Deutsche Reichsbahn 4-8-4 Locomotives in Germany


Class Details by Steve Llanso of Sweat House Media

Class BR 06 (Locobase 4324)

Data from US Military Railway Service Equipment Data Book -- German Locomotives supplied from the extensive Rail Data Exchange collection of Allen Stanley (March 2004).; and "Baureihe 06 " entry in Albert Gieseler's Dampmaschinen und Lokomotiven website, last accessed 6 August 2019. See also the excellent YouTube video "Baureihe 06 001 und 06 002" at [link], last viewed 10 August 2019.Works numbers were 2000-2001 in 1939.

Built to haul heavy passenger expresses over hilly profiles, the two class 06 engines accumulated several superlatives: biggest and fastest of all German designs, fitted with the most uncompromising streamlining [stromlinienverkleidung] (although not uniquely so in German service). Its target train loads included 650 tons at 120 kph (74.5 mph) on the level and 60 kph (37 mph) up a 1% grade. Its axle loading could be adjusted over a range of 18 to 20 metric tons (19.8 to 22 short tons). In addition to the BR 45 2-10-2s, these are the only German engines to have had a combined heating surface of more than 350 sq m (3,767 sq ft).

Its very long engine wheelbase lay under several unusual features. The conventional boiler, virtually identical to the prototype version of the BR 45 2-10-2s (Locobase 4318) had perhaps the longest tubes (7.5 m or 24 ft 7 1/2 in) of any rigid-wheelbase locomotive ever built. Even so, the front sheet reached only the leading driving axle. From there the full length of a bogie and a central cylinder extended the frame another 4.05 metres (13 ft 3 1/2 in) to the smokebox door and necessitated an S-shaped steam pipe extending forward and down from the superheater header to the valve chest on the cylinder.

All of this lay hidden under a wind-tunnel-inspired casing that covered everything but the lower halves of the drivers. A bulbous casing covered all of the smokebox, extending 2.15 metres (7 ft 1/2 in) farther forward. Flanking the stack opening at the top were two small angled smoke-streaming plates that deflected the smoke. At the other end of the locomotive trailed a relatively short, but full-height tender rolling on five axles.

Trials showed that the design couldn't meet the goals. Locobase has speculated before that such large internal diameters of both the tubes and flues may have created a dead zone near the walls that increased friction and reduced effective heat transfer. In addition such long tubes meant greater susceptibility to cracks.

The 06 001 was damaged in an Anglo-American bombing raid and never repaired. Both were retired on 14 November 1951 never having entered revenue service.

Principal Dimensions by Steve Llanso of Middle Run Media
ClassBR 06
Locobase ID4324
RailroadDeutsche Reichsbahn
CountryGermany
Whyte4-8-4
Number in Class2
Road Numbers06 001 - 06 002
GaugeStd
Number Built2
BuilderKrupp
Year1939
Valve GearWalschaert
Locomotive Length and Weight
Driver Wheelbase (ft / m)22.15 / 6.75
Engine Wheelbase (ft / m)47.65 / 14.53
Ratio of driving wheelbase to overall engine wheelbase 0.46
Overall Wheelbase (engine & tender) (ft / m)73.65 / 22.45
Axle Loading (Maximum Weight per Axle) (lbs / kg)44,092 / 20,000
Weight on Drivers (lbs / kg)176,370 / 80,000
Engine Weight (lbs / kg)312,615 / 141,800
Tender Loaded Weight (lbs / kg)179,520 / 81,429
Total Engine and Tender Weight (lbs / kg)492,135 / 223,229
Tender Water Capacity (gals / ML)10,032 / 38
Tender Fuel Capacity (oil/coal) (gals/tons / Liters/MT)11 / 10
Minimum weight of rail (calculated) (lb/yd / kg/m)73 / 36.50
Geometry Relating to Tractive Effort
Driver Diameter (in / mm)78.70 / 2000
Boiler Pressure (psi / kPa)290.10 / 2000
High Pressure Cylinders (dia x stroke) (in / mm)20.47" x 28.35" / 520x720 (3)
Tractive Effort (lbs / kg)55,831 / 25324.55
Factor of Adhesion (Weight on Drivers/Tractive Effort) 3.16
Heating Ability
Tubes (number - dia) (in / mm)72 - 3.268" / 83
Flues (number - dia) (in / mm)33 - 7.52" / 191
Flue/Tube length (ft / m)24.61 / 7.50
Firebox Area (sq ft / m2)202.36 / 18.80
Grate Area (sq ft / m2)54.25 / 5.04
Evaporative Heating Surface (sq ft / m2)3111 / 289.05
Superheating Surface (sq ft / m2)1426 / 132.50
Combined Heating Surface (sq ft / m2)4537 / 421.55
Evaporative Heating Surface/Cylinder Volume192.06
Computations Relating to Power Output (More Information)
Robert LeMassena's Power Computation15,738
Same as above plus superheater percentage20,617
Same as above but substitute firebox area for grate area76,903
Power L139,834
Power MT1991.70

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