Class 20
Also known as:
BR 20
Vehicle type:
Registration country:
Railway companies:
1928
In the early 1920s, the Reichsbahn develops a standardization
program that includes the Class 20 among others.
This heavy passenger locomotive was intended to have a close
constructive relationship with the Class 62,
similar to the light locomotives of the Class 24
and Class 64.
In 1928, a prototype, 20 001, is delivered by the locomotive manufacturing company Hagans in Erfurt to the Deutsche Reichsbahn-Gesellschaft. This elegantly designed machine has not yet been recorded in any of the common locomotive archives, although a factory photo already shows the vehicle with DRG lettering.
Despite successful test runs, further construction is abandoned because the machine, with its axle load of 20-1, is too heavy for most routes. Moreover, by this time, there are already over 4 000 powerful regional railway passenger locomotives, which eliminates any urgent need. As a result, 20 001 is dismantled after a short period of service at the RAW Meiningen to serve as a source of spare parts. The boiler of the locomotive is later used with 62 015, while the tender is mounted to 03 001.
In 1928, a prototype, 20 001, is delivered by the locomotive manufacturing company Hagans in Erfurt to the Deutsche Reichsbahn-Gesellschaft. This elegantly designed machine has not yet been recorded in any of the common locomotive archives, although a factory photo already shows the vehicle with DRG lettering.
Despite successful test runs, further construction is abandoned because the machine, with its axle load of 20-1, is too heavy for most routes. Moreover, by this time, there are already over 4 000 powerful regional railway passenger locomotives, which eliminates any urgent need. As a result, 20 001 is dismantled after a short period of service at the RAW Meiningen to serve as a source of spare parts. The boiler of the locomotive is later used with 62 015, while the tender is mounted to 03 001.
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Latest update on the 29th of July 2026 at 22:38
Contributor(s): Tudor C.
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