Locomotive factory Krauss & Comp. Linz
_in_Slovenian_Railway_Museum_10.jpg)
The locomotive factory Krauss & Comp. Linz , Krauss for short / Linz was an independently operating factory of the Munich locomotive factory of Georg Krauss in Linz, Austria . It existed from 1880 to 1930 and was primarily specialized in small steam locomotives for secondary and narrow-gauge railways .
_in_Gm%C3%BCnd_-_Ausfahrt_III.jpg)
history
Company history
The Linz factory was founded in 1880 by Georg Krauss as a branch of his Munich company in order to avoid import duties to Austria . The foundation stone of the Linz plant was laid on September 1, 1880. The factory developed splendidly and became increasingly independent. The company soon made an excellent name for itself, especially with its curved narrow-gauge locomotives in Bosnian gauge , and in 1889 the locomotives were delivered to the first Austrian narrow-gauge railway, the Steyrtalbahn . In quick succession, many narrow-gauge railways with a gauge of 760 mm were built, all of whose locomotives came from Linz and were designed here. Delivered were z. B. the Bosnian-Herzegovinian State Railways , the Steiermärkische Landesbahnen and the Mariazellerbahn of the NÖLB . But standard-gauge machines for factory and local railways were also built. Small tank locomotives were delivered to the kk Staatsbahnen (kkStB) and the Niederösterreichische Landesbahnen (NÖLB). The plant was always considered to be well utilized and was the market leader in its sector in the Austrian half of the empire.
The First World War marked a major turning point, which the company could not cope with financially. On January 1, 1918, the factory in Linz was sold to the Austrian Railway Transport Authority (founded in 1892) , but still operated by Krauss. To expand the product range of the factory, the Linzer Posselt-Werke were acquired in 1920, which in 1924 was incorporated into the newly founded Austrian Bamag-Büttner-Werke AG. These were shut down together with Krauss Linz in 1930 as a result of the global economic crisis . The Oesterreichische Eisenbahn-Verkehrs-Anstalt also acquired the majority of shares in the Munich parent company in 1920, which it sold to a German syndicate in 1930 for a profit. The two traditional Munich locomotive factories Krauss and Maffei were then merged to form Krauss-Maffei AG.
After the takeover, standard gauge electric locomotives and railcars were also built for the Austrian Federal Railways (BBÖ). The economic crisis in the second half of the 1920s meant the decline of Krauss Linz. In Austria, due to the effects of the economic crisis, there was a process of concentration in the locomotive industry. Of the four locomotive factories still in existence in 1929 on the territory of the Republic of Austria, only the Floridsdorf locomotive factory in Vienna was to exist after 1930 . It took over the other plants ( Wiener Neustadt , StEG , Krauss Linz) and liquidated them. The purchase price for the Linz factory was 1.65 million Schillings in shares and 1.2 million Schillings in cash. The WLF Floridsdorf put the locomotive factory Krauss & Comp. silent with immediate effect. The last locomotive built in Linz was locomotive number 5 GERLOS of the Zillertalbahn (corresponding to the series Uh of the BBÖ ) with the factory number 1521. The production of the electric locomotives of the BBÖ series 1670 was relocated to Floridsdorf.
Until 1921, the factory numbers of the Linz plant were combined with those of Krauss Munich, but that year separate counting was introduced for the Linz plant. From its founding in 1880 to its closure in 1930, a total of 1521 locomotives were built in Linz.
Elektro Bau AG (EBG) moved into the vacant factory halls of the Linz locomotive factory in 1936. Some of the factories in the Linz district around Bulgariplatz (Kraussstrasse), which were badly damaged during the war, still exist today.
Construction and management of local and works railways
The Krauss & Comp. Locomotive factory was also involved in the construction and operation of railway lines. Active in Linz, from 1880 to 1892 she built and operated the standard gauge Krems Valley Railway Linz - Kremsmünster (- Klaus ). This was later taken over by the Imperial and Royal State Railways and expanded into the Pyhrnbahn mountain railway . Krauss also designed and built its own locomotives for the Kremstalbahn; the factory also had a direct connection to the railway.
