German Kriegslok BR 52 2-10-0
7,794 Built for Total War
The Most Numerous Locomotive Class in History
1942–1990s
International Giants of Steam — Part 5
1. Designed for War, Built to Survive Anything
1942: Deutsche Reichsbahn needed a simple, rugged, fast-to-build freight locomotive that could run on poor coal, poor water, and poor track across half of Europe. The result: the Kriegslokomotive (war locomotive) BR 52.
2. Production
- Years: 1942–1945 + post-war until 1950s
- Builders: 20+ factories across Germany, Austria, Poland, Belgium
- Total built: 7,794 — still the record for any single locomotive class
3. Specifications
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Wheel arrangement | 2-10-0 |
| Engine weight | 96 tonnes |
| Starting tractive effort | 41,000 lbf |
| Top speed | 80 km/h forward (50 km/h reverse) |
| Coal capacity | 10 tonnes |
| Water capacity | 30,000 litres |
4. Wartime & Post-War Service
- 1942–1945: hauled everything from troop trains to Tiger tanks
- 1945: thousands captured by Allies — used by SNCF, ÖBB, PKP, SŽD, CFR, etc.
- Longest survivors: Poland and Bosnia until late 1990s
5. Head-to-Head: Most Numerous Ever
| Class | Total Built | Last Revenue Run |
|---|---|---|
| DR/DRB BR 52 | 7,794 | 1990s |
| Chinese QJ | 4,717 | 2023 |
| USRA Light Mikado | 1,260 | 1950s |
6. Survivors 2025
Over 100 preserved across Europe. Several still operational on museum lines (Germany, Austria, Poland).
7. Final Thought
Built to fight a war, they outlasted the Reich by half a century — and there are more of them left standing today than any other single steam class.
Next: Britain’s last stand — the BR Standard 9F “Evening Star”.
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