Key takeaways
- The Class 75 is a collective class: the Reichsbahn grouped passenger tank locomotives with the wheel arrangement 1'C1' from several state railways under it.
- That's why not all 75s look alike: the sub-classes come from different railway administrations and design traditions.
- Fastest way to identify it: tank locomotive, three coupled axles, one carrying axle each at front and rear.
- The digits after the point separate designs, not build years – they're number ranges within the class.
- No regular service: encounters are only possible in a museum setting.
Contents
Fact file
| Vehicle type | Passenger tank locomotive |
|---|---|
| Wheel arrangement | 1'C1' – one carrying axle each at front and rear, three coupled axles in between |
| Origin | Collective class made up of Länderbahn designs, including Baden and Saxon origins |
| DRG designation | 75 – number range for passenger tank locomotives |
| Special feature | Several visually different designs under one class number |
| Operating status | No longer in regular service; surviving engines held by museums and heritage societies |
Identifying features
Is this really the class in front of you?
- Tank locomotive with no separate tender, with water tanks mounted along the sides of the boiler
- Three coupled axles, with a smaller carrying axle in front of and behind them – the wheel arrangement 1'C1'
- The look of the Länderbahn era: riveted components, tall chimneys, visible steam domes
- Clear differences in shape between individual engines of the same class – a result of their varied origins
- Running number begins with 75; the digits that follow identify the sub-class
- Found only in museums, not in regular service
Updated: August 2026 – Two locomotives, the same class number – and yet they barely look alike: the Class 75 is a collective class. The Reichsbahn placed passenger tank locomotives with the wheel arrangement 1’C1’ from several state railways under it. Knowing that, you immediately understand why identifying one works differently here than with a standard locomotive.
Länderbahn locomotive in front of the lens?
Note the number and sub-class while you can – documented with Traintrack in seconds.
What is the Class 75?
The Class 75 is the Reichsbahn designation for passenger tank locomotives with the wheel arrangement 1’C1’ – meaning three coupled axles with a carrying axle each at front and rear. Under this number, designs from several state railways were grouped together, including Baden and Saxon origins.
The common denominator isn’t the design, but the operational task: passenger trains on main and branch lines, worked by a tank locomotive that copes with both directions without a turntable. Today the Class 75 is a historic vehicle with no scheduled service. Anyone wanting to trace the class logic of Baden and southern German branch-line locomotives in operation is therefore better off at heritage railways such as the Kandertal Railway in the Markgräflerland than in the timetable book.
Why the Reichsbahn needed collective classes
In 1920, the state railways of the German states merged into the Deutsche Reichsbahn. The result was a fleet with dozens of designation systems: Prussian class letters, Bavarian fractions, Saxon roman numerals. In 1925, the Reichsbahn therefore introduced a unified class scheme that sorted purely by purpose, tank design and wheel arrangement.
| Ordering criterion | Effect in the scheme | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Purpose | determines the tens range | 60–79 = passenger tank locomotive |
| Tank design | separates tender locomotives from tank locomotives | 24 versus 64 |
| Wheel arrangement | determines the class within the range | 1’B = 70, 1’C1’ = 75 |
| Origin of the design | only shows up in the sub-class | 75.4, 75.5 and others |
| Number range | separates design groups from one another | running numbers per group |
That’s exactly why the small Class 70 with the Bavarian Pt 2/3 sits in the same tens range as the 75, even though the two have little technically in common – and why the 75 shares its wheel arrangement with the much younger standard locomotive Class 64.
How to identify a Class 75
Establish the tank design
No separate tender, but water tanks on the boiler: that rules out all tender locomotive classes.
Determine the wheel arrangement
Three coupled axles, with a smaller carrying axle in front of and behind them. That gives 1'C1' and points to the range covering classes 64 and 75.
Assess the build period
Plenty of rivets, a tall chimney, pronounced domes and a rather ornate appearance point to Länderbahn designs rather than a standard locomotive.
