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Freight Electric Locomotives with Rod Drive[Inhalt]
Bavarian EG 4
German Reichsbahn E 79
Germany | 1923
2 produced
E 79 02 in the year 1927
E 79 02 in the year 1927
Reichsverkehrsministerium/Filmstelle

The E 79 series comprised only two locomotives that were ordered by the Bavarian Reichsbahn group administration in 1923 to cope with the increased freight train weights on the Freilassing-Berchtesgaden route. Due to technical problems during development and production, they were not delivered until 1927 and were given the new Reichsbahn designation instead of the Bavarian designation EG 4. The body construction part came from Maffei in Munich and the electrical equipment was developed by Pöge Electricity AG in Chemnitz.

In order to be able to master the up to four percent steep inclines, the design envisaged heavy loomotives with a 1-C-1 wheel arrangement. However, since the necessary electrical equipment turned out to be significantly heavier than originally thought, the design was changed to the 2-D-1 wheel arrangement. Despite the two additional axles, the axle load reached almost 20 tonnes. The bogie was connected to the first coupled axle with a Krauss-Lotter bogie and the trailing axle was guided in a Bissel truck. Power was provided by two high-speed electric motors whose speed was reduced by a common reduction gear. This in turn transferred the power to two jackshafts, which finally drove the four axles with 1,250 mm wheels via coupling rods

In addition to freight trains, the two locomotives were also used to pull passenger trains, whereby the low power compared to other modern electric locomotives was noticeable. However, since they still had an adhesive weight of almost 80 tonnes, they were increasingly used as pusher locomotives on the steep and winding route. In the years that followed, the two machines were not really convincing in operation. In addition to the small number of locomotives, the procurement of spare parts was made more difficult by the fact that Pöge was not one of the typical companies that supplied assemblies for Reichsbahn locomotives. In addition, one of the two locomotives stood out in particular with excessively frequent defects. After delivery of the considerably lighter and nevertheless more powerful E 44, the two E 79s could be dispensed with and they were retired in 1941 and 1942 respectively.

General
Built1923
Manufacturermechanical part: Maffei, electrical part: Pöge
Axle config2-D-1 
Gauge4 ft 8 1/2 in (Standard gauge)
Dimensions and Weights
Length50 ft 0 9/16 in
Wheelbase36 ft 7 in
Service weight261,688 lbs
Adhesive weight171,079 lbs
Axle load43,651 lbs
Boiler
Power Plant
Power
Power sourceelectric - AC
Electric system15.000 V 16⅔ Hz
Hourly power1,985 hp (1,480 kW)
Continuous power1,582 hp (1,180 kW)
Top speed40 mph
Starting effort44,063 lbf
Calculated Values
electric locomotive
freight
last changed: 02/2022
Bern-Lötschberg-Simplon Railway F 2x3/3
Bern-Neuenburg Railway F 2x3/3
Switzerland | 1910
only one produced
From the book “Electric traction for railway trains” from 1911
From the book “Electric traction for railway trains” from 1911

The F 2x3/3 was the counterpart to the Fb 2x2/3 in the trial runs for the Lötschberg railway. It was ordered from the Swiss locomotive and machine factory in Winterthur and got the electrical equipment from Oerlikon. Unlike its competitor, it was a single-frame locomotive standing on two bogies. These each had three coupled axles and no carrying axles and were coupled to one another. The series motors acted on the inner axles via jackshafts and diagonal rods. Because the axles were fixed in the inner frame, the running characteristics had to be compromised. Since the couplers and buffers were also located on the bogies, the locomotive frame was relieved of the pulling and pushing forces.

Since the housings of the engines were open, it was found that the targeted hourly output of 1,000 hp could be maintained without the ventilation switched on and that this could also be used effectively as a continuous output. The locomotive thus reached 42 km/h at a gradient of 1.55 percent with a car load of 500 tonnes. At 2.7 percent, it was still able to maintain the same speed with 310 tonnes and was therefore superior to the Fb 2x2/3. The fact that the top speed later had to be reduced from 70 to 60 km/h due to the chassis design was accepted. The locomotive continued to be used and was renamed Ce 6/6 according to a new scheme, but was increasingly used on flatter routes with the appearance of the more powerful Be 5/7. In 1928 it was sold to the Bern-Neuchâtel Railway and remained in service there for another 40 years. It was then scrapped, but one bogie with attached traction motor has been preserved and can be viewed in the Lucerne Museum of Transport.

