Lüdecke:Die Baureihe 01.10 - Band 2

The Class 01.10 still represents the fascination of high-speed steam operation at the highest level among railway enthusiasts: the strongest German series steam locomotive for express trains, with the highest mileage in German and European standards and the fastest steam-hauled express trains in Europe. Its premiere in 1939 was not under a good star: the 01.10 could only shine for a short time in its intended operational range, before World War II led to a drastic decline of the elegant streamlined locomotives. It was not until the 1950s, under the Deutsche Bundesbahn, that the class unfolded its maximum performance potential and reached a unique peak in express train service with DB: without streamlined casing, modernized, and equipped with new boilers and partially oil-fired, the Class 01.10 achieved the highest monthly mileages of German steam locomotives, up to 28,000 kilometers. However, it should be noted that its outstanding performance came at the cost of numerous damages and exceptionally high maintenance costs. In May 1975, the 01.10, now referred to as Class 012, ended steam express service at DB at the Bw Rheine. Corresponding to the great fascination of this locomotive, 9 machines are preserved in museums today, two of which are operational. Frank Lüdecke traces the anything but ordinary path of the class from the troubled streamlined icon to the Super-Pacific of DB. The focus is on operational machine service, deployment at railway depots, and the museum locomotives. The book pays a worthy tribute to the most fascinating German steam locomotive for many railway enthusiasts.