A remarkable design was the experimental locomotive T 18 1001, with its steam turbine mounted transversely above the front bogie. Photo: Hans Kobschätzky Collection.
Our photo database documents the pioneering locomotive types of the German Reichsbahn between the interwar period and the end of World War II. The image collection focuses specifically on the standard and wartime steam locomotives developed from 1920 onward, which ushered in the standardization of German rail transport.
Clicking on the locomotive class designation will take you to the images in the photo database. You can refine your search results using the Master Finder.
Express train locomotives
| Series | Numbers | First year of construction | Explanation |
|---|---|---|---|
BR 01 | 01 001–232 | 1926 | classic heavy standard express train locomotive, modified or modernized several times |
| BR 01.10 | 01 1051–1105 | 1939 | Three-cylinder express train locomotive with streamlined fairing after WWII all with DB, rebuilt there from 1953 |
| BR 02 | 02 001–010 | 1925 | Four-cylinder compound experimental locomotives ran parallel to the 01 series; converted back to two-cylinder 01 locomotives by 1942 |
| BR 03 | 03 001–298 | 1930 | Lighter version of the BR 01 (20 t axle load) with approx. 18 t axle load |
| BR 03.10 | 03 1001–1060 | 1939 | Three-cylinder variant of the BR 03 with streamlined fairing; rebuilt by DB and DR |
| BR 04 | 04 001-04 002 | 1932 | Medium-pressure experimental locomotive for 25 kp/cm² boiler pressure; no proven performance; converted to BR 02 |
| BR 05 | 05 001–003 | 1935 | Streamlined high-speed locomotive for 200 km/h; record run on May 11, 1936 at 200.4 km/h; after the end of WWII, all were in service without encasements at the DB (German Federal Railway). |
| BR 06 | 06 001–002 | 1939 | Largest and heaviest express train locomotive class of the DR (German State Railway), wheel arrangement 2’D2′; no longer needed after the end of WWII. |
| BR 19.10 | 19 1001 | 1942 | Completely new design with steam engine drive on individual axles; good operating results; transferred to the USA after WWII, scrapped there |
Passenger train locomotives
| Series | Numbers | First year of construction | Explanation |
| BR 24 | 24 001–095 | 1928 | Standard passenger locomotive for long branch lines in East and West Prussia; hence the nickname “Steppe Horse” |
| BR 39 | 39 001–260 | 1922 | Ex-Prussian P 10, transition to the DRG standard locomotive |
Freight train locomotives
| Series | Numbers | First year of construction | Explanation |
| BR 41 | 41 001–366 | 1937 | Fast standard freight train locomotive, nicknamed “Ox Locomotive” because the first locomotives hauled cattle trains between Schneidemühl and Berlin. |
| BR 43 | 43 001–035 | 1927 | Two-cylinder standard locomotive, parallel design to the 3-cylinder BR 44. |
| BR 44 | 44 001–44 1858 | 1926 | 3-cylinder standard locomotive; prevailed over the BR 43 for series production |
| BR 45 | 45 001–028 | 1936 | 3-cylinder standard locomotive; strongest and heaviest DRG freight locomotive |
| BR 50 | 50 001–50 3164 | 1939 | Universal 2-cylinder standard locomotive; the DRG’s most successful design for universal use; numerous variants |
| BR 52 | 52 001–52 7794… | 1942 | Simplified BR 50 as a “war locomotive” in WWII; production run exceeding 6000; frequently rebuilt, some also with condensing tenders; DR: Reko 52.80 |
Tender locomotives
| Series | Numbers | First year of construction | Explanation |
| BR 61 | 61 001–002 | 1935 | Streamlined high-speed tender locomotive for the Henschel-Wegmann train |
| BR 62 | 62 001–015 | 1928 | Standard passenger train tender locomotive for short flatland routes |
| BR 64 | 64 001–520 | 1928 | Standard tender locomotive, nicknamed “Bubikopf”; many components are compatible with BR 24 |
| BR 71 | 71 001–006 | 1934 | Lightweight, double-coupled standard tender locomotive; suitable for one-man operation; partly temporarily with a boiler pressure of 25 kp/cm² |
| BR 80 | 80 001–039 | 1927 | Standard shunting locomotive for large railway stations |
| BR 84 | 84 001–012 | 1935 | Locomotive for the winding Müglitz Valley Railway Heidenau – Altenberg; therefore, special drive with rack-and-pinion coupled end axles. |
| BR 85 | 85 001–010 | 1932 | Heavy tender locomotive for the Black Forest-Höllental Railway Hirschsprung – Hinterzarten; various components compatible with BR 44 |
| BR 86 | 86 001–86 778 | 1928 | Standard tender locomotive for mixed service on branch lines |
Experimental locomotives
| Series | Numbers | First year of construction | Explanation |
| – H 02 – BR 17.2 | H 02 1001 17 206 | Beide 1925 | H 02 1001: Schwartzkopff high-pressure experimental locomotive designed for 120 kp/cm² boiler pressure; failure – not accepted by the DRG. 17 206: High-pressure locomotive with 60 kp/cm² boiler pressure; decommissioned in 1936 after being converted back to standard configuration. |
| H 45 | H 45 024 | 1930 | High-pressure experimental locomotive designed for a boiler pressure of 120 kp/cm²; prone to malfunctions, high and expensive maintenance costs; not accepted by the DRG. |
| T 18 | T 18 1001 T 18 1002 | 1924 1926 | T18 1001: Krupp turbine locomotive of the Krupp-Zoelly type; quite successful; acceptable fuel consumption; destroyed by bombing. T18 1002: Maffei turbine locomotive of the Ljungström type; good performance and driving characteristics, but no significant fuel savings, bomb hit in 1944 – boiler used as a test facility until 1954 |