Furthermore, from 1891 to 1897 the operation of the narrow-gauge Wolfsegg-Breitschützing coal railway (in Hausruck ) of the WTK , which had the rare gauge of 1106mm from the Budweis-Linz-Gmunden horse-drawn railway , was run. Krauss also built C-coupler tank locomotives for this line, most recently in 1908 the still-preserved locomotive "Anna" (serial number 5867).
Steam tramway Krauss & Comp. in Vienna
As a sales opportunity for its products, the company also recognized the possibility of building and operating steam tram lines in Vienna , analogous to the Munich headquarters . First the line from Hietzing via Mauer and Perchtoldsdorf to Mödling (southern line) was built and gradually put into operation from 1883 to 1887. In 1886 the "northern line" followed from today's Salztorbrücke over Gaußplatz and Floridsdorfer Brücke to Stammersdorf and Groß-Enzersdorf . These lines were operated with small, two- and three-axle steam tramway locomotives, and passenger and freight traffic was carried out, which primarily served to supply Vienna with food.
The Stammersdorfer line was extended in 1903 to Auersthal and later to Groß-Schweinbarth (see Stammersdorfer Local Railway ), for which two separate three-coupler local railway locomotives were purchased. However, the steam tram was only able to assert itself on these outer lines, in the inner city the plague of smoke and the lack of driving comfort were the reasons for the lack of success of the company. After quarrels with the city of Vienna, the lines were handed over to the municipality of Vienna - urban trams in 1907 and continued to operate as steam trams for some time. The switch to electrical operation took place gradually by 1922.
Products
While Munich designs were initially copied, the Linz plant became independent very early on and created its own developments in narrow and standard gauge. An independent line in the design of the locomotives can also be recognized early on. The company's product range was extremely diverse and ranged from small light rail and mine locomotives to express train tank locomotives and electric locomotives .
Narrow gauge locomotives for Austria and Bosnia
Krauss-Linz achieved world fame especially with its narrow-gauge locomotives. The first C'1 locomotives of the Steyrtal type were delivered as early as 1889 , a triple-coupled tank locomotive whose last driving axle was combined with the trailing axle to form a Krauss-Helmholtz steering frame . This ensured particularly good arc fluency. Such machines were also delivered to the Salzkammergut local railway from Salzburg to Bad Ischl, which remained in service almost unchanged until they were discontinued in 1957. This type of locomotive turned out to be a successful design, which was further developed for the StLB in 1894 for the U series ( Unzmarkt , starting point for the Murtalbahn ). The U was to become the Austrian narrow-gauge locomotive with a number of 59 units.
As early as 1892, small two-couplers were built for the SKGLB and the Steiermärkische Landesbahnen , of which the Stainz 2, which became famous for its LGB model, is the best-known representative.
The small C-couplers of the Z series (tent at the lake), which also ran on the Thörlerbahn , were developed for the Pinzgauer Lokalbahn . The small locomotives of the series T ( Treibach-Althofen ) were designed for the Gurktalbahn in 1898 and in 1898, with the help of Karl Gölsdorf, the C´2 compound machines of the Ybbstalbahn series Yv as well as the meter-gauge support tank locomotives of the Innsbrucker Mittelgebirgsbahn . The P series machines were designed for the Triest – Parenzo local railway in 1911 , and the FS had six of them rebuilt by Reggiane in 1922 . Three locomotives were also delivered by Krauss to the local railway Ruprechtshofen-Gresten of the BBÖ in 1926 . From 1924, Linz also built four copies of the powerful five-coupler (with a combined inner and outer frame) of the Kh series ( Kühnsdorf Superheated Steam) designed for the Vellachtalbahn , which were also delivered in two to the StLB for the Murtalbahn .
Krauss / Linz also designed and built all types of locomotives for the Bosnian-Herzegovinian State Railways , starting in 1881 with the first locomotives for the Bosnian Railway . Due to the curvature of the route, the designers in Linz asked for a lot of creativity: They created the series IIIa4 supporting tender machines with the complicated Klose engine , which were later supplemented by the further developed locomotives of the IIIa5 series . In 1894, class IIa4 narrow-gauge express locomotives were built for the first time with a top speed of 60 km / h. With the freight train locomotive motifs of the IVa5 series , Linz created a tried-and-tested type that was supplied by various factories over a period of 45 years. The highlight of the locomotives designed for Bosnia is the IIIb5 series , a 1´C´1 express locomotive with an outer frame and a top speed of 55 km / h. One of these locomotives, later listed as the JZ 73, is now owned by the Club 760 .
