The kkStB class 97 has its origins in four locomotives built in 1878 for the Mährisch-Schlesische Centralbahn (MSCB). They were light 0-6-0T tank locomotives for use on secondary lines with an axle loading of less than ten tonnes. In the years until 1911, a total of 228 locomotives were built by all Austrian factories. Some were directly delivered to private railway companies, but most were operated by the kkStB, partially for use on local railways by the kkStB.
The class 97 had inside frames, outside cylinders and outside Allan valve gear. Their haulage capacity was 450 tonnes at 40 km/h on the level and 130 tonnes at 20 km/h on inclines of two percent. Depending on the year of production, the design was upgraded in many details. The first locomotives did not even have a cab and later ones additionally got upgrades in the brakes, valve gear and boiler and also received greater water and coal supplies. Ultimately, this led to an axle load of more than ten tonnes with full supplies.
This class could be found on secondary lines in every corner in the Austrian part of the Empire in service with light trains or in shunting service. Their appearance earned them the nickname “Kaffeemühle” (coffee grinder), or “Kafemlejnek” in Czech-speaking regions. The Südbahn used four and called them class 100. The class 197 was a successor, but less successful.
After World War I, 133 locomotives, more than half of the total production, went to the ČSD as class 310.0. Others became PKP TKh12, JDŽ class 150, FS class 822 and CFR class 97. The BBÖ now only owned 31, which were still called class 97. The Reichsbahn took over 19 in 1938, which were designated class 9870 and 16 of which made it to the ÖBB as class 89. The ÖBB retired the last one in 1958 and the ČSD did the same in 1968. Today a double-digit number is being preserved, some of them are still in working condition.
