Zurich-Baden 4-2-0 Locomotives in Switzerland

Class Limmat No 1 (Locobase 791)

Data from [] (1 Dec 2004). See also Gustav Reder (Michael Reynolds, trans), The world of steam locomotives (New York: Putnam, 1974)

According to Gustav Reder, the Limmat and one sister were, in 1847, the first locomotives to run in Switzerland, venturing onto the "Spanisch Brotli-Bahn" (so named for the celebrated Spanish buns baked in Baden and sold in Zurich). Designed by Emil Kessler, these had Norris-type boilers with "Gothic-"style fireboxes, a short-coupled leading truck with horizontal cylinders ahead, and an overhanging grate. Their single driving axles provided insufficient traction, so the Rhein and Reuss were delivered as 4-4-0s (see separate entry).

The Limmat was converted to a 0-4-0 in 1866 with a brand new boiler pressed to 10 bar, more weight, and less fuel and coal.

In 1947, the SBB built a replica to full operational working order, showing varnished wood lagging on the boiler and cylinders; green splashers, dome, and safety-valve columns; bright red running gear; and dazzling polished brass everywhere else.