DRB Class 50

DRB Class 50
German"Deutsche Bundesbahn" (DB) Class 50 in Mayen
Number(s)	50 001–50 3171 with gaps
Quantity	3164
Year(s) of manufacture	1939–1959
Retired	1987
Axle arrangement	1'E h2
Type	G 56.15
Track gauge	1,435 mm (4 ft 8 1⁄2 in)
Length over buffers	22.94 m (75 ft 3 in)
Height	4.5 m (14 ft 9 in)
Wheelbase	3.3 m (10 ft 10 in)
Overall wheelbase	9.2 m (30 ft 2 in)
Service weight	86.9 t (85.5 long tons; 95.8 short tons)
Adhesive weight	75.3 t (74.1 long tons; 83.0 short tons)
Axle load	15.2 t (15.0 long tons; 16.8 short tons)
Top speed	80 km/h (50 mph) (both directions)
Indicated Power	1,625 ihp (1,212 kW)
Coupled wheel diameter	1,400 mm (55.12 in)
Driving wheel diameter	1,400 mm (55.12 in)
Leading wheel diameter	850 mm (33.46 in)
Valve gear	Walschaerts with lifting links
No. of cylinders	2
Cylinder bore	600 mm (23.62 in)
Piston stroke	660 mm (25.98 in)
Boiler Overpressure	16 bar (1.6 MPa; 230 psi)
No. of heating tubes	113
No. of smoke tubes	35
Heating tube length	5.200 m (17 ft 0.7 in)
Grate area	3.89 m2 (41.9 sq ft)
Superheater area	68.94 m2 (742.1 sq ft)
Evaporative heating area	177.83 m2 (1,914.1 sq ft)
Tender	2'2' T 26; 2'2' T 30
Train heating	Steam

DR Class 50.35
50 3648-8 in Dresden Alt shed
Number(s)	50 3501–50 3708
Quantity	208
Year(s) of manufacture	1956ff.
Retired	1989
Axle arrangement	1'E h2
Type	G 56.15
Track gauge	1,435 mm (4 ft 8 1⁄2 in)
Length over buffers	22.94 m (75 ft 3 in)
Service weight	88.2 t (86.8 long tons; 97.2 short tons)
Adhesive weight	77 t (76 long tons; 85 short tons)
Axle load	15.1 t (14.9 long tons; 16.6 short tons)
Top speed	80 km/h (50 mph) (both directions)
Indicated Power	1,760 ihp (1,310 kW)
Leading wheel diameter	850 mm (33.46 in)
Valve gear	Walschaerts with lifting links
No. of cylinders	2
Cylinder bore	600 mm (23.62 in)
Piston stroke	660 mm (25.98 in)
Boiler Overpressure	16 bar (1,600 kPa)
Grate area	3.71 m2 (39.9 sq ft)
Superheater area	65.4 m2 (704 sq ft)
Evaporative heating area	172.3 m2 (1,855 sq ft)
Tender	2'2' T 28
Train heating	Steam

The DRB Class 50 is a German class of 2-10-0 locomotive, built from 1939 as a standard locomotive (Einheitsdampflokomotive) for hauling goods trains. It had one leading axle and five coupled axles and was one of the most successful designs produced for the Deutsche Reichsbahn.

This class was procured as part of the German Nazi party's preparations for war that led into the Second World War. Up to 1948, 3,164 Class 50 engines were built by almost all the European locomotive factories – towards the end as so-called provisional war locomotives (Übergangskriegslokomotiven) and classified as 50 ÜK.

At the end of the steam locomotive era they became virtually a universal class of mixed-traffic steam engine that, thanks to their low axle load could even be employed on branch lines with light track beds. The Deutsche Bundesbahn grouped the locomotives into Classes 050, 051, 052 and 053 from 1968 so that the numbers were computer-compatible.

Some of the class were used by the Polish State Railways as type Ty5.

In spite of wartime losses, a large number of engines still remained in 1945. No fewer than 2,159 working locomotives were taken over by the Deutsche Bundesbahn alone and, for a long time, they formed the backbone of goods traffic operations together with the DRG Class 44. They were also used for passenger services.

To protect the engine crew when running in reverse, the front of the tender (a 2'2' T 26) was furnished with a protective shield. On many locomotives the Wagner smoke deflectors were replaced by the Witte model after the war. On 735 of the DB machines the tender was fitted with a driver's cab, which meant that the volume of the coal bunker had to be reduced.