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DR Class 99.23–24
99 7243-1 in 2006
Type and origin Power type Steam Builder VEB Lokomotivbau "Karl Marx" Babelsberg Serial number 134008–134028 Build date 1954–1956 Total produced 21
Specifications Configuration: ​  •  Whyte 2-10-2 T  •  UIC 1′E1′ h2t  •  German K 57.10 Gauge 1,000 mm (3 ft 3+3⁄8 in) Leading dia. 0,500 mm (1 ft 7+5⁄8 in) Driver dia. 1,000 mm (3 ft 3+3⁄8 in) Trailing dia. 0,550 mm (1 ft 9+5⁄8 in) Wheelbase: ​  • Axle spacing (Asymmetrical)  1,950 mm (76+3⁄4 in) +  1,200 mm (47+1⁄4 in) +  1,200 mm (47+1⁄4 in) +  1,200 mm (47+1⁄4 in) +  1,200 mm (47+1⁄4 in) +  1,950 mm (76+3⁄4 in) =  • Engine  8,700 mm (342+1⁄2 in) Length: ​  • Over couplers 11,730 mm (461+3⁄4 in)  •  Over headstocks 11,100 mm (437 in) Width 2,645 mm (8 ft 8+1⁄8 in) Height 3,650 mm (11 ft 11+11⁄16 in) Axle load 9.5 t (9.3 long tons; 10.5 short tons) Adhesive weight 47.5 t (46.7 long tons; 52.4 short tons) Empty weight 47.5 t (46.7 long tons; 52.4 short tons) Service weight 64.5 t (63.5 long tons; 71.1 short tons) Fuel type Coal Fuel capacity 4.0 t (3.9 long tons; 4.4 short tons) Water cap. 8.0 m3 (1,760 imp gal; 2,110 US gal) Firebox: ​  • Grate area 2.8 m2 (30 sq ft) Boiler: ​  • Pitch 2,500 mm (8 ft 2+3⁄8 in)  • Tube plates 3,200 mm (10 ft 6 in)  • Small tubes  44.5 mm (1+3⁄4 in), 114 off  • Large tubes 121 mm (4+3⁄4 in), 32 off Boiler pressure 14 bar (14.3 kgf/cm2; 203 psi) Feedwater heater Mixer-preheater Heating surface: ​  • Firebox 10.4 m2 (112 sq ft)  • Tubes 49.7 m2 (535 sq ft)  • Flues 35.4 m2 (381 sq ft)  • Total surface 95.5 m2 (1,028 sq ft) Superheater: ​  • Heating area 30.0 m2 (323 sq ft) Cylinders Two, outside Cylinder size 500 mm × 500 mm (19+11⁄16 in × 19+11⁄16 in) Valve gear Heusinger with Kuhn slides Loco brake Ke G-P mZ Train brakes Hardy vacuum brake, converted to Knorr compressed air brake Couplers Equalising lever coupler [ de]; in Eisfeld: Janney
Performance figures Maximum speed 40 km/h (25 mph) Indicated power 700–750 PS (515–552 kW; 690–740 hp) Tractive effort 102.9 kN (23,100 lbf)
Career Operators Deutsche Reichsbahn (GDR) (17) Soviet Railways (4) Numbers DR: 99 231 – 99 247 from 1970: 99 7231 – 99 7247

The engines of DR Class 99.23 are metre gauge tank locomotives, that were procured by the Deutsche Reichsbahn (DR) in East Germany from 1954 to 1956. When they entered service they had operating numbers 99 231–99 247. Today they are numbered 99 7231–99 7247.

