaller numbers. These superheated variants were the only ones retained after World War II, hence their appearance in the MRS data book.


Class G9/ BR 55.23-55.24 saturated (Locobase 6038)

Data from Christian Lindecke's [link] . (15 May 2004); and "Baureihe 55.23-24" at [link], last accessed 19 January 2023; and "Prussian G 9" in Wikipedia at [link], last accessed 19 January 2023.

This saturated-steam eight-coupled was larger than the G7 series but built in much smaller numbers. Wikipedia observes that the G8's career as a superheated eight-coupled goods engine got off to a shaky start. So the Prussian State ordered 200 from Borsig, Hanomag, Henschel & Sohn, and Schichau-Werke. Using the G7 frame, the design used a new boiler, which didn't exhibit the same power as the G8.

Most of the G9s hauled ore traffic from the Ruhr to ports on the North Sea. When the Deutsches Reichbahn was stood up in 1920, its motive power included 133 G9. As a condition of the 1919 Treaty requiring reparations, Belgium received 58 locomotives as their type 79. Eiight Polish State Railways (PKP) machines served as Tp5, and one locomotive to the French-occupied Saarland

The DRG superheated 35 of the class; see Locobase 1282.


Class T13 / BR 92.5-95.10 (Locobase 1288)

Data from the US Military Railway Service Equipment Data Book for German Locomotives supplied by Allen Stanley from his extensive Rail Data Exchange in March 2004. See also diagram UG Type 157, Societe Alsacienne de Constructions Mecaniques from locomotive book supplied by Dany Machi up at [link] as

Diagrammes des machines SACM construites a GRAFENSTADEN (October 2007).

Operated as "heavy shunters."

According to Marklin, the model railroad supplier ([link], 26 June 2004), these were built between 1910 and 1922. Three major railway systems -- Prussian State, Elsass-Lotheringen, and Oldenburg - all purchased substantial quantities and the Deutsche Reichsbahn returned to the builders for several dozen more to replace war losses.

The last left East German service in 1968.


Class T37 / 99.40 (Locobase 7995)

DAta from [link], last accessed 3 December 2006, supplemented by Albert Gieseler at [link], last accessed on 10 May 2011.

These little tanks were designed to replace smaller 0-6-0Ts on the Beuthen-Kattowicz narrow-gauge line of the Oberschlesische Schmalspurbahn (OSSB). The OSSB was a large network of 785-mm that eventually covered over 200 km.

Hartmann, Orenstein & Koppel, and Hagans all delivered locomotives in this class. They used the hollow Klien-Lindner axle for the rear set of drivers.

Of the 18, 8 survived to receive DRG class numbers.

All of those were out of service by 1939.


Class T38 / 99 411 (Locobase 7996)

DAta from [link], last accessed 3 December 2006, supplemented by Albert Gieseler at [link], last accessed on 10 May 2011.

Developed from the earlier T37s (Locobase 7995), this was a larger design, both in individual size and in number of engines. Moreover, O & K superheated the boiler. The result was a much more powerful locomotive for the narrow gauge. Note the perfectly square cylinder layout.

Like the T37s, the last T38s were retired in 1939.

