German locomotive axle configurations use a system of numbers, letters and apostrophes. In addition there is a system for tenders.

Let’s do this by example. When you see that an engine such as the BR 012, it is a 2’C1’. The first numeral indicates leading truck, the letter denotes the number of powered axles and the last numeral is for trailing trucks. The apostrophe following the numerals tells you that it is a pivoting truck. So, a 2’C1’ has a two axle leading truck, three powered axles and one singe axle trailing truck. If there are no apostrophes, it means that the axles are fixed in place. Thus, the little BR 80 switcher is designated very simply C.

In addition, the axle configuration might be followed by information about the locomotives cylinders. An example. In h4v the h stands for superheating, the 4 means four cylinders and the v stands for compound. If there is a lower case n preceding the number of cylinders, it is a reference to saturated steam.

Electric locomotives follow much the same system. The famous E 94 (BR 194) is a Co’Co’. The designation tells us this locomotive has two pivoting truck, hence the apostrophes. The C refers to three axles and the lower case o means that the trucks contain the electric motors.

Like locomotives, let’s do this by example also. Tenders use a modified locomotive system. Consider the standard tender 2’2’T34.

The fist numeral and its apostrophe indicates that it is a two axle pivoting truck. The same applies to the second two and its apostrophe. The capital letter indicates that it is a tender. The numeral tells you how much water the tender holds in cubic meters. A three axle tender would probably not use any pivoting trucks and thus would be designated 3T30 – three axles in a fixed frame and holding 30 cubic meters of water. For additional information on tenders go to steam locomotive tenders.