History

A total of 17 locomotives were bought by the DR between 1954 and 1956 for the railways of the Harzquerbahn and Brockenbahn, and for the line from Eisfeld to Schönbrunn to replace much of the very old fleet. 4 locomotives were built for the USSR in 1956, whatever happened to these 4 engines is unknown. The first seven units (99 231 to 99 237) were originally equipped with two Krauss-Helmholtz bogies. Due to problems with curve running, the engines in the second series were given Beugniot levers between the first and second coupled axles in addition to the Krauss-Helmholtz bogies. ^[1] (according to other sources also a Schwartzkopff-Eckhardt II bogie ^{[2] [3] [4] [5]}). The locomotives of the first series were subsequently modified with Beugniot levers, some in the early 1960s, others in 1973/74 (on the Harz lines). The thinner wheel flanges of the driving wheels were completely removed later in order to achieve better curve running. Certainly the engines in the second series did not have a rigid wheelbase. ^[2]

The drive was applied to the third coupled axle, the locomotives had Heusinger valve gear with unsprung Müller balanced slide valves and, later, Trofimoff valves.

These Neubaulokomotiven were a fully welded evolutionary development of the standard locomotives ( Einheitsloks) of the DRG Class 99.22. In contrast to those, the 99.23-24s had mixer- preheaters and plate frames. However, the latter caused maintenance difficulties from the outset due to cracks and distortion. To date 10 locomotives (the present-day 99 7232, 7240, 7245, 7239, 7236, 7234, 7237, 7241, 7243, 7247) were equipped from 2004 onwards with a new, redesigned plate frame and 5 of them (99 7232, 7240, 7245, 7239, 7236) with new, welded, steam cylinders. More should follow. The 17 DR-engines all still exist and are based in the Harz; some however are no longer working.

The 17 German engines were converted to primary oil-firing between 1977 and 1983 and are, together with the DRG Class 99.22, the most powerful narrow gauge German steam locomotives ever to have been built. They were later converted back to coal-firing and are primarily used on the line up to the Brocken from Wernigerode.

Their operating numbers changed from 99 231 et seq to 99 7231 et seq on the introduction of computerised numbers in 1970 and then again to 99 0231 et seq on conversion to oil-firing. The computer numbers are still valid, because the HSB retains those allocated in the 1970 DR renumbering scheme.

The locos can carry 4 tonnes (4 long tons; 4 short tons) of coal and 8,000 litres (1,760 imperial gallons; 2,113 US gallons) of water.

Locomotives

• 99 7231: out of service since 2001
• 99 7232: working, new frame
• 99 7233: out of service since 1999
• 99 7234: working, new feame
• 99 7235: out of service since 2020
• 99 7236: working, new frame
• 99 7237: working, new frame
• 99 7238: working
• 99 7239: working, new frame
• 99 7240: working, new frame
• 99 7241: working, new frame
• 99 7242: out of service since 2010
• 99 7243: working, new frame
• 99 7244: working, undergoing conversion to oil-firing
• 99 7245: working, new frame
• LKM 132023: built for & lost in the USSR
• LKM 132024: built for & lost in the USSR
• LKM 132025: built for & lost in the USSR
• LKM 132026: built for & lost in the USSR
• 99 7246: out of service since 1996
• 99 7247: working, new frame

Photo gallery

• 
  99 7232
• 
  99 7234
• 
  99 7237

See also

Wikimedia Commons has media related to DR Class 99.23-24.

• List of East German Deutsche Reichsbahn locomotives and railbuses
• Neubaulok

References

• Obermayer, Horst J. Taschenbuch Deutsche Schmalspur-Dampflokomotiven, Franckh'sche Verlagshandlung, Stuttgart, ISBN  3-440-03818-1, 1971, pp. 60–61.
• Vetter, Klaus J. Das große Handbuch deutscher Lokomotiven, Bruckmann, München, ISBN  3-7654-3764-6, 2001, pp 191–192.
• Weisbrod, Manfred; Petznik, Wolfgang (1981). Dampflokomotiven deutscher Eisenbahnen, Baureihe 97–99 (EFA 1.4) (in German) (2nd ed.). Düsseldorf: Alba. pp. 137–141, 207. ISBN  3-87094-087-5.
• Weisbrod, Manfred; Wiegard, Hans; Müller, Hans; Petznick, Wolfgang. Deutsches Lok-Archiv: Dampflokomotiven 4 (Baureihe 99), Transpress, Berlin, ISBN  3-344-70903-8, 1995, pp 53–57.

External links

• Freundeskreis Selketalbahn website (in German)
• HSB website (in German)