BR 81 - A Heavy Duty Switcher

81 004 in Bochum-Dahlhausen on September 16, 1972. Photo by K.F. Seitz.

The BR 81 is one of a family of four switchers laid down during the standardization period of the DRG in the 1920s. The other three are the BR 80, BR 82 and BR 87. All of these reached design fruition near the end of 1927 and early 1928.

One of the significant changes in the BR 81 was the use of a bar frame as opposed to the plate frames used by the switchers of the Länderbahnen (state railways). A bar frame is the best solution to a construction that makes use interchangeable parts. It is a much more precise and rigid frame. While initially more costly, the bar frame is, in the end, more easily maintained.

The original plans called for wheels 49.2 in. (1,250 mm) in diameter but then 43.3 in. (1,100 mm) was selected for all four of the switchers in this group. With this dimensional change, it became necessary to build in some "upsweep" at the ends of the frame to bring the buffers and couplers to the required height.

The boiler of the BR 81 has a great deal in common with that of the smaller BR 80. The small wheels of the BR 80 made it easy to mount the larger diameter, high performance boiler. The longer boiler tubes were highly advantageous in the BR 81 in that it made this engine exceptionally suitable in a wide range of demanding switching applications. The boiler is the same diameter but uses boiler tubes that are 39 in. (1 m) longer. Other components that are in common with other Einheitslokomotiven (BR 86 and BR 64) include the firebox, smoke box, domes, almost the entire valve gear, axle bearings, brake shoes and cab layouts. The four axles are mounted without any sideplay but the middle two axles had flanges that were 0.6 in. (15 mm) thinner.

With its modest top speed of 28 mph (45 km/h), the front and rear overhang of this locomotive did not cause any problems such as lateral oscillation at speed. It was more stable than the BR 80. Like other switchers, there was feedwater preheater but there was a separate heater to preheat passenger cars that were being shunted to make up trains. In all, the BR 81 was a well-designed, reliable and very capable machine. This locomotive was capable of handling a 1,785 ton freight train at 25 mph (40 km/h). On a 1% grade, the BR 81 handled a 750 ton train at 12 mph (20 km/h) and a 375 ton train could maintain the same speed on a 2.5% grade.

The DRG ordered 10 of these engines from Hanomag (Hannover Maschinenbau AG) in 1928. These were the last locomotives Hanomag would build before getting out of the engine business. This work was then taken over by Henschel. It was not until 1940 that the DRG issued contracts for two lots of 30 BR 81s each to Krupp. Work started immediately and a considerable number of parts had been made when word came that both contracts were canceled. The manufactured parts were sent to various maintenance facilities to be used on engines that also shared these parts.

The BR 81 were based at Goslar, Oldenburg main station, Rahden and at the end of its service life also at Bw Gronau. At the end of the second World War all the BR 81 were in the hands of the DB. The only surviving BR 81 is 81 004.

Specifications

Sources:

"Die Dampflokomotiven der Baureihe 81," Märklin Magazin, 4/71, p. 26.

"Das grosse Typenbuch deutscher Lokomotiven," Weisbrod, Bäzold, Obermayer, Transpress, 1992, ISBN 3 334 70751-5