Kaelble
In 1933, the German national railway operator (Reichsbahn) developed the “Culemeyer” low-loader to transport railcars on roads. For this purpose, special road tractors were developed by Kaelble, based in Backnang. The company became a preferred supplier to the Reichsbahn and to the Deutsche Bundesbahn. This development led to the production of trucks and dumpers, in which Kaelble predominantly used ZF steering systems, transmissions, and axles.
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Kaelble K 631 ZR
Kaelble K 631 ZR
In 1933, the German national railway operator (Reichsbahn) developed the “Culemeyer” low-loader to transport railcars on roads. For this purpose, special road tractors were developed by Kaelble, based in Backnang. The company became a preferred supplier to the Reichsbahn and to the Deutsche Bundesbahn. This development led to the production of trucks and dumpers, in which Kaelble predominantly used ZF steering systems, transmissions, and axles. The K 631 ZR/53 originates from a series of 55 road tractors, built from 1953 for Deutsche Bundesbahn, and also designed to be capable of shunting operations on the railway (dual-mode vehicle). The vehicle therefore has a transmission with four reverse gears for fast reversing and is one of the few vehicles in which Kaelble did not install a ZF transmission. The tractor has a winch, with a tension-rating of eight metric tons, making it capable of hauling loaded railcars of up to 40 metric tons onto the low-loader A Culemeyer road train, comprising tractor, low-loader and loaded railcar weighed up to 60 metric tons.
Integrated ZF products:
