Württemberg K

Württemberg K class DRG Class 59 ÖBB 659
File:Güterzuglok K.jpg
Number(s)	DRG 59 001–044
Manufacturer	Esslingen
Year(s) of manufacture	1914–1924
Retired	1953
Axle arrangement	1'F h4v
Gauge	1,435 mm
Length over buffers	20,200 mm
Service weight	108.0 t
Adhesive weight	94.6 t
Axle load	16.0 t
Indicated Power	1,412 kW
Driving wheel diameter	1,350 mm
Leading wheel diameter	943 mm
LP cylinder bore	750 mm
HP cylinder bore	500 mm
Piston stroke	650 mm
Boiler Overpressure	15 bar
Grate area	4.20 m²
Superheater area	80.00 m²
Evaporative heating area	232.00 m²
Tender	wü 2'2' T 20 pr 2'2' T 21.5 pr 2'2' T 31.5
Water capacity	20.0/21.5/31.5 m³
Brakes	Compressed-air brake

The Württemberg Class K steam locomotives of the Royal Württemberg State Railways (Königlich Württembergische Staats-Eisenbahnen) were the only twelve-coupled locomotives built for a German railway company.

History

The 44 engines of this class built by the Maschinenfabrik Esslingen between 1917 and 1924 were intended for work on the Geislingen ramp (Geislinger Steige) and the Baden Black Forest line. As a result of good experiences in Austria and the fact that there was a maximum axle load of only 16 tonnes on those routes, it was decided to produce a twelve-coupled locomotive. The first and last coupled axles were given side-play (Gölsdorf system), the wheel flanges of the two centre axles were reduced by about 15 mm.

The locomotives proved to be a successful design that was very reliable and powerful. In operations on the hilly routes it was very thrifty, however it was not so economical on the flat. The Deutsche Reichsbahn, that had taken over all the locomotives as DRG Class 59, raised the permissible axle load on the important main lines, so that the performance of the Class K could finally be augmented by ten-coupled engines. As a result, no further batches were ordered.

Move to Austria

After the routes of the Geislinger Steige had been electrified, the engines were no longer required and were given away to Austria, where they were used on the Semmering railway. From there several units went to Yugoslavia and Hungary during the course of the Second World War. The vehicles that remained with, or were returned to, the Deutsche Bundesbahn continued in service until 1953.

Of the 30 examples that stayed in Austria after the Second World War, the majority were sold, two units went to the Soviet Union, six to the Hungarian Railways (MAV). The remaining four engines retained their serial numbers but were grouped into ÖBB Class 659, namely the 659.06, 23, 29 and 41. All locomotives of this class were retired by 1957.

Tenders

The vehicles were coupled with Württemberg and Prussian tenders of classes wü 2'2' T 20, pr 2'2' T 21.5 and pr 2'2' T 31.5.

Literature

• Adolph Giesl-Gieslingen: Lokomotiv-Athleten, Geschichte, Leistung und Kurvenlauf der Sechs- und Siebenkuppler, Verlag Slezak, Wien 1995, ISBN 3-85416-171-9.
• Rudolf Röder: Die Baureihe 59.0, Württembergs Güterzuggigant und seine Vorgänger, EK-Verlag, Freiburg 2007, ISBN 978-3-88255-159-4.

See also

• List of Württemberg locomotives and railbuses

External links

• There is a relevant English-language forum at Railways of Germany
• Locomotive data for the BR 59 (German)
• Technical data (German)