Maschinenfabrik Esslingen

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Maschinenfabrik Esslingen
Company type Limited company
(Aktiengesellschaft)
Industry Transport engineering, automotive engineering, mechanical engineering
PredecessorWürttembergische Baumwoll-Spinnerei und -Weberei  OOjs UI icon edit-ltr-progressive.svg
Founded11 March 1846
Defunct1968, formally 2003
FateTaken over by Daimler-Benz in 1965 and eventually integrated into Still GmbH in the Flurfördermittel sector
Headquarters

Maschinenfabrik Esslingen (ME), was a German engineering firm that manufactured locomotives, tramways, railway wagons, roll-blocks, technical equipment for the railways, (turntables and traversers), bridges, steel structures, pumps and boilers.

Contents

Share of the Maschinenfabrik Esslingen, issued 1882 Maschinenfabrik Esslingen 1882 1000 Mk.jpg
Share of the Maschinenfabrik Esslingen, issued 1882
The mighty Wurttemberg K was one of the most successful locomotives designed and built in Esslingen Wurttembergische K.jpg
The mighty Württemberg K was one of the most successful locomotives designed and built in Esslingen

Founding

It was founded by Emil Kessler on 11 March 1846 in Stuttgart, as a result of an initiative of the Kingdom of Württemberg to create a railway industry that was not dependent on foreign manufacturers. Emil Kessler brought vital experience from his time with the engineering works in Karlsruhe, where he had been a member of the board since 1837 and the sole director since 1842.

The foundation stone of the new factory was laid at Esslingen am Neckar on 4 May 1846. One year later, in October 1847, the first locomotive ordered by the Royal Württemberg State Railways (Königlich Württembergische Staats-Eisenbahnen) or K.W.St. E. was delivered.

History

Diesel multiple unit trainset manufactured by Maschinenfabrik Esslingen in the old train station of Jerusalem, shortly after delivery as part of the reparations agreement with West Germany. Israel Railways Esslingen LHB 1956.jpg
Diesel multiple unit trainset manufactured by Maschinenfabrik Esslingen in the old train station of Jerusalem, shortly after delivery as part of the reparations agreement with West Germany.
Esslingen shunting locomotive No. 228 at the service of Israel Railways in 1959. Israel Railways Esslingen locomotive 228-1959.jpg
Esslingen shunting locomotive No. 228 at the service of Israel Railways in 1959.

After the death of Emil Kessler in 1867 his 26-year-old son, Emil Kessler, took over the factory. He ran it until his death in 1895. From 1907 another Kessler took the helm of the engineering works: Emil Kessler's youngest son, Ludwig Kessler. Later (but prior to his death in 1931), the director was Julius Rosenthal. [1]

The one thousandth locomotive delivered in 1870 was given the name KESSLER to commemorate the founder of the factory. The engineering works worked closely with the Royal Württemberg State Railways so that almost all new engines for the railway company were built at Esslingen.

The firm earned a very good reputation, initially at home, then increasingly abroad. Several takeovers of other companies (Maschinenfabrik Gebr. Decker & Co. in 1881, Maschinen- & Kesselfabrik G. Kuhn in 1902), the formation of Costruzioni Meccaniche Saronno (Italy) in 1887 and in 1913 the construction of a new factory at Mettingen demonstrated its success.

Ships

One phase was the construction of ships for inland waters at Ulm and Friedrichshafen, begun in 1852 and stopped by 1858, that saw it through the time of economic crisis after 1848. 50 boats for the river Danube, two steamships for the river Neckar, two steamers and two tugs for Lake Constance and were the result of this thoroughly successful venture.

Steelwork

Longer-lived was the firms involvement in steel structures and bridging, that it continued with until the end.

Locomotives

Steam

By the 1960s Maschinenfabrik Esslingen had delivered several thousand steam and diesel locomotives worldwide, including numerous special designs. It had a particular reputation for the construction of cog locomotives in many variations, including locomotives for Riggenbach, Abt and Strub rack railways. It was one of these engines that was the last steam locomotive to be made in Esslingen: on 21 October 1966 the last cog locomotive left the factory bound for Indonesia. [2]

Electric

The company was also involved in the production of electric locomotives, for example, in 1912 for the Wendelsteinbahn. After 1920 a batch of accumulator cars was produced, mainly for coal mines and industrial railways.

Internal combustion

In addition, internal combustion engined locomotives were built, such as the small diesel locomotive, the Köf, the Esslingen railbus and the Russian locomotive class E el-2.

Trams

Between 1956 and 1965, over 400 Class SSB GT4 articulated four axle trams were built in Esslingen for the Stuttgart tramways, which were in regular operation until 2007. The same model was also built for Freiburg im Breisgau, Neunkirchen, and Reutlingen. In addition, four axle bogie trams were built of the END system.

Even the cable car vehicles in Stuttgart were made at Esslingen.

Demise of Locomotive Construction

Finally the ME became a subsidiary of the Gutehoffnungshütte. In 1965 Daimler-Benz AG bought the company in order to use it factory facilities for its production and the construction of railway vehicles ceased. As of 2007 Maschinenfabrik Esslingen AG still existed, but as a real estate leasing company.[ citation needed ]

Preservation of Locomotives

Today, old locomotives are rebuilt by the Verein zur Erhaltung der Lokomotiven der ME (Society for the Preservation of ME Locomotives) and handed over to museum railways for everyday operations. This society has its base in the old board rooms of the engineering works in Emil-Kessler-Straße in Mettingen on the factory site of Daimler AG.

The last rack locomotive built in Germany for Indonesian State Railways, E10 60 is now used for excursion trains between Sawahlunto and Muarakalaban in West Sumatera. [3] [4]

Literature

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References

  1. On the death of Julius Rosenthal, former director of Maschinenfabrik Esslingen; Article in the "Gemeinde-Zeitung for the Israelite Communities Württemberg, March 1, 1931
  2. Images, Historical Railway (2018-06-07), West Sumatra Coal Railway (Indonesia) - Class E10 0-10-0T steam locomotive Nr. E1060 (Maschinenfabrik Esslingen 5316 / 1966) - 19 October 1966 , retrieved 2024-02-24
  3. "E1060". www.internationalsteam.co.uk. Retrieved 2024-02-24.
  4. Tempo (2022-11-28). "THE GREAT TRAIN RECOVERY". Tempo. Retrieved 2024-02-24.