Deutsche Reichsbahn Baureihe 98-0

The prototype

The loco was conceived to handle the increasing traffic on the arduous Windberg railway. Steep inclines and sharp curves were common and the Meyer design seemed the weapon of choice to attack that challenge. Originally designated as Class I TV the Saxon State Sailways ordered 18 members between 1910 and 1914. Word has it they were soon nicknamed Kreuzspinne (Cross Spider) because of it mesmerising forward grabbing front motion. But honestly the railfanning world makes up its own stories, so I can't tell of that is true.

Three were lost in WWI. The remaining 15 went to the newly formed Deutsche Reichsbahn as BR 98 001-015. In 1940 one privately held nearly identical locomotive joined this fleet replacing the already withdrawn 98 015 under the same number. 12 members of the class survived WWII. They served ever on the same Windberg line until withdrawal in 1967.

Dimension	BR98.0	BR98.7
Built	1910-1914	1899-1908	One member survived, 98 001 and currently located in the Industry Museum in Chemnitz.   <<= A comparison between the Meyer and the Mallet 98.7
Withdrawn	1967	1940
Members	18	31
Grate area	1,60 m2	1,4 m2
Heating area	99,3 m2	67,7 m2
Boiler pressure	13 bar	12 bar
Cylinders	4	4
Stroke	630 mm	530 mm
Wheel diameter	1,260 mm	1,006 mm
Valve gear	Walschaerts	Walschaerts
Total operative weight	60.5 ton	42.6 ton
Total length	11,624 mm	10.010 mm
Top speed	50 km/h	45 km/h
Tractive force	540 hp	380 hp
Builder	Chemnitz	Maffei
Recommended reading Contains a special chapter on the 98.0

The model

I "won" this Rivarossi model at an eBay auction for a modest €75. Although dating from the '70s this model showed no damage. The tire treads are a little dirty but not worn, so it must have seen some action. There is minor wear on the rear dome and on the front corner of the right hand water tank. Generally it is in excellent condition.

Over the years of its production, 1971several different versions were brought to the market. I chose the version with black handrails and handrail knobs.

The model shows its age.

• It has molded-on pipes and conduits.
• The valve gear and motion is clearly outdated.
• The giant motor fills the driver's cab.
• Lamps are seriously oversize.

I suspect this that the entire model is accurate in its depiction in terms of size, I think Rivarossi oversized the loco to make it fit around a standard motor. I will look into that.

But it is a very affordable model and a nice candidate for an upgrade project. In its general looks it still makes a good impression.

The alternative is to look for the Gützold version of this loco but that one expensive (€400 plus) and extremely rare as production started very shortly before Gützold's bankruptcy. But admittedly this is the most beautiful model of the two. If I ever lay hands on that one....

Two views typical of the Meyer. Contrary to the Mallet, the Meyer is fully articulated, it sits on two radially adjustable trucks. On a Mallet only the leading truck can swivel and the rear truck is fixed in the frame. The cylinders of a Meyer usually face each other to keep steam pipes as short as possible. This Meyer is a compound engine: the rear engine is fed with fresh steam and after use led to the front engine where it expands further. The front low pressure cylinders are significantly larger to obtain approximately the same power on a lower pressure.

Some wear by movement in the plastic inner liner of the box.

The notorious clumpy Rivarossi motor. I may replace that by a small Faulhaber one day.

Some paint damage on the corners of the water tank (the red is chipped off). It turns up on the photos, but it is hardly visible with the naked eye.

Comparison between the Meyer and its brother class Mallet

The locos are definitely both in 1:87 showing the Meyer to be seriously bigger.

A drawing comparison shows that the 98.0 Meyer really is bigger than the 98.7 Mallet but that the Rivarossi really is oversized.
With a length over buffers of 141 mm the loco is about 6% too big (1:82)

The bar between the bogies is prototypical. The bogies were interconnected to reduce "hunting" (swaying from left to right on the track)

The Meyer joining its four Bavarian Mallet brothers in my display.