In 1902 the ATE ordered two experimental 2-6-0 locomotives for express service on the steep line between Teplitz (Teplice) and Reichenberg (Liberec). They were built by the factory of the StEG and based on the StEG class 37.0 (kkStB 560) freight locomotive, but had a driver diameter of 1,460 instead of 1,440 mm. The two locomotives built for the ATE were No. 145 “Ghega” and No. 146 “Engerth” and had different cylinder setups. Like their basis, they had two interconnected domes.
No. 145 was a saturated two-cylinder with simple expansion and outside Walschaerts valve gear. The cylinders had a diameter of 490 mm. No. 146 was a three-cylinder compound with a central, inclined high pressure cylinder with a diameter of 490 mm that was controlled by Stephenson valve gear. The two outside low pressure cylinders had a diameter of 580 mm and Walschaerts valve gear. Both sets of valve gears were linked up in a way that they could be controlled both together or separately.
In direct comparisons on lines with inclines of 1.0 and 2.5 percent, the compound locomotive had a consumption that was around 20 percent lower. At one percent, it could haul 300 tonnes at 47 km/h. At 2.5 percent, it could still reach 38 km/h with 140 tonnes. After this, both were used in regular service. In 1924, both came to the ČSD and were numbered 334.401 and 334.402. Later both were rebuilt with two cylinders of 510 mm and drivers of 1,480 mm, where they were renumbered to 344.337 and 344.338. In World War II, they were numbered 54 537 and 54 538 by the Reichsbahn.
