Deutsche Reichsbahn Class 01

The Deutsche Reichsbahn Class 01 utilized a 4-6-2 Pacific wheel arrangement to reliably haul heavy express passenger trains. This configuration provided the ideal balance of stability at high speeds and power needed for heavy loads. It featured a massive driving wheel diameter of 2,000 millimeters.

The Class 01 entered production in 1926 as the first standardized express passenger steam locomotive developed for the unified German railway system. It was designed to modernize the massive fleet of the Deutsche Reichsbahn. The very first locomotive, 01 008, was delivered by the Berliner Maschinenbau company.

The Class 01 was designed to operate at high speeds, capable of reaching 120 to 130 kilometers per hour in regular service. Later variants featured streamlined cladding for even higher velocity test runs. They were the pride of Germany's pre-war express passenger routes.

Several Class 01 locomotives have been preserved in museums across Germany, including the Deutsches Dampflokomotiv-Museum (DDM) in Neuenmarkt. A few operational examples are also occasionally used for special heritage excursion services. Locomotive 01 150 is famously kept in operational condition by the DB Museum.