The Br 96 is perhaps one of the most interesting European locomotives. Articulated of the Mallet type (with two double expansion power units) it was the center of attention of railway enthusiasts throughout Europe. With an elegant, clean line, it showed great power and was an expression of uncommon constructive ability.
The 96 was used to push the ramps of Bavaria first and then of all Germany after the statehood of the railways. Unfortunately, however, some sections put in crisis even this monster with 8 driving axles all coupled.
In fact this is not a locomotive developed by RAEUDL, but a development of the corresponding office existing at the Bavarian Railways.
Since Ludwig continued to complain about the poor traction force of the Bavarian locomotives and since even in Baden he had managed to build a machine like the Br 11, in Munich they were very disappointed.
Nestor Krauss, owner of Krauss (only Krauss before marrying his widow Maffei), thought he had a good base to start from. The result was the project of this Gt6/6x2 machine well ahead of its time, articulated on two groups of 6 axles coupled and with the front group at low pressure according to the strict canons of Ing. Mallet.
The machine was built in the years immediately preceding the First World War and remained in service on the Schiefe Ebene (a stretch of about 30 km with a very high constant gradient) and hauled everything that was attached to it, including some tracks that just did not want to remain in place.
Having limited the speed as much as possible, the machine was decidedly uneconomical and it was not until the end of the war that it was taken out of service and cannibalized for the repairs of the 96.
The wreck was included in the DRG classification as 89.7, the category under elimination, and was never put into service.
The locomotive was enameled in 1916 to make cannons.