The information that is available about the BR52s which survived the war is often contradictory. In what was to be the future DR territory there were around 1500 locos, whereas the DB had about half that figure, ……this proportion being reversed for the class 50s. Before the end of the war, the most valuable locos (the BR 50s being considered so, unlike the BR52s), were dispersed towards the west to keep them out of reach of the Red Army.
Many locos were destroyed during the war, or divided up across Europe. A series of fairly modern locos was naturally very important for the rebuilding after the war. Because of this intact class 50 and 52 locos received a general overhaul. Despite this DB decided fairly quickly to withdraw class BR52s. By 1954 there were only around 100 left on the books. By 1959 maintenance was no longer carried out except on machines delivered after the war. The last locos of this type were withdrawn from service by the DB in 1963. However the boilers of the scrapped class 52s were used to replace the St47K of the class 50s. The almost identical boilers were fitted without major modifications to the BR50s.
On the other hand the DR had no opportunity to give up using the BR 50S. Different modifications were carried out to prolongue their lives. By 1958 many locos had been rebuilt. Many simplifications imposed by the war were left in place. The most important alterations were modifications to the axleboxes and fitting of water pre-heaters. These locos received new boiler stays, built to the original designs but welded. DR kept these original or rebuilt locos in service until the mid 1980s.
Our 52 221 is now almost in it's original condition. It came not from DR, or DB, but from Austrian railways. Austrian Railways carried out very few alterations to this machine. As when they were delivered this loco doesn't have axlebox wedges. In Poland all the BR52s received a rocking grate…. which we also intend to carry out on our loco.
The Austrian Steam Base
contains locomotives situated in the Republic of Austria or locomotives outside
Austria, which are of austrian heritage.
You'll find there the
52 221,
and her sisters BR52, also named ÖBB DKL1, MAV 520, PKP Ty2, SNCF
150-Y ...