With the Windberg railway, the Saxon State Railways operated a branch line near Dresden that combined a gradient of 2.5 percent with curve radii from 85 meters. Since the two-axle locomotives around the turn of the century were no longer powerful enough for the rapidly growing excursion traffic and the increasing quantities of coal transport, a more powerful tank locomotive was procured especially for this route.

Based on the IV K narrow-gauge locomotive, a larger Meyer-type locomotive with two bogies and a compound engine was developed. As in the prototype, there were two low and two high-pressure cylinders in the middle of the locomotive, which drove the front and rear wheel sets. To reduce rolling movements, the bogies were coupled to each other.

98 001 in August 1983 in Freital-Hainsberg

Wassen

Between 1910 and 1914, 18 examples were delivered, which were nicknamed “Windberglok” and “Kreuzspinne” (cross spider). Another locomotive was delivered to the Oberhohndorf-Reinsdorf coal railway and came to her sisters in 1940, when they were already owned by the Reichsbahn.

In 1925 the latter still took over 15 and gave them the numbers 98 001 to 98 015. The classification as class 98 marked them as local railway locomotives, although they were larger and heavier than most of this type. This can be explained by the fact that the development was carried out specifically for a single branch line and the focus was on suitability for small curve radii.

After the Second World War, most of the locomotives remained in service with the new Reichsbahn and were also used to transport uranium ore. Their life ended in 1967 when a diesel locomotive, the V 60, was ready that was also suitable for the tight curves. Today only road number 98 001 is preserved and exhibited in a museum.