NMBS / SNCB series 29
| NMBS / SNCB series 29 | |
|---|---|
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| Numbering: | 29,001-29,300 |
| Number: | 300 |
| Manufacturer: | Montreal Locomotive Works , Canadian Locomotive Company , Alco |
| Year of construction (s): | 1945, 1946 |
| Retirement: | until 1966 |
| Axis formula : | 1'D h2 |
| Gauge : | 1435 mm ( standard gauge ) |
| Service mass: | 84.5 t |
| Top speed: | 96 km / h |
| Performance indicator: | 2000 PSi |
| Driving wheel diameter: | 1520 mm |
| Number of cylinders: | 2 |
| Cylinder diameter: | 559 mm |
| Piston stroke: | 711 mm |
| Boiler overpressure: | 15.75 bar |
| Grate area: | 4.4 m² |
| Superheater area : | 73.0 m² |
| Evaporation heating surface: | 183 m² |
| Tender: | 4th |
| Brake: | Westinghouse air brake handbrake |
| Control: | Walschaerts |
The steam locomotives of the NMBS / SNCB series 29 were ordered by the Belgian state railways NMBS / SNCB after the Second World War in a series of 300 from American manufacturers to make up for the extensive war losses. The locomotives, which were also the last steam locomotives procured by the NMBS / SNCB, were manufactured by the Canadian manufacturers Montreal Locomotive Works (MLW) and Canadian Locomotive Company (CLC) and by the American manufacturer American Locomotive Company (Alco). The locomotives had a 1'D ( Consolidation ) wheel arrangement .
history
During the Second World War, the number of running locomotives on the Belgian State Railways had fallen by a good two thirds. While in 1940 there were still a good 3400 