DR 18 201
The express locomotive with the number 18 201 of the Deutsche Reichsbahn was built from 1960 to 1961 in the Kingdom of railway workshop Meiningen from parts of the Henschel -Wegmann train locomotive 61 002, the Tender of 44 468 and parts of H 45 024 and BR 41 It is the fastest operative steam locomotive in the world.
Formation
The motives for conversion were, firstly, that for years parked 61 002 was to use as a single piece hardly in regular service, on the other hand, that the VES -M Halle much-needed high-speed locomotives for a speed of at least 160 km / h at test runs perform with for export coaches the local wagon industry. With its 2300 mm large driving wheels, the 61 002 built at Henschel & Sohn offered for a corresponding tag. From her the engine and landing gear was covered up to the third coupled axle. The rear frame section with trailing axle (as bissel ) and the outer cylinder came from the unsuccessful high pressure locomotive H 45 024 The inner cylinder was replaced by a new one. The replacement of the cylinder was necessary because the original steam engine BR 61, a pressure of 20 bar required, but appropriate boiler did not achieve sufficient lifetime for material and entertainment issues. As a steam generator of the new boiler was 39 E for use, which was also used in the series 03, 22 and 41. The tender was previously run with the 44 468. The locomotive was also common, as at this time, a Giesl ejector. Other technical adjustments were a counter-pressure brake ( concomitantly received the locomotive also a Oberflächenvorwärmer ) and 2 additional air lines to use the engine as a brake locomotive can - just after the first few rides, it was decided, however, not stay the suspension the enormous braking forces and the corresponding facilities out of operation ( the Riggenbach counter-pressure brake for example ). The locomotive was dressed streamlined in the front and on the boiler set-ups. Your number got the new engine in the second cast to commemorate the first German locomotive with the wheel arrangement 2'C1 ' ( "Pacific " ), the genus IV f of the Grand Ducal Baden State Railways (Series 18.2). The conversion was significantly influenced by Max Baumberg, head of the VES -M Halle. According to the definition of Baumberg the panel was inspired by the SNCF 232.U.1 eg.
On 31 May 1961, the 18 201 as spectacular Rekolok ( Fab.-Nr. 89) RAW Meiningen left the first time the local Anheizschuppen. At that time the locomotive had been indeed a medium green paint for the bodies, but no white trim. These were attached later. The post of master train driver took Rudi Rindelhardt. Your future location was the Bw Halle- P.
In 1964, the first machine on the route Frankfurt (Oder) and Fangschleuse was tested, with 160 km / h were measured. In November of the same year, the machine reached on the railway ring Velim trial in Czechoslovakia top speeds of 176 km / h
On June 29, 1967, 18 201 in Meiningen an oil firing and was then stationed at Bw Hall -G. After switching to a computerized system, the locomotive number just wore the number 02 0201-0. On October 11, 1972 Rindelhardt could set a new record with the track recording car from Delitzsch to Berlin between Graefenhainichen and Pratau during a test drive. He reached a top speed of 182.5 km / h A special set of rules attracted attention for the demanding braking of the machine. Thus, the locomotive the fastest operational steam locomotive in the world had become.
If it was not needed in the trial operation, 18 201 to was well into the 1970s in the plan service express trains in operation.
Use as Traditionslok
German Reichsbahn and German Bahn AG
Since 1980, the locomotive was primarily used before traditional and special trains, often with a second tender to cover longer distances without refilling the water to. With the railway reform on 1 January 1994 the ownership of the Deutsche Reichsbahn went into the possession of the newly founded Deutsche Bahn AG. As early as 1995, the company had to send the two Traditionsloks 18 201 and 03 in 1010 after serious derailment damage in the Meiningen Steam Locomotive Works. It was the repair of the large dome wheels from 18 201 to a complicated task, as there were no wheel lathe for 2300 -mm wheels more. Then, the further in Halle ( Saale) stationed locomotive until 1997 remained operational and was then shut down.
