The German H02 locomotive

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This remarkable high-pressure steam locomotive was built by the engineering firm of Schwarzkopff to the design of Dr L. Löffler. The aim was not only to improve fuel economy—the usual reason for adopting high steam pressures—but also to increase the amount of power that could be produced within the Geman loading gauge.

The H02-1001 locomotive was the only example of the Schwarzkopff-Löffler high-pressure boiler system, a complex technology in which heat was extracted from the firebox by tubes filled with steam rather than boiling water. It was delivered in 1930. Schwarzkopff guaranteed in the purchase contract a coal saving of 42% over a standard 01 locomotive design, but in the event DRG never bought the loco.

Steam was delivered at no less than 1750 lbf/in² (105 kp/cm²) to two very small outside cylinders of 220 mm diameter. These were compounded with a single 600 mm LP inside cylinder. The wheel arrangement was 4-6-2.

After extensive trials it was found that any increase in efficiency was small compared with the greatly increased maintenance costs. The very complicated H02-1001 was also hopelessly unreliable.