EL4

Osthafen Berlin L2 (LEW 10047/1964), plinted in Westhafen, Moabit, Berlin, October 10, 2009. Photo by someone who calls himself Michael, source: www.commons.wikimedia.org.

LEW 9890/1964, originally built for VEB Glaswerk Stralau, since 1974 Strausberger Eisenbahn No. 14, in 2004 transferred to Buckower Kleinbahn. Buckow, September 8, 2012. Photo by Carsten Krüger, source: as above.

The same location, owner, date and author: former Strausberger Eisenbahn No. 15 (LEW 10051/1964).

The last EL4 built: LEW 12821/1971, originally delivered to Zementwerk Bad Berka, in 2010 transferred to Eisenbahnmuseum Weimar. Photographed on May 5, 2011, by someone who wishes to be known as Wassen (source: as above).

Between 1952 and 1988 VEB Lokomotivbau – Elektrotechnische Werke ‘Hans Beimler’ of Hennigsdorf near Berlin (now a part of Bombardier), commonly known as LEW, built 1380 type EL2 heavy four-axle electric locomotives for mining industry. Apart from East Germany, they were supplied to the USSR, China, Bulgaria and Poland. Many still remain in use. These powerful locomotives, with axle load of 25 tonnes, were too heavy for many mines and industrial establishments. It was therefore decided to develop a lighter two-axle vehicle (Bo axle arrangement), which materialized in 1954 as factory type EL4.

Production run of this locomotive covered seventeen years, but – compared to EL2 – total output was very unimpressive. Data from various sources differ considerably. According to www.de.wikipedia.org, 37 examples were built, while very short entry at www.pl.wikipedia.org gives twenty. LEW factory list compiled by Jens Merte includes nineteen standard-gauge EL4s plus eight narrow-gauge locomotives with the same type designation, for 785 mm or 1000 mm tracks. These narrow-gauge vehicles are possibly responsible for the above-mentioned discrepancies, but this question remains open. Any additional information is most welcome.

Of nineteen above-mentioned locomotives, seven remained in Germany and twelve were sold to Poland between 1954 and 1960. Virtually nothing is known about their service and no photographs are known to exist. Most probably none of them has survived until today. On the contrary, of seven German examples four have been preserved. LEW 9890/1964 and 10051/1964, once operated by Strausberger Eisenbahn, can now be seen at the Buckower Kleinbahn heritage railway. LEW 10047/1964, which served at Osthafen Berlin, has been plinthed in Moabit, Berlin. LEW 12821/1971, delivered to Bad Berka cement plant (the last example built), is now owned by Eisenbahnmuseum Weimar.

Main technical data

No.	Parameter	Unit	Value
1.	Years of manufacture	-	1954 – 1971
2.	Total built / used in Poland	-	19 (20?) / 12
3.	Axle arrangement	-	Bo
4.	Control	-	individual
5.	Design maximum speed	km/h	40
6.	Traction motors (number x type)	-	2
7.	Voltage	V	600, 750 or 1200^1)
8.	One-hour rating	kW/hp	280 / 380
9.	Continuous rating	kW/hp	96 / 130
10.	Electric current at one-hour rating	A
11.	Electric current at continuous rating	A
12.	Rotational speed at one-hour rating	rpm
13.	Rotational speed at continuous rating	rpm
14.	Engine suspension	-	nose-suspended
15.	Reduction gear ratio	-
16.	Diameter of drivers	mm	950
17.	Total weight	kg	25 000 to 35 000^1)
18.	Axle load	T	12.5 to 17.5
19.	Axle base	mm	2 500
20.	Overall length	mm	7 200
21.	Maximum width	mm	3 050
22.	Brake type	-

1) Depending on variant.

References and acknowledgments

- LEW factory list (compiled by Jens Merte);

- www.de.wikipedia.org.