Saxon V K
Encyclopedia
The Saxon Class V K were German, eight-coupled, narrow gauge steam locomotives operated by the Royal Saxon State Railways
which had been primarily intended for the Müglitztalbahn. In 1925 the Deutsche Reichsbahn
incorporated arranged these locomotives as DRG Class 99.61.
-Altenberg the Sächsische Maschinenfabrik
in Chemnitz
developed an eight-coupled locomotive which, it was envisaged, would handle this route better that the hitherto deployed Saxon Classes I K and IV K
.
In 1901 and from 1905 to 1907 a total of nine locomotives were placed in service. Those built in 1905 had a slightly larger driver's cab.
Whilst the new type of drive using Klien-Lindner axles allowed the eight-coupled engines to negotiate tight curves, in the end the new Class V K proved just as complicated and maintenance-intensive as the tried and tested IV K.
For that reason no more were procured, despite their better starting characteristics.
All nine engines, numbered 201 to 209 were taken over in 1920 by the Deutsche Reichsbahn
and in 1925 were renumbered to 99 611 to 99 619.
Betwee 1934 and 1942 the locomotives were all retired. It is possible that several locomotives were left on the battlefields of the Second World War following duties at the front.
had the same dimensions as the Saxon IV K. The boiler feed was provided by two Friedmann injectors. The steam engine itself was a two-cylinder compound
which drove the second coupled axle. The low-pressure cylinder on the right was set at an angle due to its large size. The first and fourth coupled axles were Klien-Lindner hollow axles which enabled an outside frame
with Hall cranks. Two pull rods arranged in a cross enabled the transverse movement of the two hollow axles to be set by the same amount.
For braking the locomotives were originall equipped with a steam brake and counterweight brake. In addition the locomotives were fitted for Heberlein brake
s. But by 1920 they were given the new Körting vacuum brake
s for engine and train.
The water supplies were carried in side tanks; the coal was stored in a bunker behind the cab.
in the 1930s the locomotives were transferred to other lines. They are still used on the Mügeln and Thum
railway networks and the Taubenheim–Dürrhennersdorf
narrow gauge railway.
Royal Saxon State Railways
The Royal Saxon State Railways were the state-owned railways operating in the Kingdom of Saxony from 1869 to 1918...
which had been primarily intended for the Müglitztalbahn. In 1925 the Deutsche Reichsbahn
Deutsche Reichsbahn
Deutsche Reichsbahn was the name of the following two companies:* Deutsche Reichsbahn, the German Imperial Railways during the Weimar Republic, the Third Reich and the immediate aftermath...
incorporated arranged these locomotives as DRG Class 99.61.
History
For the hilly line of the Müglitztalbahn from Mügeln to GeisingGeising
Geising is a municipal subdivision of Altenberg in the Sächsische Schweiz-Osterzgebirge district, in the Free State of Saxony, Germany. It is situated in the Ore Mountains, close to the border with the Czech Republic, 13 km north of Teplice, and 32 km south of Dresden. Since 1 January...
-Altenberg the Sächsische Maschinenfabrik
Sächsische Maschinenfabrik
The Sächsische Maschinenfabrik in Chemnitz was one of the most important engineering companies in Saxony in the second half of the 19th century and the first two decades of the 20th century. Including its various predecessor businesses, the firm existed from 1837 until its liquidation in 1930, and...
in Chemnitz
Chemnitz
Chemnitz is the third-largest city of the Free State of Saxony, Germany. Chemnitz is an independent city which is not part of any county and seat of the government region Direktionsbezirk Chemnitz. Located in the northern foothills of the Ore Mountains, it is a part of the Saxon triangle...
developed an eight-coupled locomotive which, it was envisaged, would handle this route better that the hitherto deployed Saxon Classes I K and IV K
Saxon IV K
The Saxon IV K were eight-wheeled, narrow gauge, Günther-Meyer type steam engines built for the Royal Saxon State Railways with a rail gauge of 750 mm. A total of 96 were built between 1892 and 1921, making the Saxon IV K the most numerous narrow gauge locomotive in Germany...
.
In 1901 and from 1905 to 1907 a total of nine locomotives were placed in service. Those built in 1905 had a slightly larger driver's cab.
