DRG Class E 19
Encyclopedia
The electric locomotives
of the class E 19 (class 119 from 1968) were the fastest electric locomotives of the Deutsche Reichsbahn
. They reached a maximum speed of 180 km/h, but were designed for speeds up to 225 km/h. They were the most powerful single frame locomotives in the world of their time.
, with an option of increasing speeds to over 200 km/h in the near future.
Orders were placed with AEG
and Siemens
/Henschel
for two locomotives each. AEG built locomotives with serial numbers E 19 01 and E 19 02, and those built by Siemens/Henschel were numbered E 19 11 and E 19 12. Both types were developed from the successful class E 18
. The helical spring gear and rigid 1'Do1' frame were taken largely unchanged from the E 18. However, in anticipation of the higher loads, the suspension was strengthened and power output increased by 500 kW. Length over buffers is the same as E 18, and external differences are mainly in the arrangement of fans and windows. Since the Reichsbahn also wanted to make a comparison between the two biggest electrical companies in Germany, especially in the field of power electronics, the delivered locomotives were slightly different from each other. The two built by AEG (subclass E 19.0) were a modernized version of the E 18. The enclosure panels were welded instead of riveted and the engines were fitted with a modified precision regulator, which, despite smoother switching transitions, only had 20 speed steps (compared to 29 on the E 18). The other two by Siemens/Henschel (subclass E 19.1) were of a more conventional riveted construction, but had a modern dynamic brake to keep braking distances as short as possible. This resulted in a distinctive hump-like roof structure compared to the E 19.0.
The E 19 01 entered service in 1938 with a black frame and burgundy body with white pinstripes. Extensive testing was conducted on all four locomotives in 1939-1940. Because of World War II
no more were built. High-speed tests at up to 225 km/h were planned, but never took place. The E 19 01 and 02 could not adhere to the standard braking distance of 1000 meters because of insufficient braking power. It was hoped that the new electric brakes of the E 19 11 and 12 would solve this problem, but they could not be tested thoroughly before the war. As such, there was no conclusion to whether the E 19 could have reached the planned top speed in normal service.
. The top speed had already been reduced to 140 km/h in the 1950s by a gearbox and motor conversion, to make them more suitable for their new main application on the Franconian Forest Railway
. The two surviving museum locomotives still have this configuration and have not been restored to their original state. The livery was later changed to blue/black. The locomotives were stationed at the Nuremberg depot and mainly used between Nuremberg
on Frankenwald
and Probstzella
in the DDR
, as well as between Nuremberg and Regensburg
. At times they were stationed at Hagen. The last E 19 (119 002) was retired in 1978, the others having been taken out of service in 1975 and 1977.
, was also restored to the original red livery after the "150 years of rail transport in Germany" anniversary. 119 002 and 011 were scrapped at Munich.
Electric locomotive
An electric locomotive is a locomotive powered by electricity from overhead lines, a third rail or an on-board energy storage device...
of the class E 19 (class 119 from 1968) were the fastest electric locomotives of 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...
. They reached a maximum speed of 180 km/h, but were designed for speeds up to 225 km/h. They were the most powerful single frame locomotives in the world of their time.
History
In 1937, Deutsche Reichsbahn proposed electric locomotives for the route Berlin-Halle (Saale)-Munich to provide a high-speed service with a top speed of 180 km/h and a speed of 60 km/h on the gradients of the Franconian Forest RailwayFranconian Forest Railway
The Franconian Forest Railway , route no. KBS 840, is an 88 kilometre long, electrified, double-tracked main line from Lichtenfels via Kronach to Saalfeld. It is part of the Munich–Nuremberg–Bamberg–Jena–Halle/Leipzig–Berlin trunk route...
, with an option of increasing speeds to over 200 km/h in the near future.
Orders were placed with AEG
AEG
Allgemeine Elektricitäts-Gesellschaft was a German producer of electrical equipment founded in 1883 by Emil Rathenau....
and Siemens
Siemens AG
Siemens AG is a German multinational conglomerate company headquartered in Munich, Germany. It is the largest Europe-based electronics and electrical engineering company....
/Henschel
Henschel & Son
Henschel & Son was a German company, situated in Kassel, best known during the 20th century as a maker of transportation equipment, including locomotives, trucks, buses and trolleybuses, and armoured fighting vehicles and weapons....
for two locomotives each. AEG built locomotives with serial numbers E 19 01 and E 19 02, and those built by Siemens/Henschel were numbered E 19 11 and E 19 12. Both types were developed from the successful class E 18
DRG Class E 18
The Deutsche Bundesbahn Baureihe E 18 is a class of electric locomotives in Germany, originally operated by Deutsche Reichsbahn-Gesellschaft...