Principal Dimensions by Steve Llanso of Middle Run Media
ClassG7.1 / BR 55.0-55.6G7.2 / BR 55.7 - 55.13G8.1/BR 55.25-55.56G8/BR 55.16-55.22G9 / BR 55.23-55.24 -superheat
Locobase ID1276 1277 1279 1278 1282
RailroadPrussian StatePrussian StatePrussian StatePrussian StatePrussian State
CountryPrussiaPrussiaPrussiaPrussiaPrussia
Whyte0-8-00-8-00-8-00-8-00-8-0
Number in Class120516474934105635
Road Numbers4401-4600/55.001-55.6604601-4800/55.701-55.13924801-5000/55.1601-225655.2306-2433 (broken series)_
GaugeStdStdStdStdStd
Number Built1205164749341056
BuilderseveralseveralKPEV
Year18931895191319021923
Valve GearAllanHeusingerHeusingerHeusinger
Locomotive Length and Weight
Driver Wheelbase (ft / m)14.76 / 4.5014.76 / 4.5015.42 / 4.7014.76 / 4.5014.76 / 4.50
Engine Wheelbase (ft / m)14.76 / 4.5014.76 / 4.5015.42 / 4.7014.76 / 4.5014.76 / 4.50
Ratio of driving wheelbase to overall engine wheelbase11111
Overall Wheelbase (engine & tender) (ft / m)38.62 / 11.7743.14 / 13.1542.49 / 12.9538.63 / 11.78
Axle Loading (Maximum Weight per Axle) (lbs / kg)38,581 / 17,50036,156 / 16,40036,156 / 16,400
Weight on Drivers (lbs / kg)115,721 / 52,490116,183 / 52,700154,103 / 69,900128,699 / 58,377144,403 / 65,500
Engine Weight (lbs / kg)115,721 / 52,490116,183 / 52,700154,103 / 69,900128,699 / 58,377144,403 / 65,500
Tender Loaded Weight (lbs / kg)74,580 / 33,82972,752 / 33,000100,101 / 45,40574,580 / 33,829
Total Engine and Tender Weight (lbs / kg)190,301 / 86,319188,935 / 85,700254,204 / 115,305203,279 / 92,206
Tender Water Capacity (gals / ML)3171 / 12.01 / 12.264359 / 16.514227 / 16.013168 / 12
Tender Fuel Capacity (oil/coal) (gals/tons / Liters/MT)7 / 6 6.60 / 6 6.60 / 67 / 6 5.50 / 5
Minimum weight of rail (calculated) (lb/yd / kg/m)48 / 2448 / 2464 / 3254 / 2760 / 30
Geometry Relating to Tractive Effort
Driver Diameter (in / mm)49.20 / 125049.20 / 125053.10 / 135053.10 / 135049.20 / 1250
Boiler Pressure (psi / kPa)174 / 1200174 / 1200198.70 / 1370174 / 1200174 / 1200
High Pressure Cylinders (dia x stroke) (in / mm)20.47" x 24.8" / 520x63020.87" x 24.8" / 530x630 (1)23.62" x 25.98" / 600x66023.62" x 25.98" / 600x66021.65" x 24.8" / 550x630
Low Pressure Cylinders (dia x stroke) (in / mm)29.53" x 24.8" / 750x630 (1)
Tractive Effort (lbs / kg)31,239 / 14169.7921,655 / 9822.5546,102 / 20911.5440,371 / 18312.0034,944 / 15850.35
Factor of Adhesion (Weight on Drivers/Tractive Effort) 3.70 5.37 3.34 3.19 4.13
Heating Ability
Tubes (number - dia) (in / mm)218 - 2.008" / 51224 - 1.969" / 50133 - 2.047" / 52152 - 1.772" / 45138 - 1.969" / 50
Flues (number - dia) (in / mm)24 - 4.921" / 12521 - 5.236" / 13328 - 5.236" / 133
Flue/Tube length (ft / m)14.76 / 4.5013.45 / 4.1014.76 / 4.5014.76 / 4.5014.76 / 4.50
Firebox Area (sq ft / m2)119.01 / 11.06113.09 / 10.50149.62 / 13.90140.04 / 13.01125.89 / 11.70
Grate Area (sq ft / m2)24.53 / 2.2824.64 / 2.3028.63 / 2.6625.94 / 2.4137.66 / 3.50
Evaporative Heating Surface (sq ft / m2)1608 / 149.441506 / 1401554 / 144.401491 / 138.481603 / 149
Superheating Surface (sq ft / m2)559 / 51.90435 / 40.43613 / 57
Combined Heating Surface (sq ft / m2)1608 / 149.441506 / 1402113 / 196.301926 / 178.912216 / 206
Evaporative Heating Surface/Cylinder Volume170.22306.75117.94113.16151.70
Computations Relating to Power Output (More Information)
Robert LeMassena's Power Computation42684287568945146553
Same as above plus superheater percentage42684287716855528388
Same as above but substitute firebox area for grate area20,70819,67837,45929,97128,038
Power L1332830079787713710,464
Power MT253.61228.24560.06489.03639.02

