The Class03 steam engines were standard express train locomotives (Einheitslokomotivenn) in service with the Deutsche Reichsbahn.

History

The Class03 engines were built between 1930 and 1938 as express train locomotives for routes that were only suitable for axle loads of up to 18tonnes. 298 examples of this engine, whose construction was based on the Class 01, were built by the firms of Borsig, Krupp, Henschel, and Schwartzkopff.

Its reduced weight was achieved by the use of a light sectional frame, smaller boiler and smaller cylinders. From engine number 03123 onwards the pumps were located in the centre of the locomotive and from number 03163 the locos had larger leading wheels.

Locomotive number 03154 was equipped with a parabolic smokebox door, a tapered driver's cab and driving gear cover plates. Number 03193 was given a wine-red, streamlined, full covering and a 2′3T37St tender, in order to replace the Class 05. 03204 and 03205 had driving gear cover plates for experimental purposes. Locomotive numbers 03175 and 03207 had Lentz valve gear, also as an experiment.

Until 1959, 145 Class03 locomotives were in the Deutsche Bundesbahn's operating fleet, of which 62engines (03005 to 03122) had air and feed pumps on the smokebox, small leading wheels (850mm diameter) and a top speed of 120km/h, 16machines (03127 to 03160) had air and feed pumps between the middle and rear driving wheels, small leading wheels (850mm diameter) and a top speed of 120km/h and 67engines (03164 to 03296) had air and feed pumps between the middle and rear driving wheels, scissor-block brakes (Scherenklotzbremsen), large leading wheels (1,000mm diameter) and a top speed of 130km/h.

In 1968 there were still 45units, now designated as Class003, remaining in the operational fleet. They were stabled at the following locomotive sheds: two at the Braunschweig shed, six at Bremen Main Station, 13 at Hamburg-Altona, one at Husum, 16 in Mönchengladbach and seven at Ulm.

The last ten locomotives of Class003 were on duty from 1971 at Ulm; in 1972 the last ones, nos. 003088, 003131 and 003268, were withdrawn from service.

The DR in East Germany had 86engines in its fleet. From 1962 they equipped their vehicles with mixer preheaters.

35 03 pacifics went to Poland after World War 2, along with ten streamlined 03.10s. The Polish version of the Class 03, the Pm2 (running number 34), can be seen at the railway museum in Warsaw.

The locomotives of this class had 2′2T30, 2′2′T32 and 2′2′T34 tenders.

See also

• List of DRG locomotives and railbuses

• DRB Class 03.10

Literature