WWII German locomotives

In 'Stories from the Wars' episodes set in WWII, some **Deutsche Reichsbahn (DRG/DRB) locomotives from Germany** appear as the episode's antagonists. They work for Adolf Hitler and normally defeated when battling against the 119th Platoon of the Steam Reserve Corps. Only six classes are seen.

## DRG class 24

### Designer

Deutsche Reichsbahn

The **Deutsche Reichsbahn (DRG) class 24** 2-6-0 is type of passenger locomotive built by the DRG. They were nicknamed "prairie horses" and were normally seen in Africa.

### Personality

The DRG class 24s (except one) appear to be heartless due to them serving the Wehrmacht under Nazi Germany.

### Livery

The DRG class are painted in dark grey with the Nazi eagle plated on their cabsides.

### Trivia

Despite being nicknamed "prairie horses", they were "moguls" (2-6-0) instead of being a pure "prairie" (2-6-2). The origin of the nickname came from the fact they "drode" on the long side routes of East and West Prussia, resulting in their strange nickname.

Lutjens is the only named member of this class, serving in the Steam Reserve Corps in the 1st Platoon (Deautsche Reichsbahn Traitors Union).

## DRG Class 80

### Designer

Deutsche Reichsbahn

The **Deutsche Reichsbahn (DRG) class 80** is a type of shunting tank built by the DRG. They can be regarded as the German version of the USATC S100 0-6-0T and appear often in 'Stories from the Wars'.

### History

The DRG class 80 have been built before Adolf Hitler came to power in 1933 and were later loyal workers of the Third Reich, since Hitler soon wanted them to be the standard army locomotive for shunting and if required, attacks on Allied forces.

Their first taste of battle was in North Africa when supporting the Italians, which were an ally of Nazi Germany, against British forces. This was also the location where they met the might of the Steam Reserve Corps, which battled hard against them. One was captured but ended up being destroyed as target practice by Martello, which the latter was court marshalled after the A1X "couldn't help himself with a howitzer," but was justified by his commander as it turned out the the German was preparing to escape. This class would become seen in lesser roles as they were too vunerable in Africa or on front line duty and placed on reconnaissance duties until the end of the war in Europe.

### Personality

The DRG class 80s appear to be heartless due to them serving the Wehrmacht under Nazi Germany.

### Livery

The DRG class are painted in dark grey with the Nazi eagle plated on their cabsides.

### Basis or real locomotive

The DRG class 80 are based on the real design. They were one of many classes of locomotive built by the Deutsche Reichsbahn as "Einheitsdampflokomotiven" or "Einheitsloks" or "standard steam locomotives" from the 1920s. 39 were built from 1927 to 1928 by four German locomotive construction firms and were the standard shunter for the DRG. After WWII the class was split (infairly) between the East German Deutsche Reichsbahn/DR (22) and the West German Deatusche Bundesbahn (17), which retired in 1968 and 1965 respectively, but officially retired in industrial ownership in 1977. Seven have been preserved.

### Trivia

All of the destroyed DRG class 80s carry fictional numbers since the highest number carried this class 80 039. This could mean that more than 39 of this class were built in this universe.

This class is sometimes known as "The Marklin Engine" after a Gauge 1 model used during Season 1 of Thomas & Friends in 1984.

* The model was believed to have been later given new American fittings and started in Thomas' sister show 'TUGS' as the character "Puffa".
* The name also came from the model train manufacturer who made the model, the German firm Marklin.
* Oddly enough, the DRG class 80 models seen are HO scale models made by Marklin.

The DRG class 80s, like all German locomotive seen in WWII, appear to follow the old Hollywood trope or WWII propaganda messages of German soldiers during WWII are heartless and evil villains, which is totally the opposite in real life but Shane Sowter gave them that behaviour because, "They are primarily used as one of the antagonists and they need to show that they are willing to fight for the wrong causes, plus to show audiences today how Germans were depicted in propaganda against what is actually recorded."

## DRB "Kriegslok"

### Designer

Richard Felix Paul Wagner

The **Deutsche Reichsbahn (DRG) class 52**, better known as **"Kreigsloks"**, are a type of heavy-freight locomotive of the DRB for the Wehrmacht. They were standard war engine by Nazi Germany during WWII and the German version of the WD Austerity 2-10-0.

### History

The infamous "Kriegsloks" from World War Two were introduced as the standard war locomotive of the German Army, better known as the "Wehrmacht", as were based off the older 50 class but with lesser parts to reduce costs.

### Personality

The DRG class 52s appear to be heartless due to them serving the Wehrmacht under Nazi Germany.

### Livery

The DRG class 52s are painted in dark grey with the Nazi eagle plated on their cabsides.

### Trivia

Their infamous nickname "Kriegslok" has since become their common reference name by railway enthusiasts and modellers outside of the Germany.

Two Kriegsloks are seen in the UK in the Mini Series 1960s episode 'Wartime Returns'.

The Kriegsloks are the first European locomotives introduced into the series.

The DRG class 52s, like all German locomotive seen in WWII, appear to follow the old Hollywood trope or WWII propaganda messages of German soldiers during WWII are heartless and evil villains, which is totally the opposite in real life but Shane Sowter gave them that behaviour because, "They are primarily used as one of the antagonists and they need to show that they are willing to fight for the wrong causes, plus to show audiences today how Germans were depicted in propaganda against what is actually recorded."

The Kriegsloks are seen as Germany's answer to the WD Austerity 2-10-0, which appeared a year later, since both were the standard war engine for their countries' militaries.

The Kriegsloks, along with the Class 80, are the most common German locomotives seen in Stories from the Wars.