DB Class 23

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DB Class 23
23 042 in Darmstadt-Kranichstein, May 2005
Type and origin Power type Steam Builder Henschel & Sohn (29) Arnold Jung Lokomotivfabrik (51) Krupp (21) Maschinenfabrik Esslingen (4) Build date 1950–1959 Total produced 105
Specifications Configuration: ​  • Whyte 2-6-2  • UIC 1′C1′ h2  • German P 35.18 Gauge 1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) Leading dia. 1,000 mm (3 ft 3+3⁄8 in) Driver dia. 1,750 mm (5 ft 8+7⁄8 in) Trailing dia. 1,250 mm (4 ft 1+1⁄4 in) Tender wheels 1,000 mm (3 ft 3+3⁄8 in) Wheelbase: ​  • Axle spacing (Asymmetrical) 2,950 mm (9 ft 8+1⁄8 in) + 2,000 mm (6 ft 6+3⁄4 in) + 2,000 mm (6 ft 6+3⁄4 in) + 2,950 mm (9 ft 8+1⁄8 in) =  • Engine 9,900 mm (32 ft 5+3⁄4 in)  • Tender 1,900 mm (6 ft 2+3⁄4 in) + 1,900 mm (6 ft 2+3⁄4 in) + 1,900 mm (6 ft 2+3⁄4 in) = 5,700 mm (18 ft 8+3⁄8 in)  • incl. tender 17,625 mm (57 ft 9+7⁄8 in) Length: ​  • Over buffers 21,325 mm (69 ft 11+5⁄8 in) Height 4,550 mm (14 ft 11+1⁄8 in) Axle load 18.7 tonnes (18.4 long tons; 20.6 short tons) Adhesive weight 56.0 tonnes (55.1 long tons; 61.7 short tons) Empty weight 74.6 tonnes (73.4 long tons; 82.2 short tons) Service weight 82.8 tonnes (81.5 long tons; 91.3 short tons) Tender type 2′2′ T 31 Fuel type Coal Fuel capacity 8 tonnes (7.9 long tons; 8.8 short tons) Water cap. 31 m3 (6,800 imp gal; 8,200 US gal) Firebox: ​  • Grate area 3.11 m2 (33.5 sq ft) Boiler: ​  • Pitch 3,250 mm (10 ft 8 in)  • Tube plates 4,000 mm (13 ft 1+1⁄2 in)  • Small tubes 44.5 mm (1+3⁄4 in), 130 off  • Large tubes 118 mm (4+5⁄8 in), 54 off Boiler pressure 16 bar (16.3 kg/cm2; 232 psi) Heating surface: ​  • Firebox 17.10 m2 (184.1 sq ft)  • Tubes 64.53 m2 (694.6 sq ft)  • Flues 74.65 m2 (803.5 sq ft)  • Total surface 156.28 m2 (1,682.2 sq ft) Superheater: ​  • Heating area 73.80 m2 (794.4 sq ft) Cylinders Two, outside Cylinder size 550 mm × 660 mm (21+5⁄8 in × 26 in) Valve gear Heusinger (Walschaerts)
Performance figures Maximum speed forwards: 110 km/h (68 mph) backwards: 85 km/h (53 mph)
Career Operators Deutsche Bundesbahn Numbers 23 001 – 23 105 Retired by 1976

The steam locomotives of Class 23 were German passenger train locomotives developed in the 1950s for the Deutsche Bundesbahn. They had a 2-6-2 wheel arrangement and were equipped with Class 2'2' T 31 tenders. They were designed to replace the once ubiquitous Prussian P 8 engines that had been built between 1908 and 1924 and, in their day, were the most numerous post-war replacement class.^[1]