Friedrich Krupp AG Knapsack

Although the large companies in industry and the mining sector mainly ordered diesel locomotives for shunting and transfer services after the war, steam locomotives continued to be built for these purposes. Since simple locomotives with saturated engines were sufficient here, Krupp included a six-coupled tank locomotive that had already been delivered in 1935 in the post-war program. Since this locomotive was then delivered to a fertilizer factory in Hürth-Knapsack, the type was given the name “Knapsack”.

In terms of size and weight, the locomotives roughly corresponded to the class 89⁰ standard locomotive, in terms of power they were somewhere between its saturated and superheated versions. With a wheel diameter of 1,100 mm, speeds of up to 45 km/h were possible and with an axle load of less than 15 tonnes, it could be used on almost all standard-gauge industrial railways. Of the twelve units sold in Germany, the largest order, five, went to a colliery in Neukirchen-Vluyn. Three more pieces were exported to Turkey.

Today there are still six units, one of which has been in service with the Hespertalbahn since 2000 and was parked at the end of 2016 when the deadline had expired. Currently, the Hespertalbahn states that the locomotive is being refurbished and will undergo a general inspection.