Prussian G 4.3

Prussian G 4.3 DR class 53.3 PKP Th4
Type and origin Builder Union Gießerei Build date 1903–1907 Total produced 63
Specifications Gauge 1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) Driver dia. 1,350 mm (4 ft 5+1⁄8 in) Length: ​  • Over beams 15,362 mm (50 ft 4+3⁄4 in) Axle load 16.0 t (15.7 long tons; 17.6 short tons) Adhesive weight 46.7 t (46.0 long tons; 51.5 short tons) Service weight 46.7 t (46.0 long tons; 51.5 short tons) Tender type pr 3 T 10.5 or 3 T 12 Fuel capacity 4 or 7 t (3.9 or 6.9 long tons; 4.4 or 7.7 short tons) Water cap. 10.5 or 12.0 m3 (10,500 or 12,000 L; 2,300 or 2,600 imp gal; 2,800 or 3,200 US gal) Boiler: ​ No. of heating tubes 217 Heating tube length 3,900 mm (153+1⁄2 in) Boiler pressure 12.0 bar (12.2 kgf/cm2; 1.20 MPa; 174 lbf/in2) Heating surface: ​  • Firebox 1.73 m2 (18.6 sq ft)  • Radiative 8.7 m2 (94 sq ft)  • Tubes 109.0 m2 (1,173 sq ft)  • Evaporative 117.71 m2 (1,267.0 sq ft) Cylinders Two, outside High-pressure cylinder 460 mm (18+1⁄8 in) Low-pressure cylinder 680 mm (26+3⁄4 in) Piston stroke 630 mm (24+13⁄16 in) Valve gear Heusinger (Walschaerts), outside
Performance figures Maximum speed 60 km/h (37 mph)
Career Numbers KPEV 3901–4000 DR 53 301 – 53 328 DR 53 7751 – 53 7753 Retired by 1928

The Prussian G 4.3 was a class of 0-6-0 goods locomotive of the Prussian State Railways; they were manufactured between 1903 and 1907 by Union Giesserei in Königsberg. The type was developed with the aim of improving the running characteristics of 6-coupled locomotives. They proved a more capable design than the normal-type (G 4.2), and so had a higher maximum speed of 60 km/h (37 mph). However, they were quickly outclassed by increasing weight of freight trains.

They were used for passenger and ordinary freight services, as well as express freight trains, mainly in the eastern divisions. Only 63 locomotives were manufactured, of which 39 were included in the 1923 DRG renumbering plan, as 53 296 and 297, and 53 301 to 53 337. In the final 1925 plan, the Reichsbahn renumbered the remaining 28 locomotives as 53 301 to 53 328. They were all retired by 1928.

After World War I, ten locomotives were transferred to Poland, and five to the Free City of Danzig. The PKP operated all 15 as class Th4. Nine locomotives were transferred to Belgium; they were not renumbered, and all were retired in 1923.

During World War II, three of the Danzig locomotives were taken back into the Reichsbahn fleet as 53 7751 to 53 7753. They passed to Deutsche Bundesbahn at the end of the war; one was sold to a sugar factory in 1946, but all were retired in 1951.

The locomotives were coupled to type pr 3 T 10.5 or pr 3 T 12 tenders.

References

• Hütter, Ingo (2012). Die Dampflokomotiven der Baureihen 50 bis 53 der DRG, DRB, DB, und DR (in German). Werl: DGEG Medien. pp. 412–413, 446. ISBN 978-3-937189-63-5.
• Vandenberghen, J (1989). La guerre 1914 - 1918 et les locomotives "Armistice", 2. Description des locomotives K.P.E.V. (PDF) (in French). Brussels: SNCB. pp. 153–157.

Further reading

• Wagner, Andreas; Bäzold, Dieter; Zschech, Rainer; Lüderitz, Ralph (1990). Lokomotiven preußischer Eisenbahnen, Güterzuglokomotiven (EFA 2.3.2) (in German). Düsseldorf: Alba. pp. 42–43. ISBN 3-87094-134-0.
• Weisbrod, Manfred; Müller, Hans; Petznik, Wolfgang (1978). Dampflokomotiven deutscher Eisenbahnen, Baureihe 41–59 (EFA 1.2) (in German) (3rd ed.). Düsseldorf: Alba. pp. 80–81, 203. ISBN 3-87094-082-4.