The Prussian G 8.3 was a

2-8-0 Under the Whyte notation for the classification of steam locomotives, represents the wheel arrangement of two leading wheels on one axle, usually in a leading truck, eight powered and coupled driving wheels on four axles, and no trailing wheels. ...

, superheated, freight locomotive with three cylinders. It was developed to redress the lack of goods locomotives after the

First World War World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...

. The inspiration to design a 2-8-0 locomotive based on the 2-10-0

Prussian G 12 The Prussian G 12 is a 1'E 2-10-0 goods train locomotive built for the Prussian state railways (''Preußische Staatseisenbahnen''). It had been shown during the First World War that, from a servicing and maintenance point of view, it was a great ...

came from Württemberg. The first vehicle was delivered in 1918. Compared with the G 12, the G 8.3 had one

boiler A boiler is a closed vessel in which fluid (generally water) is heated. The fluid does not necessarily boil. The heated or vaporized fluid exits the boiler for use in various processes or heating applications, including water heating, centra ...

shell and

coupled axle On a steam locomotive, a driving wheel is a powered wheel which is driven by the locomotive's pistons (or turbine, in the case of a steam turbine locomotive). On a conventional, non-articulated locomotive, the driving wheels are all coupled tog ...

fewer. After it had proved itself, a total of 85 examples of the G 8.3 were placed in service, all of which were taken over by the

Reichsbahn The ''Deutsche Reichsbahn'' (), also known as the German National Railway, the German State Railway, German Reich Railway, and the German Imperial Railway, was the German national railway system created after the end of World War I from the re ...

, where they were numbered 56 101 to 56 185. No more were built thereafter because the G 8.2, with only two cylinders, was less costly to procure and maintain. Of the 68 engines that survived the

Second World War World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

, 6 went into the

Deutsche Bundesbahn Deutsche Bundesbahn (, ) or DB () was formed as the state railway of the newly established West Germany (FRG) on 7 September 1949 as a successor of the Deutsche Reichsbahn-Gesellschaft (DRG). The DB remained the state railway of West Germany u ...

, who transferred them in 1948 to private railways, and 62 to the DR in East Germany. The DR machines were retired by 1967. The vehicles were equipped with Prussian pr 3 T 20 tenders.

References

* * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Prussian G 08.3 G 08.3 Standard-gauge locomotives of Germany Railway locomotives introduced in 1918 Henschel locomotives 2-8-0 locomotives 1′D h3 locomotives Freight locomotives

See also

References