Die Baureihe 18.1

Among the German Länderbahn Pacifics, the Württemberg Class C built from 1909 onwards was the lightest. The smooth, shimmering steel-blue cladding made of shiny sheet metal defined its elegant appearance and soon made it known as the "beautiful Württemberger". This richly illustrated publication describes in detail all the special features of this extraordinary express locomotive, which, with its driving wheel sets of 1,800 mm diameter and its light curve running, was built especially for operation in the Württemberg hill country with its narrow track curves. With its lightweight power unit and reinforced brakes, the C locomotive was approved for a maximum speed of 120 km/h. By 1921, Maschinenfabrik Esslingen had built a total of 41 class C locomotives. They performed their service for 46 years, even in difficult times. After the First World War, for example, individual C locomotives were sent to France and Poland as armistice supplies. A review of the development of the passenger and express locomotives of the Königlich Württembergische Staateiseisenbahnen since their beginnings in 1845 rounds off the book, which describes an important chapter of German railway history with approx. 340 pictures and drawings.