Brawa German Electric locomotive BR E44 of the DRG (Sound)  
    

Information about the model

By the late 1920s, it became clear that the German Reichsbahn (DRG) would need to acquire new electric locomotives, among other things, to accelerate its freight traffic. The desire to increase top speeds to at least 80 km/h could not be achieved with the recently acquired E77 and E75 series locomotives, as the conventional drive technology using rods and an additional running wheelset did not allow for higher speeds. Positive experiences abroad and with the two Bavarian EG 1 locomotives featuring Bo'Bo' bogies convinced the DRG to abandon the single-frame design. However, this project was severely hampered by the Great Depression, which began in 1929 and interrupted the costly electrification of railway lines, thus eliminating the need for electric locomotives. The locomotive industry in Germany, however, feared falling behind in current developments due to this procurement hiatus. Therefore, they undertook the development of a cost-effective design at their own expense. Under the leadership of Walter Reichel, a prototype designated E44 70, later E44 001, was developed at the Siemens-Schuckert Works (SSW). SSW was able to apply its experience in arc welding, gained from the production of components for power generators, to locomotive construction, resulting in significant savings in materials and manufacturing costs. The positive test results of this prototype convinced the German Reichsbahn (DRG) to further develop the new locomotive type into a universal locomotive. The result was Germany's first mass-produced bogie electric locomotive, which can certainly be considered the prototype for the standard electric locomotives later developed by the German Federal Railway (DB). Due to the war, delivery of the locomotives, approved for 90 km/h, was delayed from 1933 until the post-war years, with Henschel finally delivering the last one, E44 187G, to the DB on November 29, 1954. The predominant distribution across central and southern Germany meant that after World War II, approximately 100 locomotives remained in West Germany and around 50 in East Germany. The most noticeable design changes implemented by the DB (German Federal Railway) were the lengthening of the roof guards for accident prevention and the installation of the Indusi (automatic train protection system).