2-6-2 Steam Locomotives in Germany

Class VIb / BR 75.1 (Locobase 5942)

Christian Lindecke [] (visited 28 November 2003) for data. Additional data from US Military Railway Service Equipment Data Book -- German Locomotives supplied by Allen Stanley from his extensive Rail Data Exchange in March 2004. Lindecke gives 1.92 sq m (20.66 sq ft) for the grate area; the MRS book insists on the specs figure, which equates to 1.83 sq m.

Maffei produced the first 15 of these Prairie tanks, but Kessler (MGK) supplied the rest of the class over the next two decades. Both carrying axles were Adams radial axle types. Lindecke notes that an identifying feature of this locomotive was the external connecting steam pipe between the two steam domes.

Most remained in service when the DRG created BauReihe 75 1. to 75.3 and 164 locomotives took that designation. 20 years later, 117 survivors of World War II continued to serve mixed-good traffic. Beginning in 1957, retirements gradually reduced the class's ranks but the last one didn't leave DB service until 1962 while those in DR (East German) service carried on until 1965.

Class VIc / BR 75.10-11 (Locobase 5944)

This was the 1921 version of the VIc superheated Prairie tanks (Locobase 5943). Information comes from [] (visited 2 March 2004). Additional data from US Military Railway Service Equipment Data Book -- German Locomotives supplied from the extensive collection of Allen Stanley (March 2004).

The basic design of this burly engine remained unchanged, but the frame was reinforced and the axle loading went up to 17 metric tons (37,479 lb). They proved to be capable of rapid acceleration and fit in well in the DRG's passenger network. As with the 1914 VIc, this group survived well into the 1960s.

Class VIc / BR 75.4 (Locobase 5943)

Christian Lindecke [] (visited 28 November 2003) for data. Additional data from US Military Railway Service Equipment Data Book -- German Locomotives supplied from the extensive collection of Allen Stanley (March 2004). Lindecke's data gives 2.12 sq m (22.81 sq ft) for the grate and slightly different heating surface data.

However good the VI b class of saturated-steam Prairie tanks might be, superheating can make it better. And in the process of designing the superheated counterpart, MGK enlarged the boiler and grate. Cylinder diameter grew as did the the stroke. Even though the boiler pressure was slightly reduced and the drivers were taller, the result was a more powerful locomotive.

The design retained the Adams radial axle boxes that improved the locomotive's ability to get around tight curves. Some of the VIc were turned over to France as part of a 28-locomotive reparations stud. The DRG took in 107 as BR 75 4. The class remained in service in Germany (West and East) into the 1960s with the last DB engine leaving in 1967 and the last in East German (DR) in 1968.