. The helical spring gear and rigid 1'Do1' frame were taken largely unchanged from the E 18. However, in anticipation of the higher loads, the suspension was strengthened and power output increased by 500 kW. Length over buffers is the same as E 18, and external differences are mainly in the arrangement of fans and windows. Since the Reichsbahn also wanted to make a comparison between the two biggest electrical companies in Germany, especially in the field of power electronics, the delivered locomotives were slightly different from each other. The two built by AEG (subclass E 19.0) were a modernized version of the E 18. The enclosure panels were welded instead of riveted and the engines were fitted with a modified precision regulator, which, despite smoother switching transitions, only had 20 speed steps (compared to 29 on the E 18). The other two by Siemens/Henschel (subclass E 19.1) were of a more conventional riveted construction, but had a modern dynamic brake to keep braking distances as short as possible. This resulted in a distinctive hump-like roof structure compared to the E 19.0.
The E 19 01 entered service in 1938 with a black frame and burgundy body with white pinstripes. Extensive testing was conducted on all four locomotives in 1939-1940. Because of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
no more were built. High-speed tests at up to 225 km/h were planned, but never took place. The E 19 01 and 02 could not adhere to the standard braking distance of 1000 meters because of insufficient braking power. It was hoped that the new electric brakes of the E 19 11 and 12 would solve this problem, but they could not be tested thoroughly before the war. As such, there was no conclusion to whether the E 19 could have reached the planned top speed in normal service.
Deutsche Bundesbahn
All four locomotives were transferred to the Deutsche BundesbahnDeutsche Bundesbahn
The Deutsche Bundesbahn or DB was formed as the state railway of the newly established Federal Republic of Germany on September 7, 1949 as a successor of the Deutsche Reichsbahn-Gesellschaft '...
. The top speed had already been reduced to 140 km/h in the 1950s by a gearbox and motor conversion, to make them more suitable for their new main application on the Franconian Forest Railway
Franconian Forest Railway
The Franconian Forest Railway , route no. KBS 840, is an 88 kilometre long, electrified, double-tracked main line from Lichtenfels via Kronach to Saalfeld. It is part of the Munich–Nuremberg–Bamberg–Jena–Halle/Leipzig–Berlin trunk route...
. The two surviving museum locomotives still have this configuration and have not been restored to their original state. The livery was later changed to blue/black. The locomotives were stationed at the Nuremberg depot and mainly used between Nuremberg
Nuremberg
Nuremberg[p] is a city in the German state of Bavaria, in the administrative region of Middle Franconia. Situated on the Pegnitz river and the Rhine–Main–Danube Canal, it is located about north of Munich and is Franconia's largest city. The population is 505,664...
on Frankenwald
Frankenwald
thumb|View to DöbrabergThe Franconian Forest is a mid-altitude mountain range in Northern Bavaria, Germany. It is located in the district of Upper Franconia and forms the geological connection between the Fichtelgebirge and the Thuringian Forest...
and Probstzella
Probstzella
Probstzella is a municipality in the district Saalfeld-Rudolstadt, in Thuringia, Germany.-History:Between 1945 and 1990 Probstzella station served as East German inner German border crossing for rail transport...
in the DDR
DDR
DDR may refer to:In entertainment:*Dance Dance Revolution, a music video game series by Konami*DDR , a Norwegian rock band singing in German.*DDR , a Greenlandic punk band singing in Danish.In organizations:...
, as well as between Nuremberg and Regensburg
Regensburg
Regensburg is a city in Bavaria, Germany, located at the confluence of the Danube and Regen rivers, at the northernmost bend in the Danube. To the east lies the Bavarian Forest. Regensburg is the capital of the Bavarian administrative region Upper Palatinate...
. At times they were stationed at Hagen. The last E 19 (119 002) was retired in 1978, the others having been taken out of service in 1975 and 1977.
Preservation
E 19 01 and 12 have been preserved. E 19 01 is stationed at the German Museum of Technology in Berlin, with red livery. The E 19 12, stationed at the Nuremberg Transport MuseumNuremberg Transport Museum
The Nuremberg Transport Museum is based in Nuremberg, Germany, and consists of the Deutsche Bahn's own DB Museum and the Museum of Communications . It also has two satellite museums at Koblenz-Lützel and Halle...
, was also restored to the original red livery after the "150 years of rail transport in Germany" anniversary. 119 002 and 011 were scrapped at Munich.