BR44
Hello to all, Can anyone tell me what a BR44 was capable of hauling in a single train, comprising of say, coal hoppers & what would be the total rolling weight. Assuming that any gradiants on the route were not too adverse. Thanks in advance.

Hi Brian, I am not into the technical spec, but have noted the following trains observed. Ore trains of upto 2000 tones in northern Germany. Heavy goods trains (seen in Paderborn) between Hamm and Kassel (oil burning 44) of upto 40 four wheeled goods wagons, then up the ramp unassisted to Altenbeken, wonderful to see and hear! Some examples shown here http://www.bundesbahnzeit.de/Galerien/Ottbergen/galerie.htm David

Just found this. Continuous output 1,910 hp Maximum speed, forward 50 mph (80 km/h) Maximum speed, reverse 31 mph (50 km/h) Maximum tractive effort 95.0 tons. Example of a Ore train. David

Thanks for the information David - just what I was looking for. Some really good pictures of 44's hard at work on the link.

David, Slightly off-topic, I am no expert on this subject, but I believe the term "continuous output" for a steam engine is not strictly correct as there are far more variables in a steam engine compared with an internal combustion engine (e.g. boiler pressure, quality of coal, skill of fireman etc.). I have only ever heard the term continuous output used for diesel-electric and electric engines (although I note Kurt Mishka uses the term on his website). My understanding is that the power output (drawbar HP) vs speed plot for a steam engine is much more curved than for a diesel engine. The power output of a steam engine is related to its speed and is more or less parabolic in shape, with highest horsepower developed at higher speeds, while a diesel-electric reaches is maximum horsepower output a lower speeds and then stays at this value over a wide speed range until at near maximum speed, rolling, curve and air resistances slightly reduces drawbar HP. No doubt someone much more knowledgeable than me on this subject can give a better response. The website http://www.locomotives.com.pl/Freight%20Steam%20Locomotives/Ty4.htm suggests that despite its comparatively large grate, the "BR44 was demanding as far as coal quality was concerned". Kurt Mishka's website (http://www-personal.umich.edu/~khmiska/_derived/BR%2044.htm) indicates that 44 239, 241, 242, 244 and 246 were the first DB locomotives to be fitted with mechanical firing, which partially addresses the issue of the skill of the fireman (or the strength of their back), but not the issue quality of the coal. Oil firing is one way to address the quality issue, and this is probably one of the reasons why 44-475 was the first DB engine to be converted to oil firing in 1955 (followed by another 31 enginers, which were redesignated as 043 in the computer numbering). Regards Greg

Hi Greg, Thank you for the additional info, did the DRG use a Loco test plant as per the one in Rugby, to get these types of figures? The comment that always sticks out with the class 44, is its the most powerful loco in Europe with this wheel arrangement? All the best, David

That's an excellent photo David, thanks for showing that.

The DRG series 44 was intended for the transport of 1200 t goods trains in the Central German Uplands and 600 t over steep ramps. I think you all know that by steam engines the power is indicated in hp in the cylinder; this is more highly than the "effective" power at the coupling hook. So we make a difference between "Indizierte Leistung (indexed power)" the normally given number in data sheets and "Zughakenleistung (coupling hook power)" . The "indexed power" is only the internal power of the steam engine as maximum measured value of tests. At the "coupling hook power" the friction losses in the engine, the losses at carrying axles, tenders and the air resistance are included. Besides the coupling hook power must be held out a longer time duration with constant speed and constant water level in the boiler. DRG - DB series 44 power data Indexed power 1910 PSi = 1405 kWi => 1884 hp coal 2100 PSi = 1545 kWi => 2071 hp oil (renumbered in 043) Coupling hook power 1247 PSe = ..918 kWe => 1229 hp coal 1370 PSe = 1007 kWe => 1351 hp oil (renumbered in 043) @ David Ingram-Seal To your question: ... did the DRG use a Loco test plant as per the one in Rugby... No, the DRG tested the locomotives in their RAW (static test) and in front of trains on their track network.

Franz, There is some discussion on the hauling capacity of BR44s on the http://www.swr.de/forum/read.php?5,21539,page=2 forum (but my German is much worse than your English and relies relies very heavily on Google translation). One of the contributers indicates they have seen 2x44 class on a 4000 tonne train. Are you aware whether there are any records of field based testing of power output for the BR44s using dynamometer equipment? Incidentally, to support your notes on indicated vs drawbar power outputs, Bryan Benn's website (http://www.germansteam.co.uk/FastestLoco/fastestloco.html#05trace) has a great extract of a dynamometer log from the high speed run by 4-6-4 05-002 on 11 May 1936 when it reached 200km/h. The dynamometer log is showing the maximum drawbar power output registered was 2,380HP, which is compared with a calculated 3,400 Indicated HP. Regards Greg

Franz, Many thanks for the information in the table which is a great resource. The engineer in me can't see a table without graphing the data (in this case as Power versus Speed and Load versus Speed), and an excellent line of best fit can be obtained for both curves with a second order polynominal (y = ax^2 +bx + c), with R^2 >0.99! I have found scanned copies of the 10 volumes of von Roll's Encyclopedia with a search at the following site - http://www.archive.org/search.php?query=subject:%22Railroads%20--%20Design%20and%20construction%22, and was wondering which volume and page the table is from? Regards Greg

Hello Greg Roell-Eisenbahn Bd. 7 , page: 131-145 (pdf-file page:130-158) Here the link to the things you're looking for. Röll, Freiherr von: Enzyklopädie des Eisenbahnwesens Numbers shown as: <131⇒> are links to the original Röll's Enzyklopädie I think, now you have stuff for the engineer in you and rainy days. By the way you get more practice in reading German.

BR 44
Hello David, the reichsbahn had an experimental division for steam power in Grunewald(part of Berlin, former Prussian experimental division) and for electric power and autorails in Munich. After war DB founded a new experimental division in Göttingen( up to 1948/49), then in Minden. The experimental division of Reichsbahn was allocated to Halle/Saale, Many civil engineers of former Grunewald division worked in Minden or halle. A famous person of Grunewald center has been Professor Nordmann, who was chief engineer during the experiments with first 01/02 steam locos around 1926/27. He was " father" of stream-line locos as well. Recommendable literature: " Die Versuchsanstalt Grunewald, Gera Mond Verlag Best regards, Wolfgang

Hello Franz and Wolfgang, Fantastic information on a fasinating subject. Thank you for taking the time to share it. Much appreciated. Grusse, David