Steam - Plus GmbH
To put the machine back under steam, the entrepreneur Christian Goldschagg and the musician Axel Zwingenberger first create the project Save the 18 201 and then the steam -Plus GmbH. With the money this company the locomotive in the Meiningen Steam Locomotive Works has been fully processed and handed over to the investor on 4 April 2002. Steam -Plus had closed as a donor in this context with the DB Museum signed a cooperation agreement to profitably be recovered through the investment by rights to use the locomotive by means of marketing concepts and playing a decisive role in the preservation of the 18 201.
Between 30 April 2002 and 10 July 2005, the traditionally painted in the green machine was in a red special color RAL 3003 ( Ruby Red ) on the way that the model railway manufacturer Roco had sponsored for this period. After this marketing campaign received 18 201, a chrome oxide green coloring RAL 6020th
After the transfer of 18 201 steam Plus, there was an ongoing dispute over the maintenance of contractual content with Deutsche Bahn AG, where it was also about that for security reasons only DB - permanent staff could operate the locomotive. The consequence of these disputes were increasingly rare inserts the Traditionslok. In March 2004, the cooperation agreements were finally lifted, the DB still insisted on their right to the provision of personnel. Previously, on 28 February 2004, were the property rights to 18 201 and 03 to 1010, had also invested in the steam -Plus GmbH, has been transferred to the company from Goldschagg and Zwingenberger to compensate the company for the previous costs. Nevertheless, the number of inserts of 18 201 is not increased except for a few trips in the Hamburg area. The end of 2004 Goldschagg tried to sell the locomotive itself as a private person in his capacity as Managing Director of steam -Plus GmbH. At the same time he offered it to the Deutsche Bahn AG to repurchase what their CEO, Hartmut Mehdorn, but refused. However, the transfer to private ownership of Goldschagg was not final because the machine was under monument protection for years. The goal is to keep the locomotive continued under steam was not fulfilled; the dispute with the path about the position of staff and the heritage conservation terms and illegal placement of the locomotive in the roundhouse of the former Bw Nossen were subjects of the local press. In addition, the penalties which the steam -plus sale of the locomotive abroad remained in conversation. The last big special run of 18 201 with an extra tender was held on 16 July 2005. The journey was from Dresden ( main station ) to the Baltic Sea to Bad Doberan with intermediate stop in Berlin. At a short distance between Hersbruck and Nuremberg ( main station ), the locomotive was on 30 June 2007 on the go. Also in the episode, there was until now always inserts the locomotive.
On 31 January 2006 reported the Saxon newspaper that the Halle preservationists a desired steam -Plus change of preservation for 18 201 have approved and would permit a desired permanent removal of the vehicle from Halle. However, this offer is not to would apply to a sale abroad. The 18- 201 was subsequently officially stationed in Nossen. In March 2006, a fiduciary foundation operating under the name Foundation steam engine was of Zwingenberger 18 201 set up and placed in the custody of the German Foundation for Monument Protection. In the same year he published a book about the 18 201 under the title Legend 18 201 fastest steam locomotive in the world in self- publishing out. 2007, the foundation steam locomotive 18 201 was renamed Culture Foundation on rails. Your order is, inter alia, the preservation of this important steam locomotive as traveling monument in Germany; Also the machine should remain accessible to the public.
Goldschagg has dismissed all employees of the steam - Plus GmbH after the long-running dispute with Deutsche Bahn AG and rents today the locomotive directly over his Munich rental service. On their website is one of the steam -Plus GmbH 18 201 will continue to its fleet.
Quick trip 2 June 2011
After extensive preparations, the 18 201 reached during a special trip on the Anhalt line section from Bitterfeld to Wittenberg a speed of about 160 km / h The train to the steam locomotive consisted of 3 cars of the ALEX and the 183 003 ALEX as a brake locomotive.
Long-distance drive 4 June 2011
On 4 June 2011 graduated 18 201 with a system consisting of 5 cars fast on a trip organized by steam Plus and the special train events Chemnitz long-distance drive from Leipzig to the Railway Museum Darmstadt- Kranichstein and back, a distance of at least approximately 900 km trouble free and, apart from Spessart - and Franconian Forest ramp, without any thrust support.