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DRG Class 99.21

German narrow-gauge steam locomotive

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Built in 1929 by German locomotive builder Henschel & Son, the Deutsche Reichsbahn Class 99.21 was a unique narrow gauge 0-6-0T steam tank locomotive built for the Wangerooge Island Railway on Wangerooge, one of the German-owned Friesian islands in the North Sea.

01History

For hauling eight-wheeled passenger coaches a more powerful locomotive was needed. After the procurement of diesel locomotives in 1958 she remained for a time as a reserve engine. She carried number 99 211.

Today the locomotive is restored and is displayed as a monument on Wangerooge.

02Technical Details

The inner frame of the locomotive was also used as a water tank. She was designed as a saturated steam locomotive. The boiler had two shell rings and 90 heating tubes. The drive was achieved via a Walschaerts valve gear driving the third axle. The wheels on the centre axle were made without flanges to improve curve running.

The engine could hold 0.6 tonnes of coal in side tanks either side of the boiler, and 1.8 m3 of water in the frame and in an attachment to the coal bunker. The engine was first equipped with electric lighting in 1953.

Watch videos about DRG Class 99.21Explainers and documentaries on YouTube (opens in a new tab)

Sources and credits

This article is adapted from the Wikipedia article DRG Class 99.21, 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.

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