steam locomotive 23-023 at moordrecht 27-05-2007

In the immediate post war years, Germany had a substantial requirement for railway investment. At the time, diesel traction was still in its formative years. It was felt to be too unreliable and a further electrification of the network would be too expensive. On the other hand, the technical development of the steam locomotive had progressed considerably during the war years and so it was decided to construct a completely new series of locomotives. The biggest need was for replacement of the P8 ('Baureihe' 38.10), a medium and heavy passenger train engine. In 1941 two prototypes had already been built of the class 23 locomotive, which in practice was a 2-6-2 version of the successful class 50. Because of the war an order for 800 locomotives was cancelled. Both prototypes finished the war in the DDR.

The post war class 23 was a completely new design. It included the latest developments in welding, efficiency, comfort and safety. The fire door was no longer operated by hand but by means of compressed air.

Between 1950 and 1959 a total of 105 examples were built. When 23 105 rolled out of the factory in 1959 it was not only the last class 23, but also the final steam locomotive built by the DB. Many locomotives, including 23 023 were equipped for push/pull traffic. The ability to run backwards is not directly related to push/pull service. The locomotive was constructed for fast backwards running from the outset and it was only later that the push/pull equipment was fitted.

Up to locomotive 23 051, the series was equipped with a Knorr pre-heater across the smoke box and plain bearings in the running gear. As a test, 23 024 and 23 025 were equipped with a mix-type pre-heater and roller bearings. These improvements gave full satisfaction and after 23 052 all further examples were so fitted.

Class 23 was mostly based in depots around central and south Germany. They also made regular appearances in Nijmegen and Venlo with border traffic. Our 23 023 is a modern machine and one of the few post war steam locomotives built. From a historical and technical point of view it is an interesting machine to preserve. Between 1977 and 1984 this locomotive ran many main line excursions. In the latter year it lost its boiler certificate and was put into store. For the 150th anniversary of the Dutch Railways in 1989, 23 023 was given a special permit to participate in the locomotive parades. Together with 41 105 it steamed to Utrecht, was the only steam locomotive to participate in all the parades and then returned under its own power to Rotterdam. At the end of 1992 it was decided to send 23 023 for a major overhaul to Meiningen. Between January and October 1993 this overhaul took place, whereupon the locomotive steamed back to Rotterdam at the head of the Thueringen express. The locomotive remains in regular service.

Category:

Travel & Events

Tags:

• steam
• train
• stoomlocomotief
• 23-023
• ssn
• 25-05-2007
• stoom
• trein
• speeding
• past
• moordrecht
• holland
• Dampfzug
• va

[mmikeironhorse]

high ball!!!!!!

[bobrodenburg]

approximately 90 km per hour

[WaterfallRanch]

How fast is this train going?

What is its estimated carbon output to haul a** like this ?