The history of Bavarian locomotive Class S 3/6:
Between 1908 and 1924, Maffei built 108 locomotives Class S 3/6 for K.Bay.St.B. (road number 3601-3709). When the Deutsche Reichsbahn (DRG) was formed, all engines became Class 18.4/18.5 and were numbered 18 401 to 18 508.
From 1908 to 1931 the Royal Bavarian State Railroad bought what is probably the most famous and beautiful of all of the Bavarian express locomotives. That means that the last S 3/6 locomotives were delivered 6 years after the introduction of the class 01 standard design locomotive, undoubtedly proof of this successful design. The famous S 3/6 was the symbol of Bavarian locomotive construction, although there were American design principles present in the locomotive. Two of the class S 2/5 were ordered in 1901 from the Baldwin Company in the USA. The good results from this design led to the Bavarian class S 2/5 and S 3/5, and the S 3/6 was a further development of this. There were only slight differences between the first 4 subclasses of this locomotive. The diameter of the driving wheels was 1,870 mm / 73-5/8. Thanks to its great power and very efficient use of coal, the S 3/6 was assured of its great success. One hundred fifty nine locomotives were built in 16 groups. It took on the main role in Bavarian express train service immediately after its introduction. It pulled express trains from Munich to Nürnberg, Regensburg, Lindau, Ulm, Würzburg, Aschaffenburg, Salzburg, and Kufstein. It even pulled famous trains such as the Orient Express. In the German State Railroad period its use as motive power for the Rheingold was surely the high point of its career. The last of the S 3/6 was retired from the German Federal Railroad in 1966. Several museum locomotives remain preserved, among them one in the German Museum in Munich and an operational unit at the Bavarian Railroad Museum in Nördlingen that is currently one of the busiest steam locomotives for special excursions(www.minitrix.de)
Specifications (road number 3601-3623 / 3642-3649):
Axle configuration: 2C1 h4v
Drive Wheel diameter: 1870 mm
Overall length: 21221 mm
Grating area: 4.5 m2
Heating surface: 201.7 m2
Top speed: 120 km/h
Service weight: 88.3 tons / 89.7 tons
Water Supply: 26.2 m3
Coal supply: 7.5 tons
Specifications (road number 3624-3641):
Axle configuration: 2C1 h4v
Drive Wheel diameter: 2000 mm
Overall length: 22095 mm
Grating area: 4.5 m2
Heating surface: 202.7 m2
Top speed: 120 km/h
Service weight: 91.6 tons
Water Supply: 32.5 m3
Coal supply: 8 tons
Specifications (road number 3650-3709):
Axle configuration: 2C1 h4v
Drive Wheel diameter: 1870 mm
Overall length: 21221 mm
Grating area: 4.5 m2
Heating surface: 201.7 m2
Top speed: 120 km/h
Service weight: 92.3 tons / 94 tons
Water Supply: 26.4 m3
Coal supply: 7.5 tons / 8.5 tons
MINITRIX 12226
Bavarian Express passenger locomotive Class S 3/6,
4-6-2 design.
Built by Maffei in 1913.
Road number 3644
Overall length: 134 mmThe locomotive comes with the new, impressive Trix technology: - Locomotive and tender made of die-cast metal. - Powerful can motor with a bell-shaped armature and a flywheel. - Motor and gear drive in the boiler. - Digital connector in the tender. - Close coupling between the locomotive and tender. 3 axles powered through side rods, 2 traction tires. (www.minitrix.de)