Principal Dimensions by Steve Llanso of Middle Run Media
ClassG9/ BR 55.23-55.24 saturatedT13 / BR 92.5-95.10T37 / 99.40T38 / 99 411
Locobase ID6038 1288 7995 7996
RailroadPrussian StatePrussian StatePrussian StatePrussian State
CountryPrussiaPrussiaPrussiaPrussia
Whyte0-8-00-8-0T0-8-0T0-8-0T
Number in Class2006561827
Road Numbers5001-5150/55.2301-243399 401-99 40899 411-99 421
GaugeStdStd785 mm785 mm
Number Built2006561827
BuilderseveralOrenstein & KoppelOrenstein & Koppel
Year1907191019041914
Valve GearHeusingerHeusingerHeusingerHeusinger
Locomotive Length and Weight
Driver Wheelbase (ft / m)14.76 / 4.5017.26 / 5.2611.15 / 3.4012.47 / 3.80
Engine Wheelbase (ft / m)14.76 / 4.5017.26 / 5.2611.15 / 3.4012.47 / 3.80
Ratio of driving wheelbase to overall engine wheelbase1111
Overall Wheelbase (engine & tender) (ft / m)14.76 / 4.5017.26 / 5.2611.15 / 3.4012.47 / 3.80
Axle Loading (Maximum Weight per Axle) (lbs / kg)32,628 / 14,80034,172 / 15,50017,857 / 8100
Weight on Drivers (lbs / kg)130,073 / 59,000130,780 / 59,32161,509 / 27,90071,099 / 32,250
Engine Weight (lbs / kg)130,073 / 59,000130,780 / 59,32161,509 / 27,90071,099 / 32,250
Tender Loaded Weight (lbs / kg)74,737 / 33,900
Total Engine and Tender Weight (lbs / kg)204,810 / 92,900
Tender Water Capacity (gals / ML)3168 / 121848 / 7660 / 2.50924 / 3.50
Tender Fuel Capacity (oil/coal) (gals/tons / Liters/MT) 5.50 / 53 / 3 1.40 / 1 1.70 / 2
Minimum weight of rail (calculated) (lb/yd / kg/m)54 / 2754 / 2726 / 1330 / 15
Geometry Relating to Tractive Effort
Driver Diameter (in / mm)49.20 / 125049.20 / 125031.90 / 81032.30 / 820
Boiler Pressure (psi / kPa)174 / 1200174 / 1200188.50 / 1300188.50 / 1300
High Pressure Cylinders (dia x stroke) (in / mm)21.65" x 24.8" / 550x63019.69" x 23.62" / 500x60013.39" x 15.75" / 340x40015.75" x 15.75" / 400x400
Tractive Effort (lbs / kg)34,944 / 15850.3527,528 / 12486.5114,183 / 6433.3119,381 / 8791.08
Factor of Adhesion (Weight on Drivers/Tractive Effort) 3.72 4.75 4.34 3.67
Heating Ability
Tubes (number - dia) (in / mm)292 - 1.969" / 50209 - 1.614" / 41117 - 1.732" / 4446 - 1.969" / 50
Flues (number - dia) (in / mm)12 - 5.236" / 133
Flue/Tube length (ft / m)14.76 / 4.5013.12 / 410.17 / 3.10 9.51 / 2.90
Firebox Area (sq ft / m2)126.97 / 11.8096.01 / 8.9239.92 / 3.7142.39 / 3.94
Grate Area (sq ft / m2)33.36 / 3.1018.94 / 1.7610.76 / 111.30 / 1.05
Evaporative Heating Surface (sq ft / m2)2126 / 197.601226 / 113.94529 / 49.21392 / 36.45
Superheating Surface (sq ft / m2)180 / 16.76
Combined Heating Surface (sq ft / m2)2126 / 197.601226 / 113.94529 / 49.21572 / 53.21
Evaporative Heating Surface/Cylinder Volume201.20147.28206.08110.37
Computations Relating to Power Output (More Information)
Robert LeMassena's Power Computation5805329620282130
Same as above plus superheater percentage5805329620282790
Same as above but substitute firebox area for grate area22,09316,706752510,468
Power L13728292428456354
Power MT252.74197.16407.88788.09

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