Variantas builtnew transformer
General
Built1910
Manufacturermechanical part: SLM, electrical part: Oerlikon
Axle configC-C 
Gauge4 ft 8 1/2 in (Standard gauge)
Dimensions and Weights
Length49 ft 3 5/16 in
Wheelbase35 ft 1 1/4 in
Rigid wheelbase13 ft 3 7/16 in
Service weight189,597 lbs198,416 lbs
Adhesive weight189,597 lbs198,416 lbs
Axle load33,069 lbs34,172 lbs
Boiler
Variantas builtnew transformer
Power Plant
Power
Power sourceelectric - AC
Electric system15.000 V 16⅔ Hz
Continuous power1,973 hp (1,471 kW)
Top speed43 mph37 mph
Starting effort28,551 lbf
Calculated Values
electric locomotive
freight
passenger
last changed: 03/2022
Burgdorf-Thun Railway Fc 2x2/2
Bern-Neuenburg Railway Ce 4/4
Switzerland | 1910
2 produced
No. 3 in a contemporary photo
No. 3 in a contemporary photo
archive Arthur Meyer
VariantNo. 3No. 4
General
Built19101918
Manufacturermechanical part: SLM, electrical part: BBC
Axle configB-B 
Gauge4 ft 8 1/2 in (Standard gauge)
Dimensions and Weights
Length41 ft 11 15/16 in45 ft 11 3/16 in
Wheelbase30 ft 10 1/16 in34 ft 9 5/16 in
Service weight92,594 lbs97,003 lbs
Adhesive weight92,594 lbs97,003 lbs
Axle load23,149 lbs24,251 lbs
Boiler
VariantNo. 3No. 4
Power Plant
Power
Power sourceelectric - three-phase
Electric system750 V 40 Hz
Hourly power570 hp (425 kW)496 hp (370 kW)
Top speed37 mph
Starting effort19,334 lbf21,806 lbf
Calculated Values
electric locomotive
freight
German Reichsbahn E 77
originally Bavarian EG 3 and Prussian EG 701 to 725
Germany | 1924
56 produced
E 77 10 in September 2007 at the Fürth locomotive meeting
E 77 10 in September 2007 at the Fürth locomotive meeting
Magnus Gertkemper

The later E 77 was one of the first series of electric locomotives that the Reichsbahn procured simultaneously for several directorates, i.e. for several former state railways. They were developed as lighter multi-purpose locomotives, which should primarily be used in front of freight trains and, if necessary, also in front of passenger trains. At the time of their commissioning, the Munich engines were given the Bavarian designation EG 3 and the Halle machines were given the consecutive Prussian numbers EG 701 to EG 725.

The locomotives consisted of two chassis groups supporting a three-part body. Each chassis consisted of a carrying axle with 1,000 mm wheels and two powered axles with 1,400 mm wheel diameters. In each of these two chassis was an electric motor with an hourly output of 940 kW and a continuous output of 800 kW. After the rotational speed was reduced by a reduction gear, the motors delivered their power to the two coupled axles via a crankshaft and diagonal rods. The two outer parts of the car body were firmly attached to the running gear. In addition to some of the electrical equipment, they accommodated the driver's cabs, which initially had connecting doors on the front sides, which were later removed. The middle part of the body formed a bridge between the ball pivots of the chassis groups and contained the transformer. Bellows and transition plates ensured that one could move between the driver's cabs or access the electrical equipment without having to leave the locomotive.

The 56 pieces delivered between 1924 and 1926 were not completely convincing due to some technical problems. The initially unsatisfactory running characteristics were subsequently improved by installing the carrying axles movable with spring return. However, this conversion could not prevent the engines from continuing to run unsteady in the top ten km/h of their speed range. Another point of criticism were the connections between the three parts of the body, which contained many moving electrical connections. The latter were often the reason for problems and defects.

In the course of time, all Munich locomotives ended up in the Reichsbahn divisions in Halle and Hanover. After the war, three locomotives were too badly damaged to repair. Of the 53 remaining, 42 went to the Soviet Union. Individual parts were also taken away by the rest, so that they could no longer be used. In 1952 and 1953, 38 returned to the GDR, of which only ten could be refurbished. These were used until enough new electric locomotives were available, so that all but E 77 10 were retired by 1968.

