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The 030TB130 & 134, ex T3 6130 & 6134 EL

La 030 au dépot en attente de partir

The 030TB130 at the depot of Volgelsheim in july 2005 (Picture Sébastien Kieffer)


General characteristics of the locomotive:

Builder: Elsässische Maschinenfabrik Gesellschaft, Grafenstaden, Reichsland Elsaß
Model/Type: T3
Date of delivery: 1900
Road number: 6130 & 6134
Steam pressure [bar]: 11
Grate area [m2]: 1,25
Evaporative heating surface [m2]: firebox: 4,2, boiler: 65, Total: 69,2
Superheating surface [m2]: -
Steam expansion: single
Number of cylinders [-]: 2
Locomotive power [kW]: ca.250
Maximum starting tractive effort [kN]: 132
Maximum safe speed [km/h]: 40
Weight in working order [t]: 35,5
Total length [m]: 8,03

General view:

DMC-Tag

Builder plate:

Plaque

Short presentation:

The prussian 6100 are tank locomotives from prussian type T3, undergroup D30, equipped with two cylinders and from type single expansion engine without superheater. Their 3 axles are coupled and the valve gear is from type Walschaerts. They were equipped with the so-called Hardy and then reequipped with the well-known Westinghouse air brake after 1910.

The principal duty for which these locomotives were designed was the every day switch on the yard. A very important aspect of this use is the high reliability and the ease to use and repair. Most reliable and simple components had consequently to be used and the overall design was aimed to be the most economical and robust. The original design was the so-called "D22" dating back to 1882 and slightly modified to increase power output. No wonder that even before their production was ended, they were obsolete. But this was not a very important point from the point of view of the operator.

This simplicity and robustness explain why they were much in demand from private short lines after they were put out of operation from their first owner. Not less than 13 exemplars found so a 2nd life, essentially in Alsace and in the greater Paris.

History of the 130 & 134 before their restauration:

Before nationalization of 1938, only #6125, 6130, 6132 and 6134 to 6137 are left from the former serie 6101 to 6141. And only 3 locomotives will find their way to the inventory of the SNCF: the 6125, 6130 & 6134 which became 030 TB 125, 130 & 134.

Our both locomotives belong to the series and subcategories D26, D27, D29 and D30, which were built between 1891 and 1900 and renumbered T3 after 1906. They belong to the subcategory D30 682 to 693. All these subcategories were compiled under the numbering T3 2073 to 2113 after 1906 and under the numbering T3 6101 to 6141 after 1912. In the following the locomotives will be  appointed under this numbering.

A very old tradition of the Imperial Railways was to baptize all the locomotives. Consequently 6130 is named "Berthold" and  6134 has been named "Theodor".

From end of WWII to may 1950, 6130 is working for the luxembourg national operator CFL (Chemins de Fer Luxembourgeois) wearing number 30.00. In this time 6134 is working in Strasbourg, shunting coal trains at the dedicated railway station. After this period it is sent back to Sarrebourg in the north of Alsace where its sister was working. Both were bought by the "Aciéries d'Audincourt" (Steelworks from Audincourt) in 1958 and served there until  1970, when the company filed for insolvency.

They were sold to a scrap dealer named "Vernerey" with another locomotive built by Henschel (which is not the one preserved by our association). In 1982 founding members of the CFTR found, bought and brought them to Cernay near Mulhouse, to the branch line that a company placed kindly at disposal. 

Firebox and boiler of 6130 were in good condition (which is rare enough!) and this led to a fast restoration in comparison with 6134 which was highly rusty. There were also a lot a parts missing. However and despite this bad condition, decision was made to preserve and restore this locomotive too. In fact both machines were the most powerful locomotives from the association and essential for the operation of the touristic trains during summer time.

The certification body (in France it is the so-called "'APAVE") requests a decennial check (i.e. every 10 years). This check requires some months to disassemble, control and reassemble the whole locomotive. For this reason, every steam locomotive can't be operated for a longer time, sometimes for months (depending on how much time the volunteers have). During this extensive check of the one locomotive, the other one can run and operate the touristic train. So it's possible to show the public a 030 from the Imperial Railways in working condition without interruption. In many aspects this decision was the right one.

Notice: both engines are landmarked.

Career at the CFTR:

Last owner before preservation: Company "Vernerey"
Scrap Date: 1981
Acquisition date: 1981
Current owner: Privé
Restauration date (6130): 1983
Use: Runs the train to Sans-soucis and back
Scrapping at the CFTR: -

Pictures at the CFTR:

 

Decauville Vapeur Depot

6132 at work in the suburb of Strasbourg during the 30's (Picture: Henri Fohanno, collection Raymond Floquet).

030TB Scierie

6130 stored on a branch line of Cernay not far from Mulhouse, in 1983. (Picture: Voies Ferrées No.17)

030TB Gare

After its restoration, 6130 is seen at the railway station of Volgelsheim in 2005. (Picture: Sébastien Kieffer)

030TB Vapeur Scierie

6134 at work in 2005. (Picture: Sébastien Kieffer)

Bibliography and external links:

  • Voies Ferrées N°17
  • Locomotives et automotrices du réseau d'Alsace-Lorraine, Vauquesal-Papin, Editions du Cabri, 1984
  • Dampflokomotiven, Bahnen in Elsaß-Lothringen, wechselvolle Geschichte 1846 bis 1960, Lothar Spielhoff, Alba, 1991


Further technical information: 

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