Description
This artifact is an authentic Deutsche Reichsbahn eagle (railway emblem), identified as a PS LOK 600 type and measuring approximately 60 cm (23¾ inches) in width. The piece represents an unissued example, lacking the final machining of its mounting lugs, indicating it remained unfinished at the time of production.
Notably, this specific example is documented in Wilhelm Saris’s reference work on Reichsbahn eagles (page 132), providing a published point of comparison and reinforcing its identification within the established body of study.
The reverse bears standard material composition and production markings, including “GAL – Mg – Si,” denoting an aluminum-based alloy, along with “LOK,” “RZA 5,” and “BERL,” referencing locomotive application, railway designation, and manufacture in Berlin.
Railway eagles of this type served as prominent insignia on locomotives, symbolizing the identity of the national rail system. Unissued and documented examples such as this offer particular value for research and interpretation, illustrating both production practices and the role of standardized emblems within industrial infrastructure.
