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Henschel Bt "Bagdadbau"

History

This 600mm gauge loco is perhaps one of the most emblematic narrow gauge loco in Turkey. During World War one, Henschel supplied about one hundred of these locos for use in Anatolia. They were based on common German military specifications of the time. They were used for the construction of the Baghdad railway, especially in the unfinished areas at the time: the Cilician Gates and the Amanus crossing.

After the war, many units stayed in Turkey either on military duty, or on industrial duty. Several units are still existing:

Preserved units in Turkey

Factory nbr.LocationStatus
15943OGÜ railway, EskisehirIn working condition
15943(?)Eskisehir UniversityPlinthed
15943(?)RMK museum, IstanbulPlinthed
15944Alsancak station, IzmirPlinthed
16062Çamlik MuseumPlinthed
?Tüvasas (Sivas)Plinthed

An engine, named Thomas Edmondson is preserved at the South Tynedale Railway, in the United Kingdom. This loco is one of the batch that never made it to Turkey and went to Spain instead. This loco is in working condition and was used regularly until expiration of its boiler certificate in 1994. The loco was heavily overhauled before being put back into service in September 2006.

Factory numbers

Source: "Steam in Turkey" E. Talbot, page 107.
Some of the loco manufactured by Henschel did not make to Anatolia. One unit stayed at the plant in Kassel. 20 units were sold to Spain.
This list might not be complete.

Delivery yearHenschel n°Qty
191614539 to 1455820
191715098 to 151025
191815829 to 1584618
191816023 to 1607452

Engine main characteristics

First year1914
Engine axle typeB --
Driving wheel dia670 mm
Number of cylinder2
Cylinder diameter254 mm
Piston stroke356 mm
Boiler pressure10 bar
Overall length5,03 m
Overall wheel base1,55 m
Weight empty12 t
Weight loaded14 t
Adhesion weight14 t
Load per driving wheel7 t

Pictures

Henschel n°16062 currently plinthed in Çamlik Museum. August 1996. Photo JP Charrey

Henschel n°16062 currently plinthed in Çamlik Museum. August 1996. Photo JP Charrey.

Again Henschel n°16062. August 1996. Photo JP Charrey

Again Henschel n°16062. August 1996. Photo JP Charrey.

Henschel n°15944, plinthed in Izmir, in front of Alsancak station. June 2001. Photo JP Charrey

Henschel n°15944, plinthed in Izmir, in front of Alsancak station. June 2001. Photo JP Charrey.

Henschel n°15943, on OGÜ railway, Eskisehir. January 2002. Photo JP Charrey

Henschel n°15943, on OGÜ railway, Eskisehir. January 2002. Photo JP Charrey.

KL2202 plinthed in Sivas. 2002. Photo Malcom Peakman

KL2202 plinthed in Sivas. 2002. Photo Malcom Peakman

KL2202 plinthed in Sivas. 2002. Photo Malcom Peakman

KL2202 plinthed in Sivas. 2002. Photo Malcom Peakman

Henshel 15943 at the RMK museum, This unit bears the same number manufacturer nbr as its sister in OGU. March 2005. Photo JP Charrey

Henshel 15943 at the RMK museum, This unit bears the same number manufacturer nbr as its sister in OGU. March 2005. Photo JP Charrey.