Quantity 40 Retired 1968 | Year(s) of manufacture 1923–1928 Axle arrangement 2D h2 | |
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Number(s) DRB 33 101–140
ÖBB 33.101–140 Track gauge 1,435 mm (4 ft 8 ⁄2 in) | ||
The steam locomotive class BBÖ 113 was an express train, tender locomotive class operated by the Federal Railway of Austria (BBÖ).
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History
After World War I new locomotives had to be built for the Austrian Western Railway due to increasing train loads and the replacement of old, wooden, passenger coaches with steel-bodied coaches. A 4-8-0 design was chosen which was based in many respects on the Class 570 of the Austrian Southern Railway, but which, at the same time, had numerous improvements. Between 1923 and 1928 40 locomotives of this new Class 113 were taken into service with the BBÖ.
This class was very powerful and much liked by locomotive crews. It was employed on the most importance passenger train duties and in front of express and fast trains (Eilzüge) and fulfilled its role on main lines well until the end of the steam era, when its top speed of 85 km/h was no longer considered enough. In 1939, the Deutsche Reichsbahn took these locomotives over as DRG Class 33 101–140. In 1953 there were still 33 engines left in the ÖBB, their Reichsbahn numbers being retained. All were retired by 1968.
Preserved locomotives
Number 33.102 has been preserved for the Austrian Railway Museum (Österreichische Eisenbahnmuseum) and is based today at the Strasshof Railway Museum (Eisenbahnmuseum Strasshof) in Lower Austria. In the 1980s a preserved example in Yugoslavia was bought by private firm and restored to operational status. Today this engine has the fictitious number 33.132 and is available for heritage trips. In addition another locomotive exists in Poland, which can be regarded more as a Polish copy of the Class 570 predecessor.