Whilst the new type of drive using Klien-Lindner axles allowed the eight-coupled engines to negotiate tight curves, in the end the new Class V K proved just as complicated and maintenance-intensive as the tried and tested IV K.
For that reason no more were procured, despite their better starting characteristics.
All nine engines, numbered 201 to 209 were taken over in 1920 by the Deutsche Reichsbahn
Deutsche Reichsbahn
Deutsche Reichsbahn was the name of the following two companies:* Deutsche Reichsbahn, the German Imperial Railways during the Weimar Republic, the Third Reich and the immediate aftermath...
and in 1925 were renumbered to 99 611 to 99 619.
Betwee 1934 and 1942 the locomotives were all retired. It is possible that several locomotives were left on the battlefields of the Second World War following duties at the front.
Technical features
The boilerBoiler
A boiler is a closed vessel in which water or other fluid is heated. The heated or vaporized fluid exits the boiler for use in various processes or heating applications.-Materials:...
had the same dimensions as the Saxon IV K. The boiler feed was provided by two Friedmann injectors. The steam engine itself was a two-cylinder compound
Compound locomotive
A compound engine unit is a type of steam engine where steam is expanded in two or more stages.A typical arrangement for a compound engine is that the steam is first expanded in a high-pressure cylinder, then having given up heat and losing pressure, it exhausts directly into one or more larger...
which drove the second coupled axle. The low-pressure cylinder on the right was set at an angle due to its large size. The first and fourth coupled axles were Klien-Lindner hollow axles which enabled an outside frame
Locomotive frame
A locomotive frame is the structure that forms the backbone of the railway locomotive, giving it strength and supporting the superstructure elements such as a cab, boiler or bodywork. The vast majority of locomotives have had a frame structure of some kind...
with Hall cranks. Two pull rods arranged in a cross enabled the transverse movement of the two hollow axles to be set by the same amount.
For braking the locomotives were originall equipped with a steam brake and counterweight brake. In addition the locomotives were fitted for Heberlein brake
Heberlein brake
Heberlein brake is a continuous railway brake used in Germany that is applied by means of a mechanical cable. Train braking is therefore initiated centrally from the locomotive using a winder. This causes the brake clips to be applied on individual wagons, assisted by a servo system which makes use...
s. But by 1920 they were given the new Körting vacuum brake
Vacuum brake
The vacuum brake is a braking system employed on trains and introduced in the mid-1860s. A variant, the automatic vacuum brake system, became almost universal in British train equipment and in those countries influenced by British practice. Vacuum brakes also enjoyed a brief period of adoption in...
s for engine and train.
The water supplies were carried in side tanks; the coal was stored in a bunker behind the cab.
Duties
The six locomotives went into service on the Müglitztalbahn. Even after the appearance of the more powerful VI K they remained on this route. After the conversion of the Müglitztalbahn to standard gaugeRail gauge
Track gauge or rail gauge is the distance between the inner sides of the heads of the two load bearing rails that make up a single railway line. Sixty percent of the world's railways use a standard gauge of . Wider gauges are called broad gauge; smaller gauges, narrow gauge. Break-of-gauge refers...
in the 1930s the locomotives were transferred to other lines. They are still used on the Mügeln and Thum
Thum
Thum is a small town in the district of Erzgebirgskreis, in the Free State of Saxony, Germany. Thum has a population of about 5800.-Geography:...
railway networks and the Taubenheim–Dürrhennersdorf
Dürrhennersdorf
Dürrhennersdorf is a municipality in the district Görlitz, in Saxony, Germany.-References:...
narrow gauge railway.
Literature
- Wolfgang Wagner, Reiner Scheffler: II K (alt), III K und V K. Egglham 1996. ISBN 3-922138-60-8
- Fritz Näbrich, Günter Meyer, Reiner Preuß: Lokomotiv-Archiv Sachsen 2, transpress VEB Verlag für Verkehrswesen, Berlin 1984.
See also
- Royal Saxon State RailwaysRoyal Saxon State RailwaysThe Royal Saxon State Railways were the state-owned railways operating in the Kingdom of Saxony from 1869 to 1918...
- List of Saxon locomotives and railbuses
- Narrow gauge railways in Saxony
External links
- There is a relevant English-language forum at Railways of Germany