DRG Class 04

The two German Class 04 steam locomotives were experimental engines with the Deutsche Reichsbahn, that were derived from the Class 03 standard locomotives (Einheitsloks).
01History
In 1932, the Deutsche Reichsbahn tried to raise boiler overpressures from 156.9 to 245.1 N/cm2 (227.6 to 355.5 psi) by using high-tensile steel. These engines, built by the firm of Krupp, were initially tested at the Grunewald Locomotive Testing Office. With a specific steam consumption value of 5.2 kg/PSh with respect to their indicated output, the locomotives clearly undercut the very low steam consumption value of the Class 03 by over 1 kg/PSh. The coal consumption based on the effective power at the coupling hook, was 0.96 kg/PSh compared with 1.13 kg/PSh on the 03.
The medium-pressure boilers did not prove to be stable, and after a short time damage occurred to the firebox. Since the locomotives did not meet expectations even after modifications and repairs, the permissible boiler overpressure was finally reduced to 20 atmospheres in 1935 and they were added to the operating portfolio with the company numbers 02 101 and 02 102. They were then intended to be used in regular train service from the Hamburg-Altona depot, but since they had no experience with four-cylinder compound locomotives there, they were handed over to the Hof depot in 1936. Due to a lack of water, the boiler of 02 101 exploded on 3 April 1939, whereupon both engines were decommissioned and were scrapped in 1940.
The engines were equipped with a 2′2′ T 32 standard tender.
Sources and credits
This article is adapted from the Wikipedia article “DRG Class 04”, written by its contributors and licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Fathomly has changed the layout, removed citation markers, navigation and maintenance notices, and adjusted punctuation. This adapted version is shared under the same license. For references, see the original article.
Images, from Wikimedia Commons:
- WP Schnellzuglokomotive BR 04 1932.jpg by w:de:Werner Hubert (* 1896 in Charlottenburg; † 17. Juni 1947 in Dresden), Public domain
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