Deutsche Reichsbahn 2-8-0 Locomotives in Germany


Class Details by Steve Llanso of Sweat House Media

Class BR 25 (Locobase 1702)

Data from Albert Gieseler at [link], last accessed 9 May 2011.

[link] (24 September 2003) says that this was a one-off trial of a firebox that burned brown-coal briquettes. Was this effectively a charcoal burner? Although the engine operated well enough, there wasn't much of an advantage apparently as it was converted to coal burning by 1958.


Class BR 25 10 (Locobase 1703)

Data from [link], last accessed 9 May 2011. See also "Coal Dust Powered Steam Engines" on the Railways Matters website at [link], last accessed 30 September 2023.

Designed by Hans Wendler to burn pulverized fuel, this engine had a narrow firebox with no combustion chamber. Although the East Germans claimed it showed a performance to be "significantly higherr than a conventionally fired locomotive, the effort was a one-time experiment.

Wendler later installed his coal-dust firing system in 20 East German Class 44 2-10-0s

A[nthony] E[dward] Durrant, The steam locomotives of Eastern Europe (Abbot Newton: David & Charles, 1966)

Principal Dimensions by Steve Llanso of Middle Run Media
ClassBR 25BR 25 10
Locobase ID1702 1703
RailroadDeutsche ReichsbahnDeutsche Reichsbahn
CountryEast GermanyEast Germany
Whyte2-8-02-8-0
Number in Class12
Road Numbers25 00125 1001
GaugeStdStd
Number Built11
BuilderLKM BabelsbergLKM Babelsberg
Year19541954
Valve GearHeusinger
Locomotive Length and Weight
Driver Wheelbase (ft / m)
Engine Wheelbase (ft / m)31.82 / 9.7031.82 / 9.70
Ratio of driving wheelbase to overall engine wheelbase
Overall Wheelbase (engine & tender) (ft / m)
Axle Loading (Maximum Weight per Axle) (lbs / kg)
Weight on Drivers (lbs / kg)157,696 / 71,530161,279 / 73,155
Engine Weight (lbs / kg)192,865 / 87,482199,359 / 90,428
Tender Loaded Weight (lbs / kg)
Total Engine and Tender Weight (lbs / kg)
Tender Water Capacity (gals / ML)7920 / 307260 / 27.50
Tender Fuel Capacity (oil/coal) (gals/tons / Liters/MT)11 / 1012.70 / 12
Minimum weight of rail (calculated) (lb/yd / kg/m)66 / 3367 / 33.50
Geometry Relating to Tractive Effort
Driver Diameter (in / mm)63 / 160063 / 1600
Boiler Pressure (psi / kPa)232.10 / 1600232.10 / 1600
High Pressure Cylinders (dia x stroke) (in / mm)23.58" x 25.98" / 599x66023.62" x 25.98" / 600x660
Tractive Effort (lbs / kg)45,236 / 20518.7345,389 / 20588.13
Factor of Adhesion (Weight on Drivers/Tractive Effort) 3.49 3.55
Heating Ability
Tubes (number - dia) (in / mm)132 - 2.008" / 51146 - 1.772" / 45
Flues (number - dia) (in / mm)35 - 5.236" / 13335 - 5.236" / 133
Flue/Tube length (ft / m)15.42 / 4.7014.27 / 4.35
Firebox Area (sq ft / m2)188.30 / 17.50215.20 / 20
Grate Area (sq ft / m2)41.64 / 3.8740.46 / 3.76
Evaporative Heating Surface (sq ft / m2)1849 / 171.801707 / 158.60
Superheating Surface (sq ft / m2)647 / 60.10699 / 65
Combined Heating Surface (sq ft / m2)2496 / 231.902406 / 223.60
Evaporative Heating Surface/Cylinder Volume140.81129.56
Computations Relating to Power Output (More Information)
Robert LeMassena's Power Computation96659391
Same as above plus superheater percentage12,17712,114
Same as above but substitute firebox area for grate area55,06864,433
Power L115,98616,784
Power MT893.95917.72

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