Read off the sub-class
Only the full number tells you which group of origin the engine comes from. For collective classes, this step is essential.
The general method – rough body shape first, then details, then the number last – is explained in the guide to identifying classes.
With collective classes, the number counts double
Where a class contains several designs, appearance alone isn't enough to identify it. Always photograph the markings on the cab or smokebox door too – without them, any attribution stays a guess.
Classification within railway operations: passenger service with tank locomotives
The 1’C1’ tank locomotive was, for decades, the standard tool for medium-length passenger trains. Three coupled axles deliver enough tractive effort for a short train, the carrying axles at both ends provide a smooth ride in both directions, and doing without a separate tender saves turning manoeuvres at the terminus.
For observation and photography, that has a concrete consequence: in museum operation, such a locomotive regularly runs cab-first on the return trip. That’s operationally normal and not a sign of a substitute working – anyone wanting the classic chimney-first view plans their photo spot for the matching direction of travel accordingly.
It’s also interesting what the collective class reveals about the period after 1925. Vehicles of the same class number could stand in different regions, need different spare parts and have a completely different make-up inside. For the workshops that was a problem – and precisely from that grew the wish for standard locomotives with shared assemblies. The collective classes of the 1920s are thus, indirectly, the reason for the standardised designs that followed shortly after.
Anyone identifying vehicles who comes across a locomotive that fits the wheel arrangement but looks out of step visually shouldn’t doubt themselves: with collective classes, inconsistency is the norm, not the exception.
Because Länderbahn designs are visually more appealing than later standard locomotives, it’s worth paying attention to detail with them: rows of rivets, brass fittings, steam domes and chimney shape often carry a picture better than the overall view. How to turn that into photographs is shown in the guide how to photograph steam trains. The great counterpart from the same era – a fast, much larger tank locomotive – is the Class 78 with the Prussian T 18.
Which historic locomotives are running right now?
Community sightings give you up-to-date leads on steam workings and special trains.
Spotting: research routes to Länderbahn locomotives
For a historic class, research replaces any timetable. This sequence has proved effective:
- Check museum holdings. Railway museums and heritage railways keep vehicle lists with condition notes. That’s the only reliable starting point.
- Check the supporting societies. Many Länderbahn locomotives belong to societies that report overhauls and operational status on their own channels. How this scene is organised is described in the overview of railway societies in Germany, Austria and Switzerland.
- Collect dates early. Operating days and steam festivals are fixed months in advance. For popular events, early planning decides your travel and accommodation.
- Keep your own finds properly organised. With collective classes, the exact number is the key. A well-thought-out photo archive with naming by class, sub-class and number saves you a lot of searching later.
Observe house rules and track areas
Museum grounds, engine sheds, turntables and sidings are operational facilities or private property. Barriers and staff instructions apply without exception, even on photo days. On the open line, the usual safety distance to the track remains decisive.
Common mix-ups
It points to the Class 75 if …
- it's a tank locomotive with no separate tender
- you count three coupled axles and one carrying axle each at front and rear
- the vehicle clearly looks like a Länderbahn design
- the number begins with 75
Look more closely if …
- the wheel arrangement matches but the styling looks very plain – then the Class 64 is also a candidate
- you can't read the sub-class
- the vehicle is running in a historicised livery
It isn't a 75 if …
- only two coupled axles are present – then more likely Class 70
- a separate tender is attached
- a two-axle carrying bogie sits at the rear instead of a single carrying axle
Conclusion
The Class 75 is less a single vehicle than a drawer: everything that was a passenger tank locomotive with the wheel arrangement 1’C1’ and came from the Länderbahn era ended up here. For identification that means: the wheel arrangement gets you into the right class, but only the full number tells you which design is actually in front of you. And because there’s no regular service, the path to a sighting always leads through museums and societies.
