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Information About the Prototype
Over a long period of time the class B VI locomoti-
ves were the backbone of the motive power for
express trains and mail trains on the Royal Bavarian
State Railways.
During the period of their construction, 1863 – 1871,
these units were constantly improved, and the loco-
motives from the first series were rebuilt. Hence, for
example, the installation of new boilers increased the
steam pressure from 116 to 145 pounds per square
inch, and the open driving platform with just a canopy
roof was replaced by an enclosed cab for improved
protection of the engineer and fireman. Steam ejec-
tors were installed to feed boiler water. Starting in
1872 the B VI locomotives were equipped with the
newly developed Westinghouse brake system.
Since Bavaria had hardly any of its own coal depo-
sits, many Bavarian locomotives were equipped for
burning the native peat. The effectiveness of peat as
a fuel was relatively low in comparison with coal. The
peat tender was therefore larger in volume and was
provided with a roof to protect the moisture-sensitive
fuel. Another external feature of peat-fired locomoti-
ves were the pear or balloon-shaped smoke stacks,
which were supposed to prevent sparks from flying.
Peat-fired locomotives were used primarily in
Southern Bavaria, while in Northern Bavaria coal
from Bohemia and the Prussian area of the Rhine
was burned as fuel.
The Royal Bavarian State Railways had their own
peat works to supply fuel for their peat-fired loco-
motives, but peat was also bought from privately
owned peat works. Pressed peat and peat dug up
in strips was chiefly used.
Peat transport trains were used to haul the peat
from the peat works to the maintenance facilities or
to the yards. The Royal Bavarian State Railways had
around 80 covered peat transport cars for this pur-
pose, and gondolas were also used in part for this
work. The gondolas were covered with tarps to pro-
tect the moisture-sensitive fuel.
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