Item Tag: Gauge 1

Inherited collection from dad. Built up DR BR 38 in Original Packaging. Has been sitting in garage since early 2000s, slight cosmetic damages to packaging. Note piece appeared loose as shown in photo of loose piece. Let me know if you have any questions. I have this version in kit as well. Thanks! 1. HISTORY OF BAUREIHE 3 8 (Prussian P- 8) In 1906, the ministry of railways ordered ten superheated 4-6-0 locomotives to be known as the P-8. They were ordered so that their performance could be compared to the older P-7 compound locomotives which were haused at the depot of Koeln and Elberfeld. The P-7s were four cylinder compounds which used saturated steam. Robert Gabe the head of the railway depot of Berlin and, from 1907 and on, chief engineer of the newly created central railway administration, planned demonstrate the superiority of superheated steam over saturated steam in the design of the P-8. Other advantages of the P-8 were the ability to be turned on a 1 meter turntable and ease of maintenance. The P-8 locomotives were also designed for ease of inspection and low cost. Because of increasing train weights, the current passenger locomotives were unable to meet the required schedules. Double-heading or using an additional pushing locomotive was not a viable option. The P-7 was obsolete, expensive to maintain and only 18 were available. Clearly a new design was needed. Success for Robert Gabe come with the P-8. The boiler was well designed although the weight of the locomotives was above the desired specifications so the maximum velocity was 100 Km/hr instead of 110 Km/hr. Originally the cab was pointed however later models had conventional cabs. The good reputation of the P-8 soon became well known throughout Germany and led to many orders from both German and foreign railways. Up to 1928 about 3800 P-8s were built – the Prussian railway alone ordered 3370 units. More than 3000 P-8s were assigned to the Reichsbahn (DRG). After WWII the Bundesbahn (DB) modified their P-8s by replacing the original smoke deflectors with those of the Witte design. Many of the locomotives received tub tenders. As late as 1968, about 300 P-8s were still in service, most of them at the DR in East Germany.