The 01 class started in 1925 as a completely new generation of locomotives on the German State Railways. Their elegant lines were a pleasing derivative of many previous locos and marked a new era in German locomotive building. In 1925 the 02 class was the first standard German locomotive. Designed for express service it reached a top speed of 120 km/h. All the 02 class locos would later be converted into the 01 class. The 02 class is still remembered as the first German standard locomotive ever built.