Based on the Bosnian IVa5 , in 1905 the D´2 Sützender locomotives of the Mh and Mv (Mariazell) series were developed for the Mariazell Railway . The engine and chassis were largely the same (with the exception of the supporting tender) with the Bosnian locomotives. However, these powerful machines were replaced by the electric locomotives of the NÖLB E series as early as 1910/11 . These machines, which had been rebuilt several times, were in daily service until 2013 and were therefore the longest-serving electric locomotives in the world. You still travel on weekends with the nostalgic train “Ötscherbär”. With these machines, construction principles that are still valid today for the construction of electric locomotives were introduced.
Rack locomotives
In 1893/95 and 1896/1900 Krauss Linz built the meter-gauge cogwheel locomotives of the Z and Zz series (ÖBB 999) for the Schafbergbahn and Schneebergbahn based on designs by Roman Abt . They were to remain the only cogwheel locomotives from Linz, since the patents for the Abt system were held by the Wiener Lokomotivfabrik Floridsdorf .
Standard gauge locomotives
In line with its profession for narrow and local railroad locomotives, Krauss in Linz mainly manufactures smaller machines for secondary railways, but was also involved in the delivery of full-rail locomotives for the kkStB. "Paradepferd" (Schmeiser) of the Linz locomotive factory in the 1920s (and largest passenger locomotive manufactured there) was the 629 series (ÖBB 73) . The Linz copies were initially equipped with Caprotti controls.
Electric traction vehicles
For the electrification of the Arlbergbahn , Krauss Linz received the order to supply freight locomotives, which were to replace the series 80 and 180 steam locomotives that had been used up until then . The five-fold coupled machines of the series 1080 and 1080.1 of the BBÖ proved to be extremely robust and were in use on the Austrian Federal Railways from 1924 to 1993 , most recently in shunting.
After the valley lines Innsbruck-Landeck and Bludenz-Bregenz were also spanned with contact wire, Krauss built the express train locomotives of the 1570 and 1670 series from 1925 . These had an unusual chassis arrangement, consisting of a leading bogie consisting of a running axle and (larger) driving axle, two driving axles fixed in the chassis and a trailing bogie consisting of a driving axle and a running axle (axle sequence (1A) 'Bo (A1)'). Since the type of drive was still not clear, experiments were carried out with a Siemens vertical drive with stationary motors and drive via bevel gears. This introduced the single-axle drive for mainline locomotives. However, the locomotives initially proved to be prone to failure due to problems with the drives and chassis and only proved themselves after a number of modifications. The oil consumption of the vertical drives initially had to be constantly monitored and was considered to be considerable. The locomotives remained in service with the ÖBB until 1983 and were mainly used in western Austria.
For local traffic in Salzburg, Vorarlberg, in the Tyrolean Inntal (Wörgl-Kufstein) and on the Salzkammergutbahn , Krauss built its only electric multiple unit with the BBÖ ET 10 series . The four-axle vehicles with pawl bearing drive were initially given three-axle bogies (axle order C'0 C'0) because the permissible axle mass was exceeded. They proved themselves well and drove mainly in the Innsbruck area until 1973.
gallery
Locomotive 2 of the Steyrtalbahn , built in 1888, is the oldest surviving narrow-gauge locomotive in Austria in Bosnian gauge. These Steyrtal-type locomotives established the reputation of Krauss / Linz as a leading manufacturer of curved narrow-gauge steam locomotives. The C'1 engine with Krauss-Helmholtz steering frame became the standard for almost all Krauss tank locomotives.
Comparison between two Steyrtal-Type locomotives (Type S) with the distinctive long smoke chamber. In front, locomotive 4 "Molln" (built 1890) and in the rear locomotive 6 "Klaus" (built 1914) with longer water tanks.
Locomotive 6 of the Steyrtalbahn , the last of its series, built in Linz in 1914. In terms of appearance, this locomotive is more similar to the U series than the original Steyrtal type .
