The Hagans 0-8-0T Flexible frame loco built for the German Gelnhausen-Bieber open cut mine in 1892.
In 1900 Hagans was presented with a Gold Medal at the Paris World Fair for his contribution to the development of specialty locomotives for industry. Christian Hagans passed away in 1908, having built up a large and successful locomotive factory. The factory had become a family vocation too, with his three sons, Herman, Otto & Friedrich, also entering into the locomotive business at his side.
In 1899 the agents for the Tasmanian railways in London opened negotiations for a large Hagans articulated locomotive required for service on the NE Dundas Tramway. All data from other users of this locomotive type pointed to a very successful machine of large tractive effort, capable of running on light lines. Tasmania was so confident in the design that a 2nd boiler was ordered along with the locomotive, forecasting their desire to run the machine for a very long time. Herman Hagans took on the design of the Tasmanian locomotive as his brainchild, personally overseeing every aspect of the design and construction. He even had a full scale wooden model built to test the clearances on the curves. In 1900, Hagans 436th locomotive was ready for steam trials, the largest of the type ever built. She was then part disassembled and shipped to Tasmania.
Builder's photo of the Tasmanian J class Hagans, prior to leaving the Hagans factory in Erfurt.