Description

The class 01 was designed in the early 1920s as the standard fast train engine of the newly formed Reichsbahn. Series production started in 1926, it was the first of several standardized engine types to be in production. More than 200 units were built until 1938, which went on to become the backbone for fast passenger services all over Germany, provided the tracks had been upgraded to allow these heavy engines to run on them.

After World War II many units were modified and some were upgraded to burning oil instead of coal, in order to keep up with the higher demands with heavy fast trains. The Reichsbahn in East Germany even went further and fully reconstructed some machines. By the early 1970s the engines became obsolete as electrification and new diesel engines became available. In West Germany the last services were run around Hof in Franconia in 1974, in East Germany they kept on running in regular service with heaviest fast trains on the important line between Berlin and Dresden until 1977.

In the game, this engine is an ideal candidate for all kinds of fast and express trains, be it the Rheingold before World War II or the blue "F" trains of the 1950s. With the introduction of the VT-11, at the latest with the class 103 their usage will come to an end. One should also keep in mind that these engines have a rather low tractive effort, so hilly terrain is an issue as soon as the trains get long and heavy.