The fifteen class 2095s operated by the Austrian Federal Railways were designed and built by Simmering Graz Pauker against a requirement for a powerful general-purpose 760mm gauge diesel locomotive. Into the mid 1950s the ÖBB had operating experience of three class 2040 two-axle locomotives, twelve class 2041 locomotives and a handful of other assorted narrow gauge internal combustion locomotives, and decided on some fleet renewal to eradicate some of the steam operation, in the 760mm gauge rationalisation programme. The classes of locomotive mentioned were renumbered into class 2190 and 2091 during the reorganisation of Austria’s railway system a few years after the cessation of hostilities in Europe.

SGP produced a design for a dual-cab “carbody” style diesel locomotive incorporating a Voith two stage hydraulic transmission with cardan shafts from the gearbox to the inner axles of both bogies. Coupling rods provided power transmission from the inner axles to the end axles in the outside-framed bogies. The power unit selected for these locomotives was the standard four cycle SGP V12 unit, classified as S12a and rated at 600PS, which was fitted to 1435mm gauge railcars of class 5045/5145/5046/5146 and diesel locomotives of class 2045 and 2067. In the case of the class 2045 locomotives a power unit and electric generator set was fitted to each end of the centre cabbed units.

Other equipment installed in the prototype class 2095 was a steam generator for carriage warming and a vacuum exhauster for the vacuum braking system employed as standard on Austrian 760mm gauge railways.

2095.01 was assigned the construction number Simm 77664 of 1958 and was displayed for the ÖBB officials at the SGP works in the late summer of 1958. Although there is no evidence to support this fact, there is a suggestion that 2095.01 was finished in the colours of the diesel railcar fleet of that time. The waist panels were finished in dark blue, the upper panels in duck egg blue, with an aluminium band separating them. A yellow band was painted around the lower panels above the grey framing, and a silver/aluminium roof completed the scheme. The locomotive was fitted with polished aluminium embellishments at each end, similar to the flugelrad castings, but incorporating the company’s SGP letters.

This livery was obviously not approved and was replaced by carmine lower body sides and ivory replacing the duck egg blue scheme.

2095.01 was delivered to the Mariazellerbahn on 29th September 1958 for trials and stayed until March 1960 when a foray over the Arlberg transferred the locomotive to the Bregenzerwaldbahn for eighteen months, then a transfer to the Tischlerhausl depot of the Pinzgauer Lokalbahn on 29th September 1961. The next two locomotives 2095.02 and 03 were identical to the prototype, ultimately sharing Tischlerhausl depot.

The Production Run

The remaining twelve units in the order were subject to some revised design work, including amended cooler group and replacement of the steam generator with an electric train supply for Webasto heating operation. Externally 2095.01-03 are instantly recognisable from the later class members in that the radiator is located at the opposite end of the bodyshell. 2095.04 carrying the manufacturer’s identity of Flor18129 of 1961 was initially despatched to the Mariazellerbahn on 4th April 1961, staying just a month before following sister locos to Bregenz. The 2095s were displaced to most of the 760mm gauge lines operated by the ÖBB at that time, principally to eliminate regular steam operation. This was pretty much achieved on the Bregenzerwaldbahn, the Ybbstalbahn and “Die Krumpe, with the help of other classes of diesel locomotive. The disposition on the final day of 1969 was 4 at Bregenz, 4 at Zell am See, 3 at Waidhofen a d Ybbs, 3 at St Poelten Alpenbahnhof and a single unit 2095.12 at Gmuend.

It is not really possible to establish when the first livery change was applied (perhaps browsers of this site may wish to comment?) but the carmine and ivory was replaced by blutorange (bloodorange) on the bodysides with grey frames and aluminium roof and embellishments. The late 1960s and early 1970s seem to be the point when most of the locomotives were repainted, probably after receiving works overhauls. Additional livery alterations subsequently involved replacing the flugelrad castings with vinyl “flying snail” logos on the cab ends and cabsides. The aluminium bodyside stripes were removed and replaced by a cream line. Roofs originally aluminium, became beige, then grey.

