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German Reichsbahn T 38 3255
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Germany | 1926
only one produced
Image of locomotive
Henschel

To increase the efficiency of steam locomotives, Richard Paul Wagner had the idea to mount an exhaust turbine not on the locomotive, but in the tender. He designed a tender with the wheel arrangement 2-4-4, where the exhaust from the cylinders of the locomotive powered a 600 hp turbine that was connected to a crank shaft and two axles. After the steam had been cooled to ambient temperature, it was separated from oil and fed back into the water tank. A second, smaller turbine was installed for reversing.

The locomotive used for trials was a Prussian P 8 that received some modifications. Since the exhaust steam was fed into the tender by a pipe, a fan was mounted in the smokebox to create the draft needed by the fire. The cone-shaped smokebox door was not mounted for aerodynamic reasons, but due to the space needed by the fan.

After the trial runs started in late 1927 it became clear that the efficiency of the boiler got worse due to the modifications. In 1931, the reverse turbine was removed and the steam lines were optimized for increased power and decreased coal consumption. The combination of locomotive and tender remained a one-off, but was used for some years in schedules made for the class 39 2-8-2. In 1937, the tender was scrapped and the modifications made to the locomotive undone. Afterwards it was used as regular passenger locomotive 38 3255.

General
Built1926
ManufacturerHenschel
Axle config4-6-0+2-4-4T 
Gauge4 ft 8 1/2 in (Standard gauge)
Dimensions and Weights
Length75 ft 2 1/4 in
Wheelbase27 ft 4 3/4 in
Rigid wheelbase15 ft 0 5/16 in
Empty weight155,867 lbs
Service weight169,094 lbs
Adhesive weight111,554 lbs
Axle load38,360 lbs
Water capacity4,280 us gal
Boiler
Grate area27.8 sq ft
Firebox area156.9 sq ft
Tube heating area1,392 sq ft
Evaporative heating area1,548.9 sq ft
Superheater area634 sq ft
Total heating area2,182.9 sq ft
Power Plant
Driver diameter68.9 in
Boiler pressure174 psi
Cylinderstwo, 22 5/8 x 24 13/16 in
Power
Power sourcesteam + steam turbine
Top speed62 mph
Calculated Values
steam locomotive
passenger
turbine
powered tender
prototype
booster
last changed: 02/2025
schematic drawing with dimensions
schematic drawing with dimensions
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