Gotthardbahn 0-8-0 Locomotives in Switzerland

Class Class D4/4--116 (Locobase 20148)

Data from

Data from [], last accessed 19 January 2017, (First viewed August 2002) shows that they were delivered in several batches. Works numbers were 1301-1307, 1309 in 1883; 1410-1413 in 1886. Price quoted per engine was 59,000 Swiss francs

This was a follow-on batch of twelve in a large all-adhesion eight-coupled class that began with those described in Locobase 790. Like the others, these were used for mountain service before the 1923 electrification. They had straight boilers, matching steam and sand domes and relatively small drivers.

According to gotthardbahn.ch, these engines managed a max speed in the mountains of 17 kph (10.6 mph) and 45 kph (28 mph) on the level.

Tonnage ratings were as follows:

Mountain -- freight 165 tons

Mountain -- passenger 195 tons

Level -- freight 800 tons

Level -- passenger 500 tons

(That is, similar mountain ratings to the D 3/3 six-coupleds built in the same year (Locobase 5123), but much higher level-running numbers, albeit at a slightly lower speed.)

Maffei delivered two more batches with boiler pressure set at 170.7 psi (12 atm) and slightly different heating surface areas. (128-131-- 1543-1546) had 1,686 sq ft and 223 firetubes, 132-136 - 939-943) had 1,741 sq ft and 231 firetubes.) In 1901, 128 was fitted with a Brotan boiler that offered considerably different heating surface areas: Grate - 21.52 sq ft, firebox heating surface area - 165.7 sq ft, total evaporative heating surface -- 1,850 sq ft. The boiler was a bit shorter -- 13.32 ft and held 247 firetubes.)

All these engines served well until the mid-1920s, when the electrification of the railroad led to their retirement.

Class Class D4/4--128 (Locobase 20149)

Data from Data from [], last accessed 19 January 2017, (First viewed August 2002). Works numbers were 1543-1546 in 1900.

This class continued the basic design of the all-adhesion eight-coupleds first introduced in 1882 (Locobase 790).

In 1901, 128 was fitted with a Brotan boiler that offered considerably different heating surface areas: Grate - 21.52 sq ft, firebox heating surface area - 165.7 sq ft, total evaporative heating surface -- 1,850 sq ft. The boiler was a bit shorter -- 13.32 ft and held 247 firetubes.)

All these engines served well until the mid-1920s, when the electrification of the railroad led to their retirement.

Class Class D4/4/SLM (Locobase 5111)

Data from [], last accessed 19 January 2017, (First viewed August 2002). Works numbers were 1391-1395 in 1901.

Apparently improvements over the earlier SLM-built 0-8-0s but with considerably higher boiler pressure and plans to fit superheaters from the start, this small order was delivered in 1901.

The whole class was fitted with Pielock superheaters in 1905 (see Locobase 13565 for a detailed description of this unit), which resulted in the tube/flue distribution shown in the data. Two years later, the GB fitted the 145 with a Schmidt superheater.

Class Class D4/4/SLM (Locobase 5117)

Data from [], last accessed 19 January 2017, (First viewed August 2002). Works numbers were 939-943.

Although numbered out of sequence with the first 27 (Locobases 790 and 20148), these five were logical follow-ons to the earlier Maffei design, but built by SLM and carrying slightly bigger boilers operating at higher pressure.

The design was classic central European turn-of-the-century freighter: tall steam dome over the first coupled axle and just behind the stack, straightback boiler, low running board over the small drivers.

All these engines served well until the mid-1920s, when the electrification of the railroad led to their retirement.

Class D/Class D4/4--101 (Locobase 790)

Data from "Report on Locomotives for the St. Gothard [sic] Railway", The Engineer, Volume 54 (17 November 1882), pp. 368-371. See also [], last accessed 19 January 2017. Works numbers were 1262-1276 in 1882. Price quoted per engine was 59,000 Swiss francs

Fifteen engines used for mountain service before electrification.They had straight boilers, matching steam and sand domes and relatively small drivers. Locobase 20148 shows the the twelve additional locomotives produced in 1883 and 1886. All had the same basic power dimensions, boiler, and grate.

According to that same site, these engines managed a maximum speed in the mountains of 17 kph (10.6 mph) and 45 kph (28 mph) on the level.

Tonnage ratings were as follows:

Mountain -- freight 165 tons

Mountain -- passenger 195 tons

Level -- freight 800 tons

Level -- passenger 500 tons

(That is, similar mountain ratings to the D 3/3 six-coupleds built in the same year (Locobase 5123), but much higher ratings running on the level, albeit at a slightly lower speed.)

Later engines were built to slightly different specs and appear in Locobases 20148, 20149, and 5117.

All these engines served well until the mid-1920s, when the electrification of the railroad led to their retirement.