Prussian S 4
| Industry | Railway |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1898 |
| Headquarters | Germany |
Prussian S 4 (DRG Class 13.5, 13.4)
The Prussian S 4 locomotives were German express steam engines featuring superheated technology, initially operated by the Prussian state railways and later incorporated into the Deutsche Reichsbahn as DRG Class 13.5. These engines represented a progressive advancement from the earlier Prussian S 3. The inaugural unit was constructed in 1898 by Vulcan, Stettin, serving as a modified version of the S 3 and marking the world's first superheated locomotive. Originally named Hannover 74, it was later re-designated as S 4 Cassel 401. Two additional experimental locomotives were introduced in 1899 and 1900 under the names Hannover 86 and Berlin 74, initially classified as S 3s but subsequently reclassified as S 4s with designations Hannover 401 and Posen 401.
Following resolution of initial operational challenges, full-scale production of the S 4 commenced in 1902 at Borsig, with manufacturing later expanding to Henschel and Humboldt from 1906 onward. Unlike the prototypes, these production models were developed independently from the S 3 design. A total of 104 units were produced up until 1909 when production ceased in favor of the newer Prussian S 6. Early models featured a smokebox superheater until 1906, after which smoke tube superheaters became standard.
The prominence of the S 4 declined prior to the outbreak of the First World War, leading to most units being withdrawn within a few years. Remaining locomotives were reassigned to passenger or freight services.
In the Deutsche Reichsbahn's provisional renumbering scheme of 1923, forty-four S 4 locomotives were listed as numbers 13 501 through 13 544. However, by 1925 only four remained operational and were assigned numbers 13 501–504. These final units were retired by 1927.
Post-First World War, six locomotives were transferred to the Polish State Railways (PKP), where they received classification Pd2 and numbers ranging from 1 to 6. During the Second World War, five S 4s returned to Reichsbahn possession from Poland, designated as 13 401–405. Two of these were eventually returned to Poland in 1955 by the Deutsche Reichsbahn (GDR).
These locomotives operated with tenders classified under Prussian types pr 2’2’ T 16, pr 3 T 13, and pr 3 T 15.
See also
- Prussian state railways
- List of DRG locomotives and railcars
- List of Prussian locomotives and railcars
References
Literature
- Template:Hütter-01bis45
- Rauter, Herbert; Scheingraber, Günther (1991). Preußen-Report. Band 2: Die Schnellzuglokomotiven der Gattung S 1 - S 11 (in German). Hermann Merker Verlag. ISBN 3-922404-16-2.
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