BR 18.3

The express train locomotive type IV h of the Baden Railways was originated like the IVf through a contest wrote out by Maffei. Locomotive IV h was a steam locomotive meant for the flatlands and was equiped with driving wheels with a diameter of 2100 mm. The demands were that the locomotive must be capable of pulling a train of 525 ton with a speed of 100 km/h. In total 20 locomotives were built until 1920, they were made in three production runs.

In service at the DRG

The DRG took over all 20 steam locomotives and gave them the indication BR 18.3 with the following numbers: 18 301 up to 18 303, 18 311 up to 18 319 and 18 321 up to 18 328. The locomotives were stationed in Bw Offenburg and had their service among other things in the Rheingold. After the BR 01 had entering service, many locomotives IV h were set aside. In 1933 all remaining locomotives got stonger brakes. The top speed was increased to 140 km/h. Mid thirties many locomotives BR 18.3 are moved to Northern Germany and were stationed in Bw Hamburg-Altona and Bremen. The DB set all the locomotives BR 18.3 aside in 1948. Only the 18 316, 319 and 323 were preserved and had service as resistance locomotives for tests done by the service facilities Minden.