In brief
Tank locomotive, wheel arrangement 1'C1', Länderbahn appearance, number starting with 75: that's how you place a 75. Because it's a collective class, the full vehicle number always has the final say.
Sort your sightings by sub-class
Especially with collective classes, precise logging pays off – Traintrack keeps you on top of every single machine.
Summary
- The Class 75 shows how the Reichsbahn forced very different Länderbahn designs into a unified scheme in 1925.
- The common denominator across all these engines is the wheel arrangement 1'C1' and their use in passenger service.
- Anyone identifying a 75 first checks the wheel arrangement, then reads the sub-class from the number.
- Surviving engines are found at heritage railways and societies; there are no scheduled workings.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Class 75?
The Class 75 is a collective class of the Deutsche Reichsbahn for passenger tank locomotives with the wheel arrangement 1'C1'. It covered designs from several state railways, including Baden and Saxon origins. There is no scheduled service today.
Why do locomotives of the same class look different?
Because in 1925 the Reichsbahn ordered existing vehicles by purpose and wheel arrangement, not by design or manufacturer. Engines from different states could therefore receive the same class number even though they had little in common structurally. The sub-classes after the point separate these origins.
What does the wheel arrangement 1'C1' mean?
One single carrying axle at the front, then three coupled driving axles, then another carrying axle at the rear. The apostrophes indicate side-play guidance of the carrying axles. This symmetrical arrangement allows equally good running in both directions – essential for tank locomotives running without turning.
How do I tell the Class 75 apart from the Class 64?
Barely by wheel arrangement – both are 1'C1' tank locomotives. The difference lies in origin and styling: the Class 64 is a standard Reichsbahn locomotive with plain, standardised lines; the Class 75 comes from the Länderbahn era and looks more riveted and less uniform. Only the number gives certainty.
What were Länderbahnen?
That's the term for the independent state railways of the German states before 1920 – for example in Prussia, Bavaria, Saxony, Baden and Württemberg. Each had its own designation systems, designs and construction traditions. Only the Deutsche Reichsbahn introduced a unified system with the class scheme in 1925.
Does the Class 75 still run today?
Not on a scheduled basis. The class is historic. Surviving engines belong to museums and societies and are shown at heritage railway operations, special trains or exhibitions. Whether a locomotive is operational changes with boiler certificates and general overhauls.
How do I read sub-classes like 75.4 or 75.5?
The digits after the point denote a number range within the class. The Reichsbahn assigned each design group its own section of running numbers. The suffix tells you which group of origin an engine comes from – not how old or how powerful it is.
Where do I look for surviving engines?
In the vehicle lists of railway museums and heritage railways, as well as with their supporting societies. That's usually also where you'll find the condition: operational, under overhaul, or static exhibit. Locations change through loans and overhauls, so it's worth checking the current status before every trip.
Log your sighting of the Class 75
Date, location and vehicle number logged in seconds – and visible to the community.
Related classes
Class 64
The Class 64 is the Reichsbahn's standard tank engine for passenger trains: 520 machines, 1-3-1 wheel arrangement, nicknamed Bubikopf. Here's how to recognise it reliably.
Steam/specialClass 70
The Class 70 stands for small passenger tank locomotives of Bavarian origin – the Pt 2/3 class. Here's how to read its designation and spot it in museums.
Steam/specialClass 78
The Class 78 is the Prussian T 18: a large passenger tank locomotive with wheel arrangement 2'C2' that could run at 100 km/h in either direction.
Steam/specialKDL 8
KDL 8 belongs to the standardised war steam locomotives for industrial and field railways. Here's how to place the type series and tell it apart from the Reichsbahn's war locomotives.
Steam/specialKrupp Knapsack
Krupp Knapsack combines a manufacturer name and a works designation – typical for industrial locomotives. Here's how to read such names and correctly identify the vehicle.
Steam/special18 201
18 201 is regarded as the fastest operational steam locomotive in the world: a one-off with wheel arrangement 2'C1', built from parts of several locomotives.
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