Saxon XII H2
Encyclopedia
The Saxon Class XII H2 steam locomotives (also nicknamed Sächsischer Rollwagen or 'Saxon rollers') were bought by the Royal Saxon State Railways
(Königlich Sächsische Staatseisenbahnen) specifically for the mountainous areas of Saxony. They were built by Hartmann
between 1910 and 1927 in Chemnitz
. The design of this passenger train locomotive was carried out in parallel with that of the express train classes, the Saxon X H1 and Saxon XII H. A total of 159 examples of this powerful locomotive were built by 1922.
The Deutsche Reichsbahn
took over 124 of these engines as the DRG Class 38.2-3 (the others had been lost during the First World War or had to be given away as reparations
) and gave them operating numbers 38 201 to 38 324. In 1927, ten more were built. These were given operating numbers 38 325 to 38 334.
During the Second World War 15 of the Class XII H2s that had been given to France
returned to Germany
and were stationed again in the Reichsbahn division of Dresden. From 1938, however, the majority of these locomotives were working out of locomotive depots (Bahnbetriebswerken or Bw) in the Sudetenland
. As a result, after the war only about a half the original fleet of these engines was left in Germany. Five of the locomotives returned from France went into the East German Deutsche Reichsbahn where they were allocated operating numbers 38 204 and 38 351 to 38 354. The last ones had been withdrawn by 1971.
Even the surviving museum locomotive, number 38 205 is currently not working. This engine is owned by the DB Museum at Nuremberg
and has been loaned to the Saxon Railway Museum
in Chemnitz-Hilbersdorf.
The first 15 vehicles were originally equipped with Saxon sä 2'2' T 16 tenders. Later they ran with Saxon sä 2'2' T 21 tenders as did all the subsequent locomotives.
Royal Saxon State Railways
The Royal Saxon State Railways were the state-owned railways operating in the Kingdom of Saxony from 1869 to 1918...
(Königlich Sächsische Staatseisenbahnen) specifically for the mountainous areas of Saxony. They were built by Hartmann
Sächsische Maschinenfabrik
The Sächsische Maschinenfabrik in Chemnitz was one of the most important engineering companies in Saxony in the second half of the 19th century and the first two decades of the 20th century. Including its various predecessor businesses, the firm existed from 1837 until its liquidation in 1930, and...
between 1910 and 1927 in Chemnitz
Chemnitz
Chemnitz is the third-largest city of the Free State of Saxony, Germany. Chemnitz is an independent city which is not part of any county and seat of the government region Direktionsbezirk Chemnitz. Located in the northern foothills of the Ore Mountains, it is a part of the Saxon triangle...
. The design of this passenger train locomotive was carried out in parallel with that of the express train classes, the Saxon X H1 and Saxon XII H. A total of 159 examples of this powerful locomotive were built by 1922.
The Deutsche Reichsbahn
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....
took over 124 of these engines as the DRG Class 38.2-3 (the others had been lost during the First World War or had to be given away as reparations
World War I reparations
World War I reparations refers to the payments and transfers of property and equipment that Germany was forced to make under the Treaty of Versailles following its defeat during World War I...
) and gave them operating numbers 38 201 to 38 324. In 1927, ten more were built. These were given operating numbers 38 325 to 38 334.
During the Second World War 15 of the Class XII H2s that had been given 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...
returned to Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
and were stationed again in the Reichsbahn division of Dresden. From 1938, however, the majority of these locomotives were working out of locomotive depots (Bahnbetriebswerken or Bw) in the Sudetenland
Sudetenland
Sudetenland is the German name used in English in the first half of the 20th century for the northern, southwest and western regions of Czechoslovakia inhabited mostly by ethnic Germans, specifically the border areas of Bohemia, Moravia, and those parts of Silesia being within Czechoslovakia.The...
. As a result, after the war only about a half the original fleet of these engines was left in Germany. Five of the locomotives returned from France went into the East German Deutsche Reichsbahn where they were allocated operating numbers 38 204 and 38 351 to 38 354. The last ones had been withdrawn by 1971.
Even the surviving museum locomotive, number 38 205 is currently not working. This engine is owned by the DB Museum at Nuremberg
Nuremberg
Nuremberg[p] is a city in the German state of Bavaria, in the administrative region of Middle Franconia. Situated on the Pegnitz river and the Rhine–Main–Danube Canal, it is located about north of Munich and is Franconia's largest city. The population is 505,664...
and has been loaned to the Saxon Railway Museum
Saxon Railway Museum
The Saxon Railway Museum is located in Chemnitz, in the state of Saxony, eastern Germany. It is situated on the site of the former locomotive depot for goods train locomotives in the district Hilbersdorf.After the locomotive depot was closed in 1992, the society moved into the buildings which...
in Chemnitz-Hilbersdorf.
The first 15 vehicles were originally equipped with Saxon sä 2'2' T 16 tenders. Later they ran with Saxon sä 2'2' T 21 tenders as did all the subsequent locomotives.
Literature
- Heinrich, Peter: Die Baureihe 38.2. ISBN 3-88255-382-0, EK-Verlag Freiburg, 1983
- Reiche, Günther: Richard Hartmann und seine Lokomotiven. ISBN 3-928254-56-1, Oberbaumverlag Berlin/Chemnitz, 1998
External links
- There is a relevant English-language forum at Railways of Germany