Source: Thomas Eckhardt
Source: Thomas Eckhardt
Source: Thomas Eckhardt
Source: Thomas Eckhardt
Source: Thomas Eckhardt
Source: Thomas Eckhardt
Source: Jean VernetMontreux
Source: Kabelleger / David Gubler
Also known as:
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Registration country:
The class 01 was the epitome of German express steam locomotives
for many years and almost until the end of steam motive power in
both German states. Neither lay people nor railroad personnel could
escape the fascination with it and the way it conveyed power,
elegance, and speed. The German State Railroad Company (DRG) was
established in 1920 and in its first type plan the classes 01 and
02 were included as a two-cylinder and a four-cylinder compound
express locomotive that were identical in all other respects. After
conclusion of comparison tests with ten each pre-production
locomotives of both classes the dice fell in favor of the
two-cylinder unit and regular production began in 1927 with road
number 01 012. Procurement of this locomotive type did not end
until 1938, a period of more than twelve years that resulted almost
unavoidably in various design changes. The design was totally
overhauled before the production run of the third series (01
102-190): While road numbers 01 102-149 still had a copper firebox,
the steel firebox was introduced starting with road number 01 150.
The firebox and the boiler now had a larger number of cleaning
holes and the piston type feed water pump was replaced. The frame
design was reinforced and the running gear was improved as was the
suspension springing and the braking system. This allowed the
permissible speed to be increased from 120 to 130 km/h / 75 to 81
mph. The design changes on the last series delivered (01 191-232)
by contrast encompassed only the replacing of the standard piston
valves by pressure balance valves designed by Karl Schulz.
After World War II, 171 units remained on the future DB, which lost
their "large ears" in favor of the small Witte smoke deflectors.
Some of them also got rid of their front skirting. The last
stronghold for the DB class 01 units was the Hof District until
1973, where road number 01 202 was also in use until the end. In
1975, the Swiss Werner Bühlmann from Münsingen bought the
locomotive and had it brought to Switzerland by October 2, 1975.
Here it was brought back to operational condition in almost twenty
years of work at great expense by Werner Bühlmann and a group of
incorrigible optimists. In 1989, the association "Pacific 01 202"
was founded with the goal of keeping road number 01 202
operational, and since 1999 road number 01 202 has found a
permanent home in Lyss in the canton of Bern. Starting in November
of 2011, road number 01 202 spent two years at the maintenance
facility in Meiningen for its scheduled main overhaul. While there,
it was equipped with PZB and GSM-R safety equipment so that it
could now do special runs in Germany.
Help us writing the history of Class 01! Your knowledge is precious for us and the entire community, do not hesitate to share your facts, photos or videos:
Latest update on the 31st of December 2019 at 11:30
Contributor(s): Tudor C.
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