This list covers the locomotives of the Imperial Railways in AlsaceâÂÂLorraine (Reich railways in Alsace-Lorraine) (EL) and those of the Chemins de fer d'Alsace et de Lorraine (AL). AlsaceâÂÂLorraine is a region in northeastern France that was under the control of the German Empire between 1871 and 1920, during which time its railway network was expanded and operated by the EL.
The Reich railways in AlsaceâÂÂLorraine numbered their locomotives sequentially and gave them names as well. The names depended on the type of locomotive.
In addition the locomotive fleet was organised into classes from the outset. The system was based on the Bavarian state railways with capital letters followed by Arabic numerals.
A class number was issued to each delivery batch.
In 1906 all the vehicles were renumbered and a new classification system was introduced, this time based on the Prussian system. The different types of locomotive were given a specific range of numbers.
In 1912 the locomotives were again given new numbers and in some cases were reclassified. In addition, locomotive names were done away with.
Narrow gauge locomotives were given the class letter âÂÂâÂÂâÂÂTâÂÂâÂÂâ and number range 3001âÂÂ3042. This meant that two engines could have the same number. Older locomotives were no longer renumbered and retained their number until retirement.
In 1919 the French regional railway, âÂÂChemins de fer d' Alsace et de Lorraineâ (AL) took over the system and continued with it until 1938, when the company went into the French national railways, the SNCF.
The narrow gauge locomotives of the Reich railways were built for the metre gauge lines of LützelburgâÂÂDrulingen/Pfalzburg, ColmarâÂÂEnsisheim and ColmarâÂÂMarkolsheim.