Locomotive No. 8 of the Salzkammergut local railway , similar to the Steyrtal type , but a representative of the second series with a shorter smoke chamber. Recorded in the interwar period.
The fully restored S 12 of the SKGLB , here in use on the Murtalbahn .
The C'1 - Klose locomotives with support tenders of the IIIa4 series were built for the Bosnabahn and the Bosnian-Herzegovinian State Railways from 1885 . They had the complex, multi-part Klose engine for easy cornering .
The Steyrtal-type locomotives delivered to the Mori-Arco-Riva local railway (on Lake Garda) in 1891 were given a disguised engine.
Former locomotive 2 of the Mori-Arco-Riva local railway , built by Krauss in Linz in 1891. Today it is located at the park railway of the Omaha zoo .
Locomotive 2 of the Zillertalbahn is a typical representative of the U series , the most popular narrow-gauge steam locomotive in Austria.
Krauss locomotives in Yugoslavia in the interwar period, on the right and in the middle one locomotive from the U series . On the left a two-coupler from the Stainz series . The locomotives are likely to have a steam condensing station.
A U (U12) series locomotive in the Pfaffenschlag station on the Ybbstalbahn mountain line around 1900.
Two class U locomotives on the Bregenz Forest Railway .
U 24 of the Bregenzerwaldbahn, built in 1902.
The C´2 compound locomotive Yv 2 of the Ybbstalbahn in its original condition (1898). Created with the collaboration of Karl Gölsdorf .
The operational locomotive Yv2 in its current condition in Lunz am See. The rear bogie was converted from the outer to the inner frame after a short period of operation due to the frequent derailments according to plans by Johann Rihosek .
The Bh.1 of the Murtalbahn , ex NÖLB Uh1 is turned in Tamsweg .
Company photo of a NÖLB Uv .
NÖLB Uv 1 , today restored to its original state on the Ybbstalbahn mountain line .
Composite locomotive of the series NÖLB Uv in later years as ÖBB 298.207 on the Waldviertel narrow-gauge railway .
Locomotive 3 of the Zillertalbahn corresponds to the Uv series , but has a coal box at the rear.
Factory photo of a BHStB class IIIa5 locomotive . The supporting tender and boiler are similar to the Mh of the NÖLB.
The machine JŽ 186-007 was built in 1902 by Krauss / Linz as a series IIIa5 locomotive of the BHStB and ran into the 1960s.
Locomotive 4 of the Zillertralbahn is the former Bosnian JZ 83-076, built by Krauss in Linz in 1909 for the Bosnian-Herzegovinian state railways as locomotive IVa5 1108. It belongs to Club 760 .
NÖVOG Mh.1 with a train on the Waldviertel narrow-gauge railway . The Mh are a further development of the Bosnian IVa5 with a support tender and without a trailing axle, but with the same engine.
From 1907 Krauss Linz built the 55 km / h fast and elegant 1´C´1 express locomotives of the IIIa4 series of the Bosnian-Herzegovinian State Railways .
A locomotive of the series ÖBB 498, formerly Uh of the BBÖ. This type is the culmination and conclusion in the development of the C'1 types from Krauss Linz.
The locomotive 5 of the Zillertalbahn with the name "Gerlos" is the last locomotive built in Linz, factory number 1521. It corresponds to the series Uh of the BBÖ .
The legendary Mariazellerbahn machines of the 1099 series, built between 1910 and 1912, were the longest-serving locomotives in the world with over 100 years of service when they retired in 2013. They received new bodies in the 1960s, but remained technically as good as in their original state.
The original condition of the Mariazellerbahn locomotives as NÖLB E in 1911.
Meter-gauge two-coupler steam tram locomotive of the Innbsruck - Hall in Tirol local railway , so-called "Halller locomotive", procured from Krauss / Linz in eight pieces from 1891, length over buffers 4,100 mm.
For the Innsbrucker Mittelgebirgsbahn , a meter-gauge C'1 supporting tender composite locomotive was developed with the assistance of Karl Gölsdorf . Power 180 hp.
1´B composite tank locomotive of the Lambach-Gmunden local railway , track width 1106mm, built 1895–1899 in four copies. Later retraced to standard gauge , series Gv of the kkStB .
