Dampflok

BR 56

The locomotive of this series was an internal design of the Lübeck-Büchener Eisenbahn (LBE). It was based on the Prussian G 8.2 but had numerous modifications, e.g. it was significantly longer and therefore did not appear as compact. They were primarily intended for heavy freight traffic between Hamburg and Lübeck. Since these locomotives were also to be used in passenger train service, the running gear and brakes were designed for maximum speeds of up to 75 km/h. After the nationalisation of the LBE in 1938, these locomotives came to the Reichsbahn and were re-classified as 56.30.

Our locomotive entered service in 1929 and was taken over by the Reichsbahn in 1938. After the war, it remained in the British zone and was taken out of service by the DB as early as 1950. Until it was finally taken out of service in 1975, it was a company locomotive at various companies, most recently at the Carl Alexander mine in Baesweiler near Aachen. It came to our museum in 1975 and is the only surviving example of this class.

Technical specifications

MANUFACTURER

Linke-Hofmann-Busch Werke AG, Breslau (PL)

YEAR OF CONSTRUCTION

1929

WITHDRAWAL FROM SERVICE

1950 (1975)

MAX. SPEED

75 km/h (vw), 50 km/h (rw)

IMPELLET

2 Heißdampfzylinder

POWER

1022 kW (1390 PS)

WEIGHT

114 t

Axle Arrangement

You can find out more in our knowledge database.

Click to go there.

AXLE ARRANGEMENT

1’D

Picture gallery

Our Special Trips Summer 2026

On Saturday 22 August 2026, we’ll be taking you from Darmstadt Central Station to the beautiful Ahr Valley on train 141 228-7!

Come and discover the fascinating history of the former government bunker in Ahrweiler, or enjoy the delicious wine and other culinary delights on offer at the ‘rural wine festival’!

On Sunday 6 September 2026, a special steam train hauled by ELNA 184 DME will run on the Frankfurt Harbour Railway!

At a total of four stops, you will learn about the fascinating industrial history of Frankfurt’s banks of the Main as part of the ‘Rhine-Main Industrial Heritage Days’ and this year’s theme, ‘The Dawn of the Modern Age’.

26 BW 00 V03

Mit unserem Jubiläumskalender feiern wir 50 Jahre Eisenbahnmuseum Darmstadt-Kranichstein – eines der bedeutendsten Eisenbahnmuseen Deutschlands. Die zwölf eindrucksvollen Motive zeigen dabei verschiedene Exponate im Kontext unvergesslicher historischer Meilensteine aus fünf Jahrzehnten gelebter Eisenbahnkultur.

Gender notice

For better reading, the masculine form is used for personal names and personal nouns on this website. Corresponding terms apply in principle to all genders for the purpose of equal treatment. The abbreviated form of language is for editorial reasons only and does not imply any valuation.

Newsletter Anmeldung bestätigen

Sie erhalten in Kürze eine E-Mail an die von Ihnen angegebene E-Mail-Adresse. Bitte bestätigen Sie Ihre Newsletteranmeldung über den darin enthaltenen Link.