Nordhausen-Wernigeroder Eisenbahn Articulated Locomotives in Germany

Class 31 (Locobase 20090)

Data from W E Robinson, Dr. K O Bertling, and O Eckenstein (translators), "Orenstein & KoppelvArthur Koppel, Limited.", Modern Railway Practice: A Treatise on the Modern Methods of the Construction and Working of German Railways, Volume 1 (London: Reimar Hobbing, 1914), p.13. See also the Seketelbahn website's description of this pair at [], last accessed 11 August 2016.

With the help of Google translate, Locobase offers an English-language approximation of Selketelbahn's account of the NWE 31-31:

Purchased for the NWE's Brockenbahn line, the two Mallets were at first described as having proved themselves, but their relatively high weight proved too much for the line. Unfortunately, maintenance of both locomotives suffered during World War One. The 32 was damaged in a December 1920 accident and both engines were sidelined until withdrawn in 1921. They were then exported for use in a Bolivian tin mine.

Class K44.9/BR 99.5901 (Locobase 3792)

Data from [] and homepages.compuserve.de/olafhaensch/hsb/99590/99590td.htm. Also see also [] (visited 4 October 2003). Works numbers were 258-259 (1897), 260-261 and 345- 346 (1898), three years later, 463-465 in 1901.

Twelve were delivered over an four-year period. (five more went to the Sudharzer Eisenbahn; see Locobase 8043). Roland's Eisenbahnseite ([], visited 30 December 2006) shows that in 1914 several of the class went into the Army's Heeresfeldbahn; these were 12-13, 15-17, and 19. Their ultimate whereabouts is unknown after 1918.

Based on the Corse-class engines built by the SACM for 40 years beginning in 1892, this particular design was introduced on the Norhausen Wernigeroder railway. It was a powerful little engine that served railroads in East Germany after World War II and on the Harzer Schmalspur Bahn (HSB) after reunification.

These data apply to the class after their modifications. (Before modification, their dimensions were those of the SHE locomotives in Locobase 8043.)

Class K46.10 / BR 99 6011 (Locobase 3796)

Data from [], supplemented by [], last accessed 12 May 2011.

An interesting pair of Mallets -- the most powerful on the NWE and the only ones with either carrying trucks or superheaters. These appear to be the locomotives with Borsig works numbers 11382 and 11831 that were delivered in 1922 and 1924.

At first, Locobase didn't understand the notation used by most German sources: (1' B) B 1' h4vt. The latter part was intelligible enough - 4 cylinders, superheated, compound, tenderlok (in Anglo-American parlance, a tank locomotive). But why the (1' B)?. Eventually, Locobase learned that the parens recorded the Mallet configuration's laterally moving front engine and truck.

These durable little Mallets provided a welcome boost in power, says the website [] (visited 23 May 2004). Earlier NWE Mallets could manage only 86 tons on the line, while the Borsigs pulled 105 tons. Year after year the newer engines toiled, going into storage only twice for less than 2 years before 1950. By that time, they'd been taken into the East German DRG. In the early 1950s, 6012 averaged 2 round trips a day from Wernigerode (144 km total).

By 1955, however, their star was fading. Days in use dropped quickly and by 1961, the locomotives were out of service.