Bavarian LE
Encyclopedia
The steam locomotives of Bavarian Class LE were narrow gauge
engines with the Royal Bavarian State Railways
(Königlich Bayerische Staats-Eisenbahnen).
route between Eichstätt
-Stadt and Eichstätt
-Bahnhof. In 1885 the railway procured two units and, in 1892, a third. After the 5.2 kilometre long line was extended from Eichstätt by 30 kilometres, two more engines were added in 1898 and 1900. The machines carried railway numbers I - V.
The Deutsche Reichsbahn
took over all five engines in 1925 as Class 99.07 with numbers 99 071–99 075. The first two locomotives were retired by 1932, the remaining three in 1935, after the whole route was converted to standard gauge
.
The locomotives had a box frame
with a water tank. The short boiler
barrel comprised two boiler rings. On top of the boiler were the steam dome
, two spring-balance, safety valves and a sand dome. The flat valves were operated by an Allan valve gear, the connecting rod
worked the third axle. On the first locomotives the driving gear was also covered, but these were removed around 1908. The coal bunkers were located in front of the driver's cab. The engines carried up to 1.77 m³ of water and 0.65 tonnes of coal.
The air pump for the compressed-air brake was positioned at the front right, next to the smokebox
, the air reservoirs were on the right and left of the boiler and the silencer was fixed to the chimney.
Narrow gauge
A narrow gauge railway is a railway that has a track gauge narrower than the of standard gauge railways. Most existing narrow gauge railways have gauges of between and .- Overview :...
engines with the Royal Bavarian State Railways
Royal Bavarian State Railways
As a nation-state, Germany did not come into being until the creation of the German Empire in 1871 from the various German-speaking states such as Prussia, Bavaria, Saxony, Baden and Württemberg. By then each of the major states had formed its own state railway and these continued to remain...
(Königlich Bayerische Staats-Eisenbahnen).
History
The engines were manufactured for the metre gaugeMetre gauge
Metre gauge refers to narrow gauge railways and tramways with a track gauge of . In some African, American and Asian countries it is the main gauge. In Europe it has been used for local railways in France, Germany, and Belgium, most of which were closed down in mid 20th century. Only in Switzerland...
route between Eichstätt
Eichstätt
Eichstätt is a town in the federal state of Bavaria, Germany, and capital of the District of Eichstätt. It is located along the Altmühl River, at , and had a population of 13,078 in 2002. It is home to the Katholische Universität Eichstätt-Ingolstadt, the lone Catholic university in Germany. The...
-Stadt and Eichstätt
Eichstätt
Eichstätt is a town in the federal state of Bavaria, Germany, and capital of the District of Eichstätt. It is located along the Altmühl River, at , and had a population of 13,078 in 2002. It is home to the Katholische Universität Eichstätt-Ingolstadt, the lone Catholic university in Germany. The...
-Bahnhof. In 1885 the railway procured two units and, in 1892, a third. After the 5.2 kilometre long line was extended from Eichstätt by 30 kilometres, two more engines were added in 1898 and 1900. The machines carried railway numbers I - V.
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...
took over all five engines in 1925 as Class 99.07 with numbers 99 071–99 075. The first two locomotives were retired by 1932, the remaining three in 1935, after the whole route was converted to standard gauge
Standard gauge
The standard gauge is a widely-used track gauge . Approximately 60% of the world's existing railway lines are built to this gauge...
.
Technical Features
The engines were of a design by Krauss that, in similar dimensions, was used for other classes, include some for the Felda Railway, later the Prussian T 31, and designated by the factory as XXXV.The locomotives had a box 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 a water tank. The short boiler
Boiler
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:...
barrel comprised two boiler rings. On top of the boiler were the steam dome
Steam dome
A Steam dome is a vessel fitted to the top of the boiler of a steam locomotive. It contains the opening to the main steam pipe and its purpose is to allow this opening to be kept well above the water level in the boiler...
, two spring-balance, safety valves and a sand dome. The flat valves were operated by an Allan valve gear, the connecting rod
Connecting rod
In a reciprocating piston engine, the connecting rod or conrod connects the piston to the crank or crankshaft. Together with the crank, they form a simple mechanism that converts linear motion into rotating motion....
worked the third axle. On the first locomotives the driving gear was also covered, but these were removed around 1908. The coal bunkers were located in front of the driver's cab. The engines carried up to 1.77 m³ of water and 0.65 tonnes of coal.
The air pump for the compressed-air brake was positioned at the front right, next to the smokebox
Smokebox
A smokebox is one of the major basic parts of a Steam locomotive exhaust system. Smoke and hot gases pass from the firebox through tubes where they pass heat to the surrounding water in the boiler. The smoke then enters the smokebox, and is exhausted to the atmosphere through the chimney .To assist...
, the air reservoirs were on the right and left of the boiler and the silencer was fixed to the chimney.
Sources
Ernst Hoecherl: Eichstätter Schmalspurbahn 1885-1934. Bufe-Fachbuch-Verlag, Egglham und München 1984, ISBN 3-922138-18-7External links
- There is a relevant English-language forum at Railways of Germany