BR 52

The Deutsche Reichsbahn's Class 52 is a German steam locomotive built in large numbers during the Second World War. It was the most produced type of the so-called Kriegslokomotiven or Kriegsloks (war locomotives). The Class 52 was a wartime development of the pre-war DRG Class 50, using fewer parts and less expensive materials to speed production. They were designed by Richard Wagner who was Chief Engineer of the Central Design Office at the Locomotive Standards Bureau of the DRG. About a dozen classes of locomotive were referred to as Kriegslokomotiven, however the three main classes were the Class 52, 50 and 42.

BR 52.80

The Rekolokomotives of DR Class 52.80 first appeared in 1960 in service with the Deutsche Reichsbahn in East Germanyas extensive rebuilds of the wartime locomotives or Kriegslokomotiven of DRB Class 52. This modernisation, described as 'reconstruction' (Rekonstruktion, hence Rekolokomotive), extended to almost all of the components and systems on the engine.

Wannentender

During the Second World War, tenders were built in large numbers in Germany with simplified construction, whereby the water tank was made from trough-shaped bent sheets. The advantage of the Wannentenders lies in the fact that the tub is self-supporting. The tender thus requires no special frame, the material is thus saved. The disadvantage that the Wannentender the available clearance profileonly inadequately uses, goes back behind it. The lower water content and the resulting lower overall weight were not relevant for the "light" series 50 and 52 (about 15.2 t wheelset mass) and the series 42 (wheelset mass about 17.6 t), since the maximum wheelset mass was already limited by the locomotive. In contrast, the Wannentender were coupled only in exceptional cases with the series 44 (wheelset driving mass 19.3 t). Trough tenders run on freight wagon bogies of the unit type from press plate.

Steifrahmentender


Due to the shortage of materials in the Second World War, in addition to the Wannentendern also the stiffening frame transmitter was developed, in which all four axles stored in an outer frame. These tenders were developed by the Lokomotivfabrik Floridsdorf in Vienna and later also built by the Raxwerke in Wiener Neustadt and the Eisenwerke Kaiserslautern. They were coupled with locomotives of the DR 52 series as well as individual specimens of the DR 50 series.

Today, there is only one more single-rail trailer of the DRB type K4 T30 in Austria , which has been converted into an extinguishing foam vehicle. It is planned to return this to its original state, to be coupled with the 52.100 in the future. In Germany , this type of tender can still be seen on the 52 6666 in the former railway depot Berlin-Schöneweide .

Steifrahmentender with rigidly mounted axles were found in Austria for weight reasons more common than Drehgestelltender. The first of this type was the Südbahn tender series SB 570 in 1915, later designated at the BBÖ as SB Tenderreihe 87 . All other tender series were then of this type. The BBÖ Tenderreihe 84 was used for the famous BBÖ 214 and the BBÖ Tenderreihe 85 for the 2'D speed loco range BBÖ 113 . The only turntables in Austria remained the KkStB Tenderreihe 86 , built from 1902 to 1916, which were mainly coupled with the express train KkStB 310 , as well as the special designKkStB Tender Series 88 from 1916 with internally mounted wheelsets; an attempt to reduce weight. By comparison, a '86 tender 'had 6 tons less coal than an '85. Thus, the Floridsdorfer Stifrahmentender for the DR series 52 is a further development of the much lighter tender design of the Austrian railways.

Cabinentender


The cabin tender is a tender design in which a small space for the freight train attendant / driver was set up, whereby the goods train accompanying car could be saved. The cab is located behind the coal box and can be accessed from either side of the tender by a door. The installation of the cabin reduces the stocks of the tender. Cabin tender originated at the DB from tenders 2'2'T26 of the BR 50 and at the ÖBBfrom Wannentendern Rh 9593 (formerly DR K2'2'T30), which thus became the Rh 9793. These were coupled with class 42, 52 and 152 locomotives.

With a length of 2080 mm, a width of 1400 mm and a mean height of 2253 mm, the DB cabs were slightly smaller than those of the ÖBB tender. Two large windows to the rear (with manual windscreen wiper) and the two door windows offered good visibility. The walls of the cabin were clad with plastic panels, a worktable was enough over the entire length of the cabin. A padded folding seat in front of the table and a swiveling table lamp offered good working conditions for the driver . Right and left of the table were in the swivel areathe doors still two emergency folding seats. Two shelves with bins, a sink, a water kettle and four coat hooks completed the equipment. The cabin was heated by underfloor heating and two radiators powered by the locomotive's steam heating system .

At the DB, the Lingen repair shop took over series production of the tenders in 1958, after having gained experience with several test-type tenders. In August 1962, finally, 735 tenders were rebuilt.