DRG Class SVT 137

DRG Class SVT 137

DRG Class SVT 137 255 at Leipzig Main Station
Type and origin
Power type Diesel
Builder WUMAG, AEG, Linke-Hoffmann, SSW
Build date since 1935
Total produced 33
Specifications
UIC class 2'Bo'2'
2'Bo'Bo'2
B2'2'B
2'Bo'+2'2'+Bo'2'
Length 44.756–70.2 m (146.84–230.31 ft)
Axle load 16.7 t (16.4 long tons; 18.4 short tons)
Loco weight 91.3–160 t (89.9–157.5 long tons; 100.6–176.4 short tons)
Transmission diesel-electric, diesel-hydraulic
Performance figures
Maximum speed 160–205 km/h (99–127 mph)
Power output 604–970 kW (810–1,301 hp)

The DRG Class SVT 137 was a class of streamlined diesel train sets of the Deutsche Reichsbahn-Gesellschaft and later of the Deutsche Bundesbahn (as class VT 04) and the Deutsche Reichsbahn. With a regular maximum speed of 161 km/h (100 mph) and average speeds of up to 132 km/h (82 mph) they were the first high speed trains in central Europe.

Subclasses and Technical Data

Based on the prototype DRG Class SVT 877 there were four different subclasses and one experimental train:

Most SVT 137 were diesel-electric, two SVT 137 Bauart Leipzig had a diesel-hydraulic transmission. Three sections of the SVT 137 902 were originally from the Dutch NS streamline '36 and used in this train.They didn't return to the NS after the war.

History

Since the success of the SVT 877 "Flying Hamburger" DRG projected a set of Diesel multiple units for a high speed network from Berlin to several German cities. First built 1934/1935, the "Bauart Hamburg" showed some differences to the prototype: The number of seats was 77 instead of 99, the placement of the seats 2+1 instead of 3+1. The Bauart Hamburg was 2.3 m (7 ft 6 1⁄2 in) longer.

The main line Berlin-Hannover-Cologne started July 1, 1935; the route Berlin-Leipzig-Erfurt-Frankfurt followed August 15, 1935. From 1936 a service Berlin-Nuremberg-Munich/Stuttgart was initiated.

On February 17, 1936, the "Bauart Leipzig" achieved a world speed record of 205 km/h (127 mph). These trains did the route Berlin-Breslau-Beuthen (now: Berlin-Wrocław-Bytom) from May 15, 1936. The scheduled time was 4:17 h, meaning an average speed of 109 km/h (68 mph).

The SVT service was halted in August, 1939. During World War II some of the trains were used by the Wehrmacht as military trains.

After World War II some of the SVT 137 were handed over to other states. The SVT 137 274 was used in the American occupation zone, it was transported to Fort Eustis, Virginia, USA, as a "technical interesting object". SVT 137 852 served the CSD in 1949 on the line Praha-Bratislava. SVT 137 855 entered service at the SZD USSR as trainset DP-14.

The remaining SVT 137 were used by the Deutsche Bundesbahn as VT 04 / VT 06 and the Deutsche Reichsbahn as class 137, later class 183.

DRG SVT 137 225 "Bauart Hamburg" (picture above) was used by the GDR government until 1975. In 1991 this train was repainted in its original colours. Today it is exhibited at Leipzig main station.

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