Prussian S 9
Encyclopedia
The Prussian S 9 was an express steam locomotive
with the Prussian state railways
, first built in 1908. It had a 4-4-2
(Atlantic) wheel arrangement
and a four-cylinder compound engine. It was developed by the firm of Hanomag
in Hanover
who delivered a total of 99 engines of this class.
There were also some high-speed trials locomotives which were classified as S 9's, but did not belong to this particular class.
Although at the time superheated technology was widespread, the state of Prussia
still wanted to have saturated steam engines delivered by Hanomag. The locomotives procured as a result had a very powerful boiler
and, at 4 m², the largest grate area of any Prussian steam locomotive. The quantity of steam generated was however more than the high-pressure cylinders could cope with. As a result the performance of the S 9 was little better than the considerably smaller superheated locomotive, the Prussian S 6
. Nevertheless the S 9 initially formed the backbone of express train
services from Berlin
to Hanover. Like all German Atlantic locomotives, the S 9 quickly proved too underpowered for the increasingly heavy trains it had to haul.
Two locomotives (Hannover 903 and 905) were fitted with superheated boilers in 1913 and 1914 and reclassified as S 8s.
After 1919 17 locomotives had to handed over to Belgium
and 4 to France
.
Only three of them, the two S 8's and a saturated steam engine, were taken over by the Deutsche Reichsbahn
as DRG Class 14.0. The two S 8's were given numbers 14 001 and 14 002; the S 9 ("Essen 907") number 14 031. All three were retired by 1926.
The locomotives were equipped with Prussian tenders of classes pr 2'2' T 21.5, pr 2'2' T 30 und pr 2'2' T 31.5.
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...
with the Prussian state railways
Prussian state railways
The term Prussian state railways encompasses those railway organisations that were owned or managed by the State of Prussia...
, first built in 1908. It had a 4-4-2
4-4-2 (locomotive)
Under the Whyte notation for the classification of steam locomotives, 4-4-2 represents the wheel arrangement of four leading wheels on two axles , four powered and coupled driving wheels on two axles, and two trailing wheels on one axle...
(Atlantic) wheel arrangement
Whyte notation
The Whyte notation for classifying steam locomotives by wheel arrangement was devised by Frederick Methvan Whyte and came into use in the early twentieth century encouraged by an editorial in American Engineer and Railroad Journal...
and a four-cylinder compound engine. It was developed by the firm of Hanomag
Hanomag
Hanomag was a German producer of steam locomotives, tractors, trucks and military vehicles. Hanomag first achieved international fame by delivering a large number of steam locomotives to Romania and Bulgaria before World War I....
in Hanover
Hanover
Hanover or Hannover, on the river Leine, is the capital of the federal state of Lower Saxony , Germany and was once by personal union the family seat of the Hanoverian Kings of Great Britain, under their title as the dukes of Brunswick-Lüneburg...
who delivered a total of 99 engines of this class.
There were also some high-speed trials locomotives which were classified as S 9's, but did not belong to this particular class.
Although at the time superheated technology was widespread, the state of Prussia
Kingdom of Prussia
The Kingdom of Prussia was a German kingdom from 1701 to 1918. Until the defeat of Germany in World War I, it comprised almost two-thirds of the area of the German Empire...
still wanted to have saturated steam engines delivered by Hanomag. The locomotives procured as a result had a very powerful boiler
Boiler
A boiler is a closed vessel in which water or other fluid is heated. The heated or vaporized fluid exits the boiler for use in various processes or heating applications.-Materials:...
and, at 4 m², the largest grate area of any Prussian steam locomotive. The quantity of steam generated was however more than the high-pressure cylinders could cope with. As a result the performance of the S 9 was little better than the considerably smaller superheated locomotive, the Prussian S 6
Prussian S 6
The Prussian S 6 was a class of German steam locomotive with a 4-4-0 wheel arrangement operated by the Prussian state railways for express train services.-Development:...
. Nevertheless the S 9 initially formed the backbone of express train
Express train
Express trains are a form of rail service. Express trains make only a small number of stops, instead of stopping at every single station...
services from Berlin
Berlin
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 Hanover. Like all German Atlantic locomotives, the S 9 quickly proved too underpowered for the increasingly heavy trains it had to haul.
Two locomotives (Hannover 903 and 905) were fitted with superheated boilers in 1913 and 1914 and reclassified as S 8s.
After 1919 17 locomotives had to handed over to Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
and 4 to France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
.
Only three of them, the two S 8's and a saturated steam engine, were taken over by 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...
as DRG Class 14.0. The two S 8's were given numbers 14 001 and 14 002; the S 9 ("Essen 907") number 14 031. All three were retired by 1926.
The locomotives were equipped with Prussian tenders of classes pr 2'2' T 21.5, pr 2'2' T 30 und pr 2'2' T 31.5.
External links
- There is a relevant English-language forum at Railways of Germany