Palatinate Railways T 2^I

The small tank locomotives of the class T 2^I were procured by the Pfalzbahn specifically for use on pontoon bridges. What was special about these bridges was that the locomotives had to be as light as possible, but the sinking of the pontoons meant that an incline of around two percent had to be overcome continuously.

In order to meet these requirements, the locomotives were designed according to modern aspects. For example, an inside plate frame was installed, which offered high strength at low weight. In addition, the steam was extracted from the dome via a pipe, which was mounted along the highest point of the boiler and led to the regulator.

The first batch consisted of only two locomotives and was delivered in 1865. These operated the pontoon bridge over the Rhine near Maxau on the recently completed line from Winden to Karlsruhe. In contrast to the later variants, these had no cab. These were reinforced with another three locomotives, which were added from 1869. Three more from the same batch were procured for the bridge in Speyer. Two of the last three locomotives were later bought by the Baden State Railways and designated I b². The latter ordered another one that was delivered in 1893.

After the Pfalzbahn was taken over by the Bavarian State Railways, the locomotives were replaced by the type D VI in the 1920s. Three still made it into the Reichsbahn's renumbering plan, but they were withdrawn shortly before the renumbering. Only the three of the Baden State Railways survived until 1926. They were taken over by the Reichsbahn as numbers 88 7501 to 88 7503.