Werner von Siemens, ennobled in 1888, developed an
electric generator, based on the
dynamo-electric principle, which he patented in 1866. On January 17, 1867, he gave a lecture before the
Berlin Academy of Sciences, in which he provided the first scientific description of the dynamo-electric principle. Based on these foundations, electric motors were built, initially used in stationary applications. Siemens then tried to use the electric motor in vehicles and had his designer Hemming Wesslau design an electric locomotive for the
Senftenberger Stadtgrube Marie III. However, the proposed design from July 1878, which aimed to drive the locomotive with two rubber discs on an iron band in the center, and subsequent adjustments did not convince the mine owner Carl Westphal. He doubted the reliability, was concerned about the investment costs, and could not reach an agreement with Siemens. No locomotive was built from these initial designs. Siemens had the design of his electric locomotive further revised. Now the axles were driven via a gear transmission, and the iron band was used for power transmission. Based on a design from October 1878, a locomotive was built to be presented to the public at the Berlin Trade Exhibition 1879. This exhibition took place on the
ULAP site at the
Lehrter Bahnhof. A circular track about 300 meters long was built in the machine hall near the entrance. The small locomotive had three open passenger cars, each for six people. At the exhibition opening, Werner Siemens personally presented his development on May 31, 1879. By September 30, 1879, a total of 86,398 people had been transported at a speed of 7 km/h. An original preserved locomotive is part of the collection at the
Deutsches Museum in Munich. The
German Museum of Technology in Berlin has a replica of the locomotive on display. == References ==