DRG Class SVT 137
Encyclopedia
The DRG Class SVT 137 was a class of streamlined
diesel train sets
of the Deutsche Reichsbahn-Gesellschaft
and later of the Deutsche Bundesbahn
(as class VT 04) and the Deutsche Reichsbahn
. With a regular maximum speed of 100 mph (160 km/h) and average speeds of up to 132 km/h they were the first high speed trains in central Europe.
there were four different subclasses and one experimental train:
Most SVT 137 were diesel-electric, two SVT 137 Bauart Leipzig had a diesel-hydraulic transmission.
Three sections of the SVT 137 902 were originally from the Dutch NS streamline '36 and used in this train.They didn't return to the NS after the war.
to several German cities. First built 1934/1935, the "Bauart Hamburg" showed some differences to the prototype: The number of seats was 77 instead of 99, the placement of the seats 2+1 instead of 3+1. The Bauart Hamburg was 2,3 m longer.
The main line Berlin-Hannover-Cologne started July 1, 1935; the route Berlin-Leipzig-Erfurt-Frankfurt followed August 15, 1935. From 1936 a service Berlin-Nuremberg-Munich/Stuttgart was initiated.
On February 17, 1936, the "Bauart Leipzig" achieved a world speed record
of 205 km/h. These trains did the route Berlin-Breslau-Beuthen from May 15, 1936. The scheduled time was 4:17 h, meaning an average speed of 109 km/h.
The SVT service was halted in August, 1939. During World War II
some of the trains were used by the Wehrmacht
as military trains.
After World War II some of the SVT 137 were handed over to other states. The SVT 137 274 was used in the American occupation zone, it was transported to Fort Eustis, Virginia
, USA
, as a "technical interesting object". SVT 137 852 served the CSD in 1949 on the line Praha-Bratislava
. SVT 137 855 entered service at the SZD USSR as trainset DP-14.
The remaining SVT 137 were used by the Deutsche Bundesbahn as VT 04 / VT 06 and the Deutsche Reichsbahn as class 137, later class 183.
DRG SVT 137 225 "Bauart Hamburg" (picture above) was used by the GDR government until 1975. In 1991 this train was repainted in its original colours. Today it is exhibited at Leipzig
main station.
Streamliner
A streamliner is a vehicle incorporating streamlining in a shape providing reduced air resistance. The term is applied to high-speed railway trainsets of the 1930s to 1950s, and to their successor "bullet trains". Less commonly, the term is applied to fully faired recumbent bicycles...
diesel train sets
Diesel multiple unit
A diesel multiple unit or DMU is a multiple unit train consisting of multiple carriages powered by one or more on-board diesel engines. They may also be referred to as a railcar or railmotor, depending on country.-Design:...
of the Deutsche Reichsbahn-Gesellschaft
Deutsche Reichsbahn-Gesellschaft
The Deutsche Reichsbahn – was the name of the German national railway created from the railways of the individual states of the German Empire following the end of World War I....
and later of the Deutsche Bundesbahn
Deutsche Bundesbahn
The Deutsche Bundesbahn or DB was formed as the state railway of the newly established Federal Republic of Germany on September 7, 1949 as a successor of the Deutsche Reichsbahn-Gesellschaft '...
(as class VT 04) and the Deutsche Reichsbahn
Deutsche Reichsbahn
Deutsche Reichsbahn was the name of the following two companies:* Deutsche Reichsbahn, the German Imperial Railways during the Weimar Republic, the Third Reich and the immediate aftermath...
. With a regular maximum speed of 100 mph (160 km/h) and average speeds of up to 132 km/h they were the first high speed trains in central Europe.
Subclasses and Technical Data
Based on the prototype DRG Class SVT 877DRG Class SVT 877
The DRG Class SVT 877 Hamburg Flyer – sometimes also Flying Hamburger or in German Fliegender Hamburger – was Germany's first fast diesel train, and is credited with establishing the fastest regular railway connection in the world in its time...
there were four different subclasses and one experimental train:
- "Bauart Hamburg", two sections, Jacobs bogieJacobs bogieJacobs bogies are a type of rail vehicle bogie commonly found on articulated railcars and tramway vehicles....
s, 604 kW, 2’Bo’2’, No 137 149 - 152 - "Bauart Leipzig", three sections, Jacobs-bogies, 884 kW, 2'Bo'Bo'2', No 137 153 – 154 and 137 233 – 234, DR 183 251
- "Bauart Köln", three sections, 14 built, conventional bogieBogieA bogie is a wheeled wagon or trolley. In mechanics terms, a bogie is a chassis or framework carrying wheels, attached to a vehicle. It can be fixed in place, as on a cargo truck, mounted on a swivel, as on a railway carriage/car or locomotive, or sprung as in the suspension of a caterpillar...
s "Bauart Görlitz", 882 kW / 956 kW, 2'Bo'+2'2'+Bo'2', 160 t, 132 Seats, No 137 273 - 278 and 137 851 - 858. - "Bauart Berlin", four sections including a power / postal car, single slow running diesel 970 kW, 2'Bo'2'2'+'2'2'+Bo'2', 210.6 t, 126 seats, No 137 901 - 902
- SVT 137 155, designed by the constructor of the SchienenzeppelinSchienenzeppelinThe ' or rail zeppelin was an experimental railcar which resembles a zeppelin airship in appearance. It was designed and developed by the German aircraft engineer Franz Kruckenberg in 1929. Propulsion was by means of a propeller located at the rear, it accelerated the railcar to setting the land...
