2-12-0

In Whyte notation for the classification of steam locomotives by wheel arrangement, a 2-12-0 is a locomotive with one pair of unpowered leading wheels, followed by six pairs of powered driving wheels, and no trailing wheels.

Other equivalent classifications are:

UIC classification: 1F (also known as German classification and Italian classification)

French classification: 160

Turkish classification: 67

Swiss classification: 6/7

Germany

Whereas standard German freight train steam locomotives were 2-10-0 types, between 1917 and 1924 the Esslingen locomotive works produced 44 units of the so-called class K for the Württemberg State Railways(later renumbered to class 59 by the Deutsche Reichsbahn). With a top speed of only 60 km/h these locomotives were designed for heavy duty in mountainous areas such as the 'Geislinger Steige', with special attention on low load per axle (16 t). During World War II, after electrification of that line the units were used on the 'Semmeringbahn' in Austria, then part of Greater Germany. The last four units were in service until 1957.