Variantas builtrebuilt
General
Built1924-1926
Manufacturermechanical part: BMAG, Krauss, LHW, electrical part: BMS
Axle config1B-B1 1-B+B-1 
Gauge4 ft 8 1/2 in (Standard gauge)
Dimensions and Weights
Length53 ft 3 3/4 in
Wheelbase39 ft 8 3/8 in
Service weight249,122 lbs
Adhesive weight171,079 lbs
Axle load43,651 lbs
Boiler
Variantas builtrebuilt
Power Plant
Power
Power sourceelectric - AC
Electric system15.000 V 16⅔ Hz
Hourly power2,521 hp (1,880 kW)
Continuous power2,146 hp (1,600 kW)
Top speed40 mph
Starting effort52,830 lbf
Calculated Values
electric locomotive
passenger
freight
rod drive
last changed: 02/2022
German Reichsbahn E 91
German Federal Railway class 191
Germany | 1925
46 produced
191 099 as a museum locomotive with the original number E 91 99 in October 1987 near Füssen
191 099 as a museum locomotive with the original number E 91 99 in October 1987 near Füssen
Werner & Hansjörg Brutzer

The locomotives of the class E 91 were heavy freight locomotives for use in the mountains, which had been developed on the basis of the E 77 procured from 1924. In contrast, however, the E 91 featured six powered axles, higher power and lower speed for greater pulling power.

Like its predecessor, it was a locomotive with a three-part body, which was mounted on only two long bogies. Above each bogie were two motors, which gave their power to the coupled wheels via a common jackshaft. The structure of the bogies was similar to that of the E 77, but instead of the carrying axles there was a third coupled axle

The first pieces were delivered for the Bavarian and Silesian network with Bavarian or Prussian numbers. The Bavarian engines were first designated as EG 5 with the numbers 22 501 to 22 516 and the Prussian ones as EG 581 to 594. A short time later the former became the E 910 with the serial numbers 01 to 16 and the latter to the E 918 with serial numbers 81 to 94, although they were almost identical. The only recognizable difference was the gangway doors on the front sides of the EG 5. In 1927 further examples were added, which were delivered directly with road numbers E 91 17 to 20. With an hourly output of 2,200 kW, a top speed of only 55 km/h and the high adhesive weight, the engines were able to achieve very high tractive forces on inclines. At one percent, a 1,200-tonne freight train could be pulled at 35 km/h. If it was used in front of passenger trains, these could be pulled at 500 tonnes on the same gradients at 45 km/h.

In 1929, the Reichsbahn procured twelve more units that were supposed to be even better suited for steep sections. Particular attention was paid to the descents, as conventional brakes could easily become exhausted there with heavy trains. For this reason, an electric brake was installed, which had previously been tested on the E 95 02. Although they didn't increase power, they used the latest advances in technology to reduce weight. Despite the newly added braking system, the weight of the locomotives was reduced by over seven tonnes. They were delivered as E 919 with the serial numbers 95 to 105 and stationed in the Silesian network.

In the years that followed, the Reichsbahn left the former Bavarian machines in Bavaria, while the Prussian machines also came to other parts of the country, including the southwestern region. Some examples were retired by the end of the war, the remaining Silesian machines came to the Eastern Zone a few months after the end of the war. The latter fared like almost all electric locomotives in the east, they were taken to the Soviet Union and returned to the GDR in 1952/53 in poor condition. A planned preparation for the Rübelandbahn was abandoned, since isolated operation with the 25 kV/50 Hz power system was being set up there.

The Bundesbahn had received 23 of the original 46 engines and continued to use them in freight service on electrified mountain routes. Between 1957 and 1960 all locomotives of the slightly different types were modernized according to the same pattern. They were redesignated as class 191 in 1968, but decommissioning began the following year. This was completed by 1975 and today only 191 099 is in good condition. It is currently in the Augsburg railway park and used to run as a museum locomotive with some parts of the 191 100, which today is sitting only almost complete on the outside.

