The Story of Maschinenfabrik Christian Hagans in Industrial Germany

In the late 19th century, Christian Hagans founded Maschinenfabrik Christian Hagans in what was then the industrial powerhouse of Germany.

The company was established in 1873 in a region known for its rich coal deposits and access to the Rhine River, making it an ideal location for heavy industry.

Hagans was a skilled engineer who had a vision for building innovative machines that would revolutionize industry.

The company's early years were marked by rapid growth and expansion, with Hagans' innovative designs and manufacturing techniques setting it apart from competitors.

Christian Hagans founded the Maschinenfabrik on July 1, 1857, on an area at the corner of Kartäuserstraße and Dalbergsweg in Erfurt.

The Eisengießerei was put into operation in October 1857, and a mechanical workshop was added in 1858. Initially, the production included items like gears, bearings, and flywheels.

In 1870, the company started manufacturing replacement parts for steam locomotives and building locomotive boilers. This marked a significant shift in their production focus.

The first locomotive, a narrow-gauge locomotive with a 785mm track width, was built in just four months in 1872 for the Oberschlesische Schmalspurbahn.

Due to the limited space in their workshop, Hagans had to rely on licensing agreements, such as building locomotives of the T 15 type from Henschel & Sohn.

The company's inability to transport heavy locomotives, with a maximum weight of 35 tons, led to the use of horse-drawn carriages to transport them to the Erfurt goods station.

In 1903, Hagans acquired a new workshop site in Ilversgehofen, which had a railway connection to the Erfurt North station, allowing for larger and heavier shipments.

The production of locomotives began in Ilversgehofen in 1905 with the T9.3 model, which would go on to become the largest series of locomotives built by the company, with 204 units produced by 1913.

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The Hagans locomotive was a type of articulated steam locomotive that revolutionized train travel. It had two groups of coupled wheels that moved together, connected via a swinging lever system.

This innovative design allowed the locomotive to manage with just one pair of cylinders, increasing efficiency and reducing the need for complex machinery. The Baden VIII d, Prussian T 13, and Prussian T 15 are examples of locomotives that utilized this design.

The Hagans locomotive's unique design made it a game-changer in the world of steam locomotives, paving the way for future innovations in train travel.

At Maschinenfabrik Christian Hagans, the production numbers tell a fascinating story. Over 1,253 locomotives were built, with the highest factory number being 1,253.

The company's records are incredibly detailed, allowing us to pinpoint the exact number of locomotives produced. This is thanks to the Lieferbücher, or delivery books, which meticulously tracked every locomotive built.

A total of 1,147 locomotives were built and delivered to customers, with the first one being constructed as early as 1872. These locomotives were built until 1928, spanning nearly six decades.

Some locomotives were built without their own Kesselnummer, or boiler number, with a staggering 127 additional boilers being constructed. Unfortunately, not all locomotives made it off the production line, with 59 Kessels and 25 locomotives being storniert, or cancelled.

Here's a breakdown of the production numbers:

Christian Hagans founded Maschinenfabrik on July 1, 1857, in Erfurt, Germany. He started the business on a small plot of land at the intersection of Kartäuserstraße and Dalbergsweg.

The first production began in October 1857 with the opening of the Eisengießerei, followed by a mechanical workshop in 1858. Initially, the company produced machinery parts like gears, bearings, and pulleys.

By 1870, Hagans started manufacturing replacement parts for steam locomotives and building locomotive boilers. This marked a significant expansion of the company's product line.

In November 1872, Hagans built its first locomotive, a narrow-gauge locomotive with a 785mm track width, for the Oberschlesische Schmalspurbahn. This was a major milestone for the company.

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The company's early success was hindered by limited space, forcing Hagans to focus on development rather than production. As a result, he had to rely on licensing agreements, such as building Henschel & Sohn's T 15 locomotives, due to lack of capacity and a railway connection.

By 1903, Hagans had acquired a new factory site in Ilversgehofen, which provided a much-needed railway connection and allowed for larger shipments. This move marked a significant turning point for the company.

In 1905, Hagans began producing the T9.3 locomotive in Ilversgehofen, which would become the largest series of locomotives built by the company, with 204 units produced by 1913.