Bavarian GtL 4/4

Specifications

The Bavarian Class GtL 4/4 locomotives were saturated steam locomotives in service with the Royal Bavarian State Railways (Königlich Bayerische Staat-Eisenbahn) for duties on branch lines (Lokalbahnen).

The vehicles were supplied by Krauss to the state railway. In 1911 two were delivered and, in 1914, they were followed by a further eleven engines.

As a result of good experience with the GtL 4/4 the Bavarian Group Administration (Gruppenverwaltung Bayern) of the Deutsche Reichsbahn decided to procure more examples of this locomotive. From 1921 to 1927 Krauss supplied another 108 engines, that were somewhat heavier and differed from the original versions in the design of the driver's cab. The last 17 locomotives from 1927 were even heavier than the previous engines, which was due to the increased size of water and coal tanks. Boiler, driving gear and power remained unchanged over the entire procurement period.

The locomotives were designated as DRG Class 98.8-9 by the Reichsbahn, and were given the numbers 98 801 to 98 917.

Twenty nine Class GtL 4/4 engines were modified between 1934 and 1941 by being equipped with a Bissel axle and thus being converted into 1'D or 2-8-0 locomotives. The rebuilt locomotives, also designated as Class GtL 4/5 engines, were classified as DRG Class 98.11. The purpose of the modification was to improve the riding qualities; as a result the top speed could be increased from 40 to 55 km/h.

Even the Lokalbahn Company (Lokalbahn Aktien-Gesellschaft or LAG) had bought two GtL 4/4 machines in 1922, that were identical to the state railway versions from 1921. The vehicles with running numbers 80 and 81 were stabled at Thalkirchen shed on the Isar Valley line (Isartalbahn). They remained there even after being taken over by the Reichsbahn. Unlike the other GtL 4/4 locos, they were grouped into DRG Class 98.16 and given the numbers 98 1601 and 98 1602.

During the Second World War five locmotives were destroyed, a further three remained with the then Czechoslovakian State Railways (ČSD).

The remaining machines went into the Deutsche Bundesbahn, which began retiring them in the 1950s.

The two LAG engines were sent to Rosenheim shed in 1950 and were retire in 1957 and 1958.

Two locomotives, numbers 98 812 and 98 886, were given EDV operating numbers in 1968, but were retired shortly thereafter. Both locomotives have been preserved: number 98 812 is a working museum locomotive with the Ulm Railway Fans (Ulmer Eisenbahnfreunde). Number 98 886 has been made operational again and hauls the Little Rhön Train (Rhön-Zügle) from Mellrichstadt to Fladungen.

Weblinks

• There is a relevant English-language forum at Railways of Germany