, Franz KruckenbergFranz KruckenbergFranz Friedrich Kruckenberg was an engineer and pioneer of high speed railway systems. He designed several high speed trains. His most famous train was the Schienenzeppelin....
, built 1934-1938, diesel-hydraulic, three cars, one powered cars at the head. Did not enter regular service. World speed recordLand speed record for railed vehiclesDetermination of the fastest rail vehicle in the world varies depending on the definition of "rail".Official absolute world record for conventional train is held by the French TGV...
of 215 km/h (Hamburg-Berlin), June 23, 1939. The construction led to the DB Class VT 10.5DB Class VT 10.5The VT 10.5 was a diesel multiple unit that was developed by the Deutsche Bundesbahn in the early 1950s. Two units were built which had significant differences in construction. The day train "Senator" consisted of seven cars and was later extended by an 8th car. The cars were connected via single...
, DB Class VT 11.5DB Class VT 11.5The trainsets of Class VT 11.5 were diesel multiple units built by Deutsche Bundesbahn in the 1950s and used for Trans Europ Express services...
and the DR Class VT 18.16
Most SVT 137 were diesel-electric, two SVT 137 Bauart Leipzig had a diesel-hydraulic transmission.
Three sections of the SVT 137 902 were originally from the Dutch NS streamline '36 and used in this train.They didn't return to the NS after the war.
History
Since the success of the SVT 877 "Flying Hamburger" DRG projected a set of Diesel multiple units for a high speed network from BerlinBerlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
to several German cities. First built 1934/1935, the "Bauart Hamburg" showed some differences to the prototype: The number of seats was 77 instead of 99, the placement of the seats 2+1 instead of 3+1. The Bauart Hamburg was 2,3 m longer.
The main line Berlin-Hannover-Cologne started July 1, 1935; the route Berlin-Leipzig-Erfurt-Frankfurt followed August 15, 1935. From 1936 a service Berlin-Nuremberg-Munich/Stuttgart was initiated.
On February 17, 1936, the "Bauart Leipzig" achieved a world speed record
Land speed record for railed vehicles
Determination of the fastest rail vehicle in the world varies depending on the definition of "rail".Official absolute world record for conventional train is held by the French TGV...
of 205 km/h. These trains did the route Berlin-Breslau-Beuthen from May 15, 1936. The scheduled time was 4:17 h, meaning an average speed of 109 km/h.
The SVT service was halted in August, 1939. During World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
some of the trains were used by the Wehrmacht
Wehrmacht
The Wehrmacht – from , to defend and , the might/power) were the unified armed forces of Nazi Germany from 1935 to 1945. It consisted of the Heer , the Kriegsmarine and the Luftwaffe .-Origin and use of the term:...
as military trains.
After World War II some of the SVT 137 were handed over to other states. The SVT 137 274 was used in the American occupation zone, it was transported to Fort Eustis, Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
, USA
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, as a "technical interesting object". SVT 137 852 served the CSD in 1949 on the line Praha-Bratislava
Bratislava
Bratislava is the capital of Slovakia and, with a population of about 431,000, also the country's largest city. Bratislava is in southwestern Slovakia on both banks of the Danube River. Bordering Austria and Hungary, it is the only national capital that borders two independent countries.Bratislava...
. SVT 137 855 entered service at the SZD USSR as trainset DP-14.
The remaining SVT 137 were used by the Deutsche Bundesbahn as VT 04 / VT 06 and the Deutsche Reichsbahn as class 137, later class 183.
DRG SVT 137 225 "Bauart Hamburg" (picture above) was used by the GDR government until 1975. In 1991 this train was repainted in its original colours. Today it is exhibited at Leipzig
Leipzig
Leipzig Leipzig has always been a trade city, situated during the time of the Holy Roman Empire at the intersection of the Via Regia and Via Imperii, two important trade routes. At one time, Leipzig was one of the major European centres of learning and culture in fields such as music and publishing...
main station.
External links
- http://www.dbtrains.com/en/trainsets/epochII/SVT_Hamburg
- http://www.dbtrains.com/en/trainsets/epochII/SVT_Leipzig
- http://www.dbtrains.com/en/trainsets/epochII/SVT_Koln
- http://www.dbtrains.com/en/trainsets/epochII/SVT_Berlin
- http://www.railfaneurope.net/pix/de/diesel/dmu/historic/SVT137/pix.html good picture site
- http://www.verkehrsmuseum-dresden.de/de/presse/presse_Eisenbahnausstellung.htm 137 155 (Kruckenberg), German site
- http://www.hfi.tu-berlin.de/Foettinger/Projekte/SVT137155/svt137155.pdf Details about 137 155, German