In the mid 1980s the EDV numbering scheme was introduced adding an extra “0” and a computer check number to the fleet number, examples being 2095.007-7 and 2095.015-0.

Later still the revised ÖBB livery was applied to the class 2095 fleet commencing with 2095.006 which had derailed on “Die Krumpe” requiring works attention. The revised livery involved an all over coat of red paint, accentuated by a broad cream band at the base of the body and a grey roof. Part way through the repainting programme the cream band gave way to light grey, this being common with the standard gauge locomotive livery.

To bring the livery section right up to date 2095.002 was repainted into a new red scheme and was in action for a while before a fatal accident on the Pinzgauer Lokalbahn from which it is now stored.

		Number 1 (2095 001-0)
		Number 2 (2095 002-8)
		Number 3 (2095 003-6)
		Number 4 (2095 004-4) Bischofstetten
		Number 5 (2095 005-1) Hollenstein
		Number 6 (2095 006-9)
		Number 7 (2095 007-7)
		Number 8 (2095 008-5) Lunz am See
		Number 9 (2095 009-3) Waidhofen a d Ybbs on 1 September 2005 Hollenstein
		Number 10 (2095 010-1)
		Number 11 (2095 011-9)
		Number 12 (2095 012-7)
		Number 13 (2095 013-5) Ruprechtshofen
		Number 14 (2095 014-3)
				Number 15 (2095 015-0) Mank

Allocations

Briefly mentioned earlier, the disposition of 2095s prior to closure of the Bregenz depot was ; 2095.01-03 / 11 Zell am See, 2095.04-07 Bregenz, 2095.08-10 Waidhofen a d Ybbs, 2095.12 Gmund, 2095.13-15 Alpenbahnhof.

Due to works attention various locos tended to stand in at other depots. On closure of Bregenz, the fleet was distributed among other depots, 2095.04 going to Tischlerhausl (sell am See), 2095.05 to Waidhofen, 2095.06 to Alpenbahnhof and 2095.07 moving to Gmund, along with 2095.14.

Accident Damage & Changes

A few minor differences to 2095s apply, some following accident repairs. 2095.009, a long term resident on the Ybbstalbahn, suffered a serious derailment and has been rebuilt with new cab roof ends incorporating red tail lights. All 2095s were delivered with a vacuum train pipe under the driver’s cab window and a cock for an air supply under the other cab window. It is rare to see an air hose on this cock but there are exceptions.

One class 2095 suffered a terrible accident on the 11th January 1965 when four-year old 2095.05 was working 7310 1817 Bezau – Bregenz when the locomotive derailed on the approach to the Egger viaduct and plummeted the 30 metres into the rocky “Bregenzerache river. The locomotive suffered extensive damage with roof and bodysides crushed through rolling down the mountainside. It is not clear whether the locomotive received a new bodyshell, or whether the existing bodyshell was straightened out and rebuilt.

As mentioned above 2095.002 and 003 suffered a devastating head-on collision on the Pinzgauer Lokalbahn in 2005 and will inevitably be withdrawn and broken up after some 43 years of service.

Modelling the 2095

The class 2095 has been modelled initially in HOe scale (9mm gauge - 3.5 mm = foot scale), by Lilliput.

LGB have produced numerous versions in LGB scale, a very realistic sound equipped version being most impressive in operation.

Another HOe version featured in the ARG Journal for Autumn 2005 the text of which is reproduced here : A Unique model 2095 in HOe based on information from Mike Madge and Phil Bartlett SGP, the manufacturers of the 2095s offered a blue colour scheme) to the BBÖ who declined it. This meant that it was created and so existed in life, but did not leave the factory.This model was made for a group of modellers based on a club in Linz. They always try to have a project on the go that involves something you can't buy. They make 20 (in this case) or so, and when those who know them have bought them they take anything left to model railway flea markets. Our member happened to be in the right place at the right time. ARG members who’ve seen it run, loved it. The chassis and motor is Stängl.

More recently the HOe class 2095 has been resurrected, extensively retooled and provided with a new, finer mechanism. There are numerous versions of this model available from Staengl of Lunz am See, initially in the modern schemes but more recently in epoche III or epoche IV liveries.