(HD) Reichsbahn Dampflok 18 201 - the fastest operational steam locomotive in the world in Löbau

Reichsbahn Dampflok 18 201 - the fastest operational steam locomotive in the world in Löbau / Saxony . Amazing Departures at night & day .
Schlesien - Express Chemnitz - Dresden - Görlitz - Breslau am 23.04.2011

Przejazd pociągu turystycznego " Śląski - Ekspres " / "Schlesien - Express" na trasie Chemnitz - Wrocław z niemieckim parowozem DR 18 201, którego maksymalna predkość wynosi 180 km/h.

Die schnellste betriebsfähige Dampflok der Welt , in unserer unvergessenen Deutschen Demokratischen Republik gebaut ( RAW Meiningen ) gibt sich ein Stelldichein in der Großen Kreisstadt Löbau. Der Sonderzug ging von Chemnitz nach Wroclaw in Polen .

The German express locomotive, number 18 201 of the Deutsche Reichsbahn in German Democratic Republic, appeared in 1960-61 at RAW Meiningen as a conversion of the Henschel-Wegmann train locomotive 61 002, the tender from 44 468 and parts
of H 45 024 and Class 41. It is the fastest operational steam locomotive in the world.


The motivation for the conversion was firstly that, as a one-off, locomotive 61 002 could not really be used for scheduled services, and secondly that the research institute at VES-M Halle (Saale) urgently needed locomotives that could do at least
160 km/h in order to test passenger coaches.

For the conversion a DR Class 22 new-design boiler, parts of the unsuccessful high pressure locomotive, H 45 024, (outside cylinders, trailing wheels and rear section of the locomotive frame) as well as the tender of locomotive 44 468 were
used. The inside cylinder of the three-cylinder engine was not however taken from 61 002, rather a new one was made. Other technical improvements were a Riggenbach counterpressure brake and a Giesl ejector. The locomotive was streamlined
at the front and over the boiler fittings.

The new locomotive was given its number to commemorate the first German locomotive with a 4-6-2 ('Pacific') wheel arrangement, the Baden IV f of the Baden State Railways (later the DRG Class 18.2).
Locomotive 18 201 from the side.

In 1967 number 18 201 was converted to oil-firing. After the changeover to computerised numbers the engine was given the number 02 0201-0. On 11 October 1972 during a trial run it attained a top speed of 182,4 km/h. As a result it is
the fastest, operational steam locomotive in the world, and also holds the world record for the biggest driving wheels (2.30 m in diameter) ever to be fitted to an engine with a 4-6-2 wheel arrangement.

When not required for test runs, locomotive 18 201 was also put in charge of scheduled express trains until well into the 1970s.




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