Cogwheel steam locomotive system Abt of the Schafbergbahn , originally series Z of the SKGLB , later ÖBB 999.1. Built in 1893, equipped with a Giesl ejector in the 1950s to increase performance .
Cogwheel steam locomotive 999.0 3 "Waxriegel" of the Schneebergbahn, built in 1897 by Krauss with the serial number 3402. The only difference between the Schneebergbahn locomotives and those of the Schafbergbahn is the lower inclination of the boiler.
C-coupled steam tramway locomotive 8 of the steam tramway Krauss & Comp. in Vienna (DTKC), built in 1884, with a suitable train on the former northern line of the DTKC to Stammersdorf .
Sister locomotive 11 in the Remise transport museum in Vienna.
Steam tramway locomotive 10 "Caroline" of the Brno tram (Brno), built in Linz in 1889 with the factory number 2165.
B-coupled steam tramway locomotive SETG 11 "Hellbrunn", built in 1902 with the serial number 4814 for the Salzburg Railway and Tramway Company . Keep in working order on the Mariazell Museum Tramway .
For the opening of the Stammersdorfer local railway to Auersthal , the DTKC procured two three-couplers in Linz in 1904. Here in the picture locomotive no. 32 "Auersthal". The structurally identical sister locomotive 31 "Stammersdorf" (factory number 5099/1904) has been kept ready for operation on the Mariazell Museum Tramway .
Two-coupler local train locomotive of the Kremstalbahn , later kkStB class 83 . Built in 1887, top speed 35 km / h.
1'B locomotive of the Kremstalbahn with water boxes in the vehicle frame (a Krauss specialty), kkStB series 89 .
Krauss / Linz was also involved in the delivery of the 228 series of C-coupled local railway locomotives of the kkStB series 97 .
The 1´C local railway locomotives of the 99 series of the kkStB (ÖBB 91) were supplied by Krauss from 1897 onwards. The last copies of this frugal construction remained on the Neuberger Bahn until 1972 .
Powerful four-axle composite local train locomotive of the EWA for the Schneebergbahn Wiener Neustadt - Puchberg, designed by Karl Gölsdorf and built by Krauss / Linz in 1898 with the serial number 3867. The widespread series 178 of the kkStB was developed from this. You can see the larger low-pressure cylinder here.
1'C 'local railway locomotive of the kkStB class 199 preserved in Slovenia , a stronger further development of the class 99, built by Krauss Linz in 1907.
The 1´C´2 tank locomotives of the class 629 (ÖBB 77) were the largest passenger train locomotives built by Krauss / Linz. Here in picture 77.28 of the ÖGEG , built in Linz in 1920 under the factory number 1183.
Krauss delivered three of the freight locomotives of the series BBÖ 81 (ÖBB 58) designed by Johann Rihosek . They were the largest steam locomotives built in Linz.
In 1924 the ÖBB 1080 .01 was built as one of the first electric freight locomotives for the Arlbergbahn . Electrical equipment from Siemens-Schuckert .
The further development of the 1080 was the BBÖ 1080.1, later ÖBB 1180, which was 20% stronger than its sister series.
Electric express train locomotive of the BBÖ, series 1570 . Built in 1925 with electrical equipment from Siemens-Schuckert . 1600 kW power and top speed 85 km / h, wheel arrangement (1A) 'Bo (A1)'.
Electric multiple unit BBÖ ET 10 , built 1928/29. First full-line electric multiple units in Austria. 1987 restored to its original state.
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
literature
- Bernhard Schmeiser: Krauss locomotives. Verlag Josef Otto Slezak , Vienna 1977, ISBN 3-900134-36-7 (with complete delivery lists for the Linz and Munich works).
Individual evidence
- ^ Locomotive factory Krauss & Comp. AG. In: power and steam engines. Albert Gieseler, accessed on August 29, 2020 .
- ^ Bernhard Schmeiser: Krauss locomotives . Josef Otto Slezak, Vienna 1977, ISBN 3-900134-36-7 , p. 5 .
- ^ City of Linz: Monument database - Monuments: Former locomotive factory Krauss & Comp. Retrieved August 7, 2020 .