DRG renumbering plan for steam locomotives

The Deutsche Reichsbahn (DR) began developing a renumbering plan for steam locomotives in 1922 to standardize those taken over from state railways. The initial plan was too complex and faced practical challenges, leading to its discontinuation. A provisional renumbering plan on 25 July 1923 closely resembled the final version of 1925, incorporating space for new standard locomotives (Einheitslokomotiven). The 1925 plan primarily deleted retired locomotives and corrected numbering errors.

New locomotives built after 1923 were delivered with their new operating numbers from the start. Actual renumbering of older engines began in 1926. Obsolete locomotives were assigned serial numbers starting from 7001 after their class number.

The text categorizes various types of locomotives, including express, passenger, goods, tank, cog, branch line, and narrow gauge (e.g., 1000 mm, 900 mm, 785 mm, and 750 mm gauges), though specific details on these categories are not provided.

Literature cited includes works by Helmut Griebl, Fr. Schadow; Wolfgang Valtin; and Herbert Rauter et al., focusing on German locomotives from 1923 to 1965. Related topics include the history of rail transport in Germany, Deutsche Reichsbahn-Gesellschaft, and UIC classification.