VariantE 910 and E 918E 919
General
Built1925-19291929
Manufacturermechanical part: Krauss, electrical part: WASSEGmechanical part: AEG, electrical part: WASSEG
Axle configC-C 
Gauge4 ft 8 1/2 in (Standard gauge)
Dimensions and Weights
Length54 ft 9 1/2 in56 ft 9 1/8 in
Wheelbase38 ft 7 in
Rigid wheelbase14 ft 9 3/16 in
Service weight272,711 lbs256,618 lbs
Adhesive weight272,711 lbs256,618 lbs
Axle load45,636 lbs43,211 lbs
Boiler
VariantE 910 and E 918E 919
Power Plant
Power
Power sourceelectric - AC
Electric system15.000 V 16⅔ Hz
Hourly power2,950 hp (2,200 kW)
Continuous power2,226 hp (1,660 kW)
Top speed34 mph
Starting effort66,094 lbf
Calculated Values
electric locomotive
freight
rod drive
last changed: 02/2022
Italian State Railway E.550
Italy | 1908
186 produced
E.550.025 in August 1970 at the National Museum of Transportation in St. Louis
E.550.025 in August 1970 at the National Museum of Transportation in St. Louis
Hugh Llewelyn
General
Built1908-1921
ManufacturerSocietà Italiana Westinghouse
Axle configE
Gauge4 ft 8 1/2 in (Standard gauge)
Dimensions and Weights
Length31 ft 2 13/16 in
Wheelbase20 ft 0 15/16 in
Rigid wheelbase12 ft 7 3/16 in
Service weight138,891 lbs
Adhesive weight138,891 lbs
Axle load27,778 lbs
Boiler
Power Plant
Power
Power sourceelectric - three-phase
Electric system3.600 V 16⅔ Hz
Continuous power2,012 hp (1,500 kW)
Top speed31 mph
Calculated Values
electric locomotive
freight
Italian State Railway E.551
Italy | 1921
183 produced
E.551.001 at the National Railway Museum in Pietrarsa
E.551.001 at the National Railway Museum in Pietrarsa
Sandro Baldi
General
Built1921-1925
Manufacturerdiverse
Axle configE 
Gauge4 ft 8 1/2 in (Standard gauge)
Dimensions and Weights
Length36 ft 1 7/16 in
Wheelbase20 ft 11 3/16 in
Rigid wheelbase13 ft 5 7/16 in
Service weight165,346 lbs
Adhesive weight165,346 lbs
Axle load33,069 lbs
Boiler
Power Plant
Power
Power sourceelectric - three-phase
Electric system3.600 V 16⅔ Hz
Hourly power2,682 hp (2,000 kW)
Top speed31 mph
Calculated Values
electric locomotive
freight
Italian State Railway E.554
Italy | 1928
183 produced
E.554.174 on display at the former factory of Tecnomasio Italiano Brown Boveri, now Bombardier, in June 2012
E.554.174 on display at the former factory of Tecnomasio Italiano Brown Boveri, now Bombardier, in June 2012
Luciano Marcon
General
Built1928-1930
Manufacturerdiverse
Axle configE
Gauge4 ft 8 1/2 in (Standard gauge)
Dimensions and Weights
Length35 ft 5 3/16 in
Wheelbase21 ft 7 13/16 in
Rigid wheelbase12 ft 1 11/16 in
Service weight169,756 lbs
Adhesive weight169,756 lbs
Axle load33,951 lbs
Boiler
Power Plant
Power
Power sourceelectric - three-phase
Electric system3.600 V 16⅔ Hz
Hourly power2,682 hp (2,000 kW)
Continuous power2,347 hp (1,750 kW)
Top speed31 mph
Starting effort31,473 lbf
Calculated Values
electric locomotive
freight
Norfolk & Western classes LC-1 and LC-2
United States | 1914
16 produced
LC-1 with a freight train
LC-1 with a freight train
Railway and Locomotive Engineering, June 1915

The Norfolk & Western Railway had Westinghouse electrify 27 miles of the route over the Elkhorn Grade in the years 1913 to 1915. This had become necessary because the route had an average gradient of two percent, which is why the 3,000-ton coal trains had to be pulled by several heavy Mallet steam locomotives. In addition, the 3,100 feet long Elkhorn Tunnel was only allowed to be used by the steam locomotives at 6 mph and was therefore a major bottleneck. The Baldwin-Westinhouse cooperation supplied twelve heavy double locomotives for operation on the 11 kV and 25 hertz electrified route.

These locomotives consisted of two halves, in each of which two bogies with two driven axles each had a double motor. These motors were operated with three-phase current, which was generated by a rotating phase converter. For the first time in history on heavy freight locomotives, these motors could be used for electrical braking. Although two double locomotives were still usually required for a train, traffic could be significantly accelerated. In each case, one LC-1 was offset against three class Z-1 mallets.

