Prussian G 8.2
| Company type | Steam locomotive |
|---|---|
| Industry | Rail transport |
| Founded | 1919 |
| Defunct | 1970s (last operated) |
| Headquarters | Germany |
| Products | Freight and passenger steam locomotives |
 | This article needs additional citations for verification. (December 2021) |
The Prussian G 8.2 locomotive classification actually encompasses two distinct types: one being the Prussian/Oldenburg G 8.2, for which the Deutsche Reichsbahn later placed additional orders; the other type is the G 8.2 operated by the Lübeck-Büchen Railway.
Prussian G 8.2
Template:Infobox locomotive The Prussian G 8.2 was designed as a two-cylinder variant of the Prussian G 8.3. It was determined that the third cylinder in the G 8.3 was not essential, which led to halting its production. Similar to its predecessor, the G 8.2 was derived from the Prussian G 12, essentially representing a more compact model of that design. These locomotives were primarily assigned to haul heavy freight trains on main railway routes. Subsequently, some units had their maximum speed increased to 75 km/h, enabling them to also operate passenger services. Between 1919 and 1928, a total of 846 units were manufactured for both the Prussian state railways and the Deutsche Reichsbahn. Among these, five locomotives delivered in 1921 to the Reichsbahndirektion of Oldenburg featured Lentz valve gear, a common trait for Oldenburg engines. Locomotives supplied in 1922 bore Cassel division numbers; in 1923, several were initially classified as DRG Class 31 before receiving their final DRG numbering later that year. Additionally, around 150 units were exported to the Turkish State Railways and Căile Ferate Române. In 1930, four engines were converted by AEG to utilize coal-dust firing technology. After World War II, approximately 650 of these locomotives remained in Germany, where they were designated by the Deutsche Reichsbahn under numbers ranging from 56 2001–2485 and 2551–2916.
Within the Deutsche Bundesbahn, this series was phased out swiftly; the final unit withdrawn was number 56 2637, removed from service in 1963 and officially retired by 1965. Conversely, the East German Deutsche Reichsbahn continued operating these locomotives into the early 1970s, with some even assigned computer-based numbers. Their last operational base was Bw Vacha, Germany, located in Thuringia, which notably housed both the first and last engines produced: numbers 56 2001 and 56 2916 respectively. No examples of Class 56.20–29 have been preserved within Germany today; however, locomotive number 56 2795 is exhibited at the railway museum in Warsaw, identified there as Tr6-39.
Link: Former engine no. 56 2795 in Warsaw
G 8.2 of the LBE
Although the G 8.2 locomotives operated by the Lübeck-Büchen Railway bore resemblance to the Prussian G 8.2 models, they were in fact a distinct design featuring several notable differences. These engines were significantly longer and presented a less robust appearance. Their primary role was to haul heavy freight trains on the Hamburg to Lübeck route. Designed for dual use in freight and passenger transport, their running gear and braking systems were engineered to support a maximum speed of 75 km/h (47 mph). Between 1923 and 1930, Linke-Hofmann delivered eight units, numbered LBE 91 through 98. In 1938, these locomotives were incorporated into the Reichsbahn fleet as numbers 56 3001 to 56 3008.
Following World War II, the Deutsche Bundesbahn inherited locomotives numbered 56 3001 and from 56 3003 to 56 3008, all of which were withdrawn from service by 1951. Locomotive number 56 3005 was sold to the Osthannoversche Eisenbahnen (OHE), where it was renumbered as 56 102 before being retired in 1963. Meanwhile, number 56 3002 remained with the eastern Deutsche Reichsbahn (GDR) until its retirement in 1956.
Locomotive number 56 3007 transitioned to industrial use in 1950 and has since been preserved at the Darmstadt-Kranichstein Railway Museum.
These locomotives were paired with tenders of classes pr 3 T 16.5, pr 3 T 20, or pr 2'2' T 21.5.
See also
Notes
References
Further reading
- Bones, Hans (2003). "Bei den letzten 56.20. Abschied von der G 8.2". Lok Magazin. 42 (259). München: GeraNova Zeitschriftenverlag GmbH: 50–55. ISSN 0458-1822.
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