DRG Class SVT 137

**DRG Class SVT 137**
Power type	Diesel
DRG Class SVT 137
Builder	WUMAG, AEG, Linke-Hoffmann, SSW
Build date	since 1935
Total production	33
UIC classification	2'Bo'2' 2'Bo'Bo'2 B2'2'B 2'Bo'+2'2'+Bo'2'
Length	44,756 – 70,200 mm
Axle load	16.7 t
Total weight	91.3 – 160 t
Transmission	diesel-electric, diesel-hydraulic
Top speed	160 – 205 km/h
Power output	604 kW - 970 kW

The DRG Class SVT 137 was a class of streamlined diesel train sets of the Deutsche Reichsbahn Gesellschaft and later of the Deutsche Bundesbahn (as class VT 04) and the Deutsche Reichsbahn. With a regular maximum speed of 100 mph (160 km/h) and average speeds of up to 132 km/h they were the first high speed trains in central europe.

Subclasses and Technical Data

Based on the prototype DRG Class SVT 877 there were four different subclasses and one experimental train:

"Bauart Hamburg", two sections, Jacobs bogies, 604 kW, 2’Bo’2’, No 137 149 bis 152
"Bauart Leipzig", three sections, Jacobs-bogies, 884 kW, 2'Bo'Bo'2', No 137 153 – 137 154 and 137 233 – 137 234, DR 183 251
"Bauart Köln", three sections, 14 built, conventional bogies "Bauart Görlitz", 882 kW / 956 kW, 2'Bo'+2'2'+Bo'2', 160 t, 132 Seats, No 137 273 - 278 and 137 851 - 858.
"Bauart Berlin", four sections including a power / postal car, single slow running diesel 970 kW, 2'Bo'2'2'+'2'2'+Bo'2', 210.6 t, 126 seats, No 137 901 - SVT 137 902
SVT 137 155, designed by the constructor of the Schienenzeppelin, Franz Kruckenberg, built 1934-1938, diesel-hydraulic, three cars, one powered cars at the head. Did not enter regular service, World speed record of 215 km/h (Hamburg-Berlin), June 23, 1939. The construction led to the DB Class VT 10.5, DB Class VT 11.5 and the DR Class VT 18.16

Most SVT 137 were diesel-electric, two SVT 137 Bauart Leipzig had a diesel-hydraulic transmission.

History

Since the success of the SVT 877 "Flying Hamburger" DRG projected a set of Diesel multiple units for a high speed network from Berlin to several german cities. First built 1934/1935, the "Bauart Hamburg" showed some differences to the prototype: The number of seats was 77 instead of 99, the placement of the seats 2+1 instead of 3+1. The Bauart Hamburg was 2,3 m longer.

The main line Berlin-Hannover-Cologne started July 1, 1935; the route Berlin-Leipzig-Erfurt-Frankfurt followed August 15, 1935. From 1936 a service Berlin-Nuremberg-Munich/Stuttgart was initiated.

On February 17, 1936 the "Bauart Leipzig" acchieved a world speed record of 205 km/h. These trains did the route Berlin-Breslau-Beuthen from May 15, 1936. The scheduled time was 4:17 h, meaning an average speed of 109 km/h.

The SVT service was halted in August, 1939. During World War II some of the trains were used by the Wehrmacht as military trains.

After World War II some of the SVT 137 were handed over to other states. The SVT 137 274 was ub the American occupation zone, it was transported to Fort Eustis, Virginia as a "technical interesting object". SVT 137 852 served the CSD in 1949 on the line Praha-Bratislava. SVT 137 855 entered service at the SZD USSR as trainset DP-14.

The remaining SVT 137 were used by the Deutsche Bundesbahn as VT 04 / VT 06 and the Deutsche Reichsbahn as class 137, later class 183.

DRG SVT 137 225 "Bauart Hamburg" (picture above) was used by the GDR government until 1975. In 1991 this train was repainted in its original colours. Today it is exhibited at Leipzig main station.