When an additional 25 miles of this line was electrified in the 1920's, four more double LC-2 class locomotives were ordered. In these, the four driven axles were mounted in a common frame and the leading and trailing axles were mounted individually. While the hourly output of the LC-1 was 2,400 kW, it was 3,540 kW for the LC-2. All locomotives were retired in 1950 because after the Second World War a second, double-track Elkhorn Tunnel was built, which only had a gradient of 1.4 percent.

VariantLC-1LC-2
General
Built1914-19151924-1925
Manufacturermechanical part: Baldwin, electrical part: Westinghouse
Axle config(1-B+B-1)+(1-B+B-1) (1-D-1)+(1-D-1) 
Gauge4 ft 8 1/2 in (Standard gauge)
Dimensions and Weights
Length105 ft 8 1/8 in
Wheelbase83 ft 10 in
Service weight600,100 lbs828,000 lbs
Adhesive weight440,000 lbs600,000 lbs
Axle load55,000 lbs75,000 lbs
Boiler
VariantLC-1LC-2
Power Plant
Power
Power sourceelectric - AC
Electric system11,000 V 25 Hz
Hourly power3,200 hp (2,386 kW)4,750 hp (3,542 kW)
Top speed28 mph
Starting effort133,000 lbf195,500 lbf
Calculated Values
electric locomotive
freight
two-section
three-phase AC
last changed: 04/2022
Prussian EG 502 to 505
German Reichsbahn E 700
Germany | 1911
4 produced
EG 502, the AEG machine, on a factory photo of the same
EG 502, the AEG machine, on a factory photo of the same

Like the ES 1 to ES 3, the EG 502 to EG 505 were a series of experimental electric locomotives that were all mechanically developed and built by Hanomag, but whose electrical equipment came from different manufacturers. The aim was to examine different drive technology solutions under the same conditions.

The electrical part of the four locomotives came from AEG, Felten & Guilleaume, Brown Boveri & Cie. and the Siemens-Schuckert-Werke. Two locomotives each had an hourly output of 800 and 600 hp (588 or 441 kW) and due to the different designs of the motors and gearboxes, there were significantly different starting tractive forces. The chassis consisted of four wheelsets fixed in the frame, which were arranged in two groups of two each. In the middle was the jackshaft, via which all wheel sets were driven by means of coupling rods. The different weights of the different versions resulted in an axle load of between 15 and 16.7 tonnes.

The test runs on the test track between Dessau and Bitterfeld were positive for all four locomotives, which is why a direct transition to planned operation was planned. When the start of the First World War meant the end of electrical operations in the Halle subdivision network, they were transferred to Silesia for use on the mountainous routes there. After returning to Central Germany in 1923, it quickly became apparent that the locomotives were no longer up to the increased demands in terms of power and speed. Like some other early electric locomotives, they were finally handed over to the Wiesen- and Wehratalbahn, which were electrified in 1913. They were given the numbers E 70 02 to E 70 05 by the Reichsbahn and were retired by 1930.

VariantEG 502EG 503EG 504EG 505
General
Built1911191319111912
Manufacturermechanical part: Hanomag, electrical part: AEGmechanical part: Hanomag, electrical part: FGLmechanical part: Hanomag, electrical part: BBCmechanical part: Hanomag, electrical part: SSW
Axle configD 
Gauge4 ft 8 1/2 in (Standard gauge)
Dimensions and Weights
Length34 ft 5 3/8 in
Wheelbase15 ft 9 in
Rigid wheelbase15 ft 9 in
Service weight145,505 lbs142,418 lbs132,498 lbs147,269 lbs
Adhesive weight145,505 lbs142,418 lbs132,498 lbs147,269 lbs
Axle load36,376 lbs35,715 lbs33,069 lbs36,817 lbs
Boiler
VariantEG 502EG 503EG 504EG 505
Power Plant
Power
Power sourceelectric - AC
Electric system15.000 V 16⅔ Hz
Hourly power789 hp (588 kW)591 hp (441 kW)
Continuous power445 hp (332 kW)591 hp (441 kW)492 hp (367 kW)
Top speed31 mph
Starting effort37,543 lbf19,783 lbf22,031 lbf
Calculated Values
electric locomotive
freight
prototype
rod drive
last changed: 02/2022
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