DR 199 871 at Alexisbad. 1992.
Taken in the transition period between German unification and the amalgamation of the two railway networks when DR and DB merged fully into a new unified DB AG. The DR (Deutsche Reichsbahn) locomotive fleet was renumbered ahead of the merger on 01/01/1992 into the West German class identification system however these narrow gauge diesels were the exception and retained their DR class 199 identities until sold into private ownership with the purchase by Harz metre gauge lines by HSB. The January 1992 renumbering saw the class designated class 299 under the DB (German Federal Railways) numbering but none of the 10 class 199's were ever renumbered.
These ungainly locomotives were a Deutsche Reichsbahn compromise. With the DR not having a suitable narrow gauge diesel powerful enough to replace steam on the various narrow gauge lines in the country the decision was taken to re-bogie ten standard gauge type V100's (DR class 110) in 1988. RAW Stendal Works re-bogied the engines to allow them to run on the Metre gauge Harz Mountain network with the locos based at Weringerode. Tipping the scales at 60 tonnes the former B-B wheel configuration was too heavy for narrow gauge application so C-C trucks were used instead to spread the weight.
The conversion wasn't a great success which I guess stemmed from excessive track wear so the locos were used on short branch workings and some lightly loaded workings on the Selketal line.
Here 199 871 (ex 110 871) is seen at Alexisbad with train 14456 the 12.20 Harzgerode to Gernrode.
DR 199 871 at Alexisbad. 1992.
Taken in the transition period between German unification and the amalgamation of the two railway networks when DR and DB merged fully into a new unified DB AG. The DR (Deutsche Reichsbahn) locomotive fleet was renumbered ahead of the merger on 01/01/1992 into the West German class identification system however these narrow gauge diesels were the exception and retained their DR class 199 identities until sold into private ownership with the purchase by Harz metre gauge lines by HSB. The January 1992 renumbering saw the class designated class 299 under the DB (German Federal Railways) numbering but none of the 10 class 199's were ever renumbered.
These ungainly locomotives were a Deutsche Reichsbahn compromise. With the DR not having a suitable narrow gauge diesel powerful enough to replace steam on the various narrow gauge lines in the country the decision was taken to re-bogie ten standard gauge type V100's (DR class 110) in 1988. RAW Stendal Works re-bogied the engines to allow them to run on the Metre gauge Harz Mountain network with the locos based at Weringerode. Tipping the scales at 60 tonnes the former B-B wheel configuration was too heavy for narrow gauge application so C-C trucks were used instead to spread the weight.
The conversion wasn't a great success which I guess stemmed from excessive track wear so the locos were used on short branch workings and some lightly loaded workings on the Selketal line.
Here 199 871 (ex 110 871) is seen at Alexisbad with train 14456 the 12.20 Harzgerode to Gernrode.