List of Alsace-Lorraine Locomotives - Locomotive Classification and Numbering

Locomotive Classification and Numbering

The Reich railways in Alsace-Lorraine numbered their locomotives sequentially and gave them names as well. The names depended on the type of locomotive.

In addition the locomotive fleet was organised into classes from the outset. The system was based on the Bavarian state railways with capital letters followed by Arabic numerals.

• A – Express and passenger train locomotives (named after rivers)
• B – Locomotives for mixed traffic (named after rivers)
• C – Goods train locomotives (named after towns and villages)
• D – Tank locomotives (named after people, forenames)
• E - Narrow gauge locomotives (unnamed)

A class number was issued to each delivery batch.

In 1906 all the vehicles were renumbered and a new classification system was introduced, this time based on the Prussian system. The different types of locomotive were given a specific range of numbers.

• S - Express train locomotives (numbers 1–500)
• P - Passenger train locomotives (numbers 501–1000)
• G - Goods train locomotives (numbers 1001–2000)
• T - Tank locomotives (numbers 2001–2600)

In 1912 the locomotives were again given new numbers and in some cases were reclassified. In addition, locomotive names were done away with.

• S - Express train locomotives (numbers 1–2000)
• P - Passenger train locomotives (numbers 2001–3000)
• G - Goods train locomotives (numbers 3001–6000)
• T - Goods train locomotives (numbers 6001–9000)

Narrow gauge locomotives were given the class letter ‘’’T’’’ and number range 3001–3042. This meant that two engines could have the same number. Older locomotives were no longer renumbered and retained their number until retirement.

In 1919 the French regional railway, “Chemins de fer d' Alsace et de Lorraine“ (AL) took over the system and continued with it until 1938, when the company went into the French national railways, the SNCF.