DR Class 99.23-24
Encyclopedia
The engines of DR Class 99.23 are metre gauge
steam locomotive
s, that were procured by the Deutsche Reichsbahn (DR) in East Germany from 1954 to 1956. When they entered service they had operating numbers 99 231–99 247. Today they are numbered 99 7231–99 7247.
and Brockenbahn
and for the line from Eisfeld
to Schönbrunn
. They replaced much of the very old fleet. The first seven units (99 231 to 99 237) were originally equipped with two Krauss-Helmholtz bogies. Due to problems with curve running the engines in the second series were given Beugniot levers between the first and second coupled axles in addition to the Krauss-Helmholtz bogies.. (according to other sources also a Schwartzkopff-Eckhardt II bogie
). The locomotives of the first series were subsequently modified with Beugniot levers, some in the early 1960s, others in 1973/74 (on the Harz lines). The thinner wheel flanges of the driving wheels were completely removed later in order to achieve better curve running. Certainly the engines in the second series did not have a rigid wheelbase.
The drive was applied to the third coupled axle, the locomotives had Heusinger valve gear with unsprung Müller balanced slide valves and, later, Trofimoff valves.
These Neubaulokomotive
n were a fully welded evolutionary development of the standard locomotives (Einheitsloks) of the DRG Class 99.22
. In contrast to those, the 99.23-24s had mixer-preheaters and plate frames. However, the latter caused maintenance difficulties from the outset due to cracks and distortion. To date five locomotives (the present-day 99 7232, 7240, 7245, 7239, 7236) were equipped from 2004 onwards with a new, redesigned plate frames and new, welded, steam cylinders. More should follow. All the engines still exist and are based in the Harz; some however are no longer working.
The engines were converted between 1977 and 1983 to primary oil-firing and are the most powerful German narrow gauge steam locomotives ever to have been built. They are primarily used on the line up to the Brocken from Wernigerode
.
Their operating numbers changed from 99 231 et seq to 99 7231 et seq on the introduction of computerised numbers in 1970 and then again to 99 0231 et seq on conversion to oil-firing. The computer numbers are still valid, because the HSB
retains those allocated in the 1970 DR renumbering scheme.
The vehicles can carry 4.0 tonnes of coal and 8.0 m³ of water.
Metre gauge
Metre gauge refers to narrow gauge railways and tramways with a track gauge of . In some African, American and Asian countries it is the main gauge. In Europe it has been used for local railways in France, Germany, and Belgium, most of which were closed down in mid 20th century. Only in Switzerland...
steam locomotive
Steam locomotive
A steam locomotive is a railway locomotive that produces its power through a steam engine. These locomotives are fueled by burning some combustible material, usually coal, wood or oil, to produce steam in a boiler, which drives the steam engine...
s, that were procured by the Deutsche Reichsbahn (DR) in East Germany from 1954 to 1956. When they entered service they had operating numbers 99 231–99 247. Today they are numbered 99 7231–99 7247.
History
Between 1954 and 1956 a total of 17 locomotives were bought by the DR for the railways of the HarzquerbahnHarzquerbahn
The Harz Railway was formerly the main line of the Harz Narrow Gauge Railways and runs from Wernigerode to Nordhausen. But the tourist potential of the Brocken is so great that the Brocken Railway is effectively the main line today...
and Brockenbahn
Brockenbahn
The Brocken Railway is one of three tourist metre gauge railways which together with the Harz Railway and Selke Valley Railway form the Harz Narrow Gauge Railways railway network in the Harz mountain range of Germany....
and for the line from Eisfeld
Eisfeld
Eisfeld is a municipality in the district of Hildburghausen, in Thuringia, Germany. It is situated on the river Werra, 12 km east of Hildburghausen, and 19 km north of Coburg....
to Schönbrunn
Schönbrunn
Schönbrunn may refer to:*Schönbrunn Palace in Vienna, Austria*Schönbrunn , a municipality in Rhein-Neckar , Baden-Württemberg, Germany*Schönbrunn , a village in the Fichtelgebirge mountains in Bavaria, Germany...
