The Mallet

An ex-Heeresfeldbahn Mallet

Also an 0440T like the "original" Mallet's of the NWE, but 34,4t instead of 33,8t, also classified as class K44.9, she was initially numbered NWE 41, and was renumbered 99 5906 by DR in 1949.

Ex-Heeresfeldbahn (german Military Railways), dating back to 1918, built by Maschinenbau Gesellschaft Karlsruhe AG / MBGK, she belongs to a series built late during WW1, a number of which, probably never used for military purposes, were sold to various private railways after 1918...

For what we know about it...
- 1 unit went first to XXX, then to the Nagold - Altensteig were she was numbered "105": she was preserved when this line closed and she is currently being rebuilt on the swiss Blonay-Chamby (MBGK 2051);
- 1 unit on the NWE where she first received the number NWE 41, then, in 1949, 99 5906 (MBGK 2052);
- 3 units on the Ruhr Lippe Eisenbahn (MBGK 2053, 2054, 2055);
- etc...

B'Bn4vt  MBGK 2052 (1918) -> 1920 NWE 41 -> DR 99 5906

Among the other Mallet's in the Harz, she is distinguishable because she has inside frames both front and rear, while her "Jung" sisters have an outside frame at the rear; add'ly her stack is taller.

See articulated locomotives of the Harz - main technical data ()

When locomotives from private railways were integrated into the DR in 1949, she was renumbered 99 5906 following the 5 "original" Mallet's left, in chronological order of building date: the 5 "Jung" machines were older, dating back to 1897 to 1905... they were numbered 99 5901 to 99 5905.

During the DR period when Selketalbahn and Harzquerbahn were isolated fron each other, the Gernrode to Strassberg line was not very active and Mallet's, including the 99 5906, were primarily put in use on this line while the new "Babelsberg" 2.10.2T were put in use on the long and heavily loaded Nordhausen to Wernigerode line.

During the 80's... a dubious status...

The plans then were to get rid of all steam locomotives and replace them with diesel units, and it seemed normal to start by retiring...
- locomotives existing in qty 1,
- ... according to the termination-date of their boiler ticket,
- and specially those that were still equipped exclusively with vaccum-brake while air-brake was being standardised for all the rolling-stock...

The Mallet's in use on the Selketalbahn were in the lead for retirement, including the 99 5906...

In 1989, the Lok. was stored, being considered as "in good condition", but probably bound for scrapping...

Long discussions were then held between DR and "western" preservation group DEV, based in Bruchhausen - Vilsen, which eventually purchased the Lok. for a rather low price (probably more or less 20'000 DM ?).

But the events of 1989 leading to Germany being reunited, somewhat messed up these plans...

The new HSB purchased the whole equipment in the Harz including the 99 5906, and did not show much enthusiasm giving away the Lok....

The 99 5906 case...

DEV - Deutsche Eisenbahn Verband, in Bruchhausen Vilsen (http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/dev_de/), had obtained an agreement for purchasing the 99 5906, and had advertised their plans, so as to raise money... probably an amount between 25'000 and 50'000 DEM.

But, as soon as the GDR opened its borders in 1989, things moved quickly in the Harz, the Brocken line was rebuilt and the conditions of the business in the Harz radically changed; tourism and "tradition" were now of major importance and the wholesale scrapping of the steam locomotives did not seem a good idea anymore...

In this context, the 99 5906, a unique Lok. in the Harz, was a very valuable asset and there were quickly many opponents to the sale:
- while "in the west" enthusiasts and magazines considered that the 99 5906 was "better rebuilt in the west that rusting in the east"...
- the position in the Harz was that the 99 5906 was part of the regional heritage and definitely could not leave the Harz...

We may notice that, at the end of the 70's, the whole narrow-gauge in the Harz had been classified as "Technical Heritage" and protected under Denkmalschutz... and the local officer in charge of historical conservation opposed to the sale, strongly supported by the enthusiasts of the Harz area, declared that a fair price for the 99 5906 was rather in the "several 100'000 DM" than "several 10'000 DM" area !

Anyway, a problem was that the Lok. had been sold by DR first to DEV and then (second time) to HSB, which is not a really clean business attitude... and add'ly, the sale to DEV was against the Denkmalschutz classification.

As surprising as it may be, it looks like the DEV, the goal of which is railway preservation, went to the court to obtain its locomotive instead of negociating their money back, thus going against the interest of the HSB: when the preservationists work against a "professional" steam railway...

Eventually, with the help of the management of DB AG, an agreement was reached mid-95: instead of the 99 5906, DEV obtains another 0440T Mallet, also built by "Karlsruhe", ex-Albtalbahn 7 (MBGK 1478 / 1898), plinthed near Karlsruhe since the mid-60's when she was retired.

French enthusiasts may be interested to know that her sister 6 (MBGK 1459 / 1897) is supposed to have been sent to France during WW1 and has been lost over there... (where ?).

And, well, according to the Press Releases, it looks like everybody is happy now...

The 99 5906 is back in operating condition

HSB planned to send the 99 5906 for an HU L7 (i.e. a complete overhaul) including new air-brake equipment in Meiningen early during 1994 so that the Lok. could be ready for the operations during the summer season, but these plans had to be delayed because of the case with DEV.

Now that the case was settled, the Lok. could be sent to Meiningen and she came back in the Harz late in 1995:
- a test run was performed 06/12/1995 and the Lok. was successfully commisionned,
- a maiden train was run 17/12/1995 between Gernrode (Harz) and Harzgerode.
- ... and the Lok. is put back in service, specially on the Selketalbahn, and for "specials" on the whole network including the Brocken line.

Question:

Will one of the owners of the Mallets, i.e. B-C, Blonay-Chamby in Switzerland, or HSB, the operator of the Harz network, organise a "double-traction" with the 2 "Karlsruhe" sisters, with a heavy train..
- e.g. from Vevey towards Blonay then Chamby or even on the MOB ?
- or in the Harz up to the Brocken ?

And, to know more about her... the chronicle...