Elsass-Lothringen 2-4-0 Locomotives in Germany

Class B3 (Locobase 20727)

Data from G F Tyas, "Early Locomotives of the Alsace-Lorraine State Railways", Locomotive Magazine, Volume XXV [25] (15 February 1919), p. 30-31.

Tyas wrote that the passenger locomotives from Maffei that arrived on the EL in 1873 were a rarity in those days. German builders were swamped with work and gave the next contract for 25 more 2-4-0s to this Leeds builder. Kitson seems to have based its design on the Great Eastern's 374 class of 1864. "A closer inspection, however", Tyas added, "shows many differences."

Like the 0-6-0s from Hannover shown in Locobase 20725, these engines had a raised Belpaire firebox, very tall steam dome over the middle of the boiler (although the British locomotives' domes had smoothly curved tops), and the capuchon stack sporting a lip on its forward edge. Ramsbottom safety valves sat over the firebox while the "Megenhofen" safety valve had compound levers and served the dome.

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Class unknown (Locobase 20726)

Data from G F Tyas, "Early Locomotives of the Alsace-Lorraine State Railways", Locomotive Magazine, Volume XXV [25] (15 February 1919), p. 30.

Small passenger engines that were part of a much larger batch of orders for a total of 96 locomotives.

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Class unknown (Locobase 20732)

Data from G F Tyas, "Early Locomotives of the Alsace-Lorraine State Railways", Locomotive Magazine, Volume XXV [25] (15 March 1919), p. 39.

Compared to the Kitson 2-4-0s of a year earlier (Locobase 20727), Tyas wrote, these had taller drivers that suited them for express service. As with most of the EL designs of the time, these had the raised Belpaire firebox and capchon-type stack. Other details were "very much of the makers' design. These included a slide bars that "splayed out" at the rear and higher footplates and splasher to enable the crew to inspect both the connecting and coupling rods at all points in the stroke. Ashorter dome position a bit further forward was joined by a smaller sand dome.