. They replaced much of the very old fleet. The first seven units (99 231 to 99 237) were originally equipped with two Krauss-Helmholtz bogies. Due to problems with curve running the engines in the second series were given Beugniot levers between the first and second coupled axles in addition to the Krauss-Helmholtz bogies.. (according to other sources also a Schwartzkopff-Eckhardt II bogie
Schwartzkopff-Eckhardt II bogie
A Schwartzkopff-Eckhardt II bogie is a mechanical device to improve the curve running of steam locomotives....
). The locomotives of the first series were subsequently modified with Beugniot levers, some in the early 1960s, others in 1973/74 (on the Harz lines). The thinner wheel flanges of the driving wheels were completely removed later in order to achieve better curve running. Certainly the engines in the second series did not have a rigid wheelbase.
The drive was applied to the third coupled axle, the locomotives had Heusinger valve gear with unsprung Müller balanced slide valves and, later, Trofimoff valves.
These Neubaulokomotive
Neubaulokomotive
The German term Neubaulokomotive specifically refers to those steam locomotives which were newly designed and built, either for the Deutsche Bundesbahn in West Germany or the Deutsche Reichsbahn in East Germany, after the Second World War.-Concept:...
n were a fully welded evolutionary development of the standard locomotives (Einheitsloks) of the DRG Class 99.22
DRG Class 99.22
The three engines of DRG Class 99.22 were standard, narrow gauge locomotives in service with the German Reichsbahn. They had operating numbers 99 221 - 99 223....
. In contrast to those, the 99.23-24s had mixer-preheaters and plate frames. However, the latter caused maintenance difficulties from the outset due to cracks and distortion. To date five locomotives (the present-day 99 7232, 7240, 7245, 7239, 7236) were equipped from 2004 onwards with a new, redesigned plate frames and new, welded, steam cylinders. More should follow. All the engines still exist and are based in the Harz; some however are no longer working.
The engines were converted between 1977 and 1983 to primary oil-firing and are the most powerful German narrow gauge steam locomotives ever to have been built. They are primarily used on the line up to the Brocken from Wernigerode
Wernigerode
Wernigerode is a town in the district of Harz, Saxony-Anhalt, Germany. Until 2007, it was the capital of the district of Wernigerode. Its population was 35,500 in 1999....
.
Their operating numbers changed from 99 231 et seq to 99 7231 et seq on the introduction of computerised numbers in 1970 and then again to 99 0231 et seq on conversion to oil-firing. The computer numbers are still valid, because the HSB
Harzer Schmalspurbahnen
The Harz Narrow Gauge Railways or HSB is a network of gauge railways in the Harz mountains, in central Germany...
retains those allocated in the 1970 DR renumbering scheme.
The vehicles can carry 4.0 tonnes of coal and 8.0 m³ of water.
Locomotives
- 99 7231: out of service
- 99 7232: boiler licence expired, new frame
- 99 7233: out of service
- 99 7234: awaiting general inspection
- 99 7235: working
- 99 7236: working, new frame
- 99 7237: working
- 99 7238: working
- 99 7239: working, new frame
- 99 7240: working, new frame
- 99 7241: out of service
- 99 7242: working
- 99 7243: working
- 99 7244: out of service
- 99 7245: working, new frame
- 99 7246: out of service
- 99 7247: out of service
Literature
- Weisbrod, Manfred; Wiegard, Hans; Müller, Hans; Petznick, Wolfgang. Deutsches Lok-Archiv: Dampflokomotiven 4 (Baureihe 99), transpress, Berlin,ISBN 3-344-70903-8, 1995, pp 53–57.
- Vetter, Klaus J. Das große Handbuch deutscher Lokomotiven, Bruckmann, München, ISBN 3-7654-3764-6, 2001, pp 191–192.
- Obermayer, Horst J. Taschenbuch Deutsche Schmalspur-Dampflokomotiven, Franckh'sche Verlagshandlung, Stuttgart, ISBN 3-440-03818-1, 1971, pp. 60–61.
See also
External links
- Freundeskreis Selketalbahn website
- HSB website
- There is a relevant English-language forum at Railways of Germany