Bavarian D VII

The locomotives of the Bavarian Class D VII were saturated steam locomotives of the Royal Bavarian State Railways (Königlich Bayerische Staatsbahn).

Bavarian D VII DRG Class 98.76
K.Bay.Sts.E. 900 FÜRSTENZELL (Maffei 1452 of 1887) in April 1894
Number(s)	K.Bay.Sts.E: 100…980, 1851–1874 DRG: 98 7601 – 98 7614, 98 7621 – 98 7681
Quantity	75
Manufacturer	Krauss (41) Maffei (34)
Year(s) of manufacture	1880–1885
Retired	1935
Wheel arrangement	0-6-0T
Axle arrangement	C n2t
Track gauge	1,435 mm (4 ft 8 1⁄2 in)
Length over buffers	7,550 or 7,565 mm (24 ft 9 1⁄4 in or 24 ft 9 3⁄4 in)
Service weight	26.7 or 28.2 t (26.3 or 27.8 long tons; 29.4 or 31.1 short tons)
Adhesive weight	26.7 or 28.2 t (26.3 or 27.8 long tons; 29.4 or 31.1 short tons)
Axle load	8.9 or 9.4 t (8.8 or 9.3 long tons; 9.8 or 10.4 short tons)
Top speed	45 km/h (28 mph)
Indicated Power	177 PS (130 kW; 175 hp)
Driving wheel diameter	1,006 mm (3 ft 3 5⁄8 in)
No. of cylinders	2
Cylinder bore	330 mm (13 in)
Piston stroke	508 mm (20 in)
Boiler Overpressure	12 kgf/cm2 (1,180 kPa; 171 lbf/in2)
Grate area	0.83 m2 (8.9 sq ft)
Evaporative heating area	50.16 m2 (539.9 sq ft)
Locomotive brakes	Hardy vacuum brakes, later compressed-air brakes; some had Riggenbach counter-pressure brakes

The D VII was built, in parallel with the D VI, as a six-coupled locomotive for hilly routes. A total of 75 examples were made, 41 by Krauss and 34 by Maffei. From 1885 the locomotives were somewhat longer, and had more water and coal capacity, so were also heavier.

The Deutsche Reichsbahn-Gesellschaft took over all 75 locomotives in 1925 as DRG Class 98.76 (Baureihe 98.76). Most were retired by the end of the 1920s, the last one however not until 1935.

One example, D VII no. 1854 – later 98 7658, is in the branch line museum at Bayerisch Eisenstein owned by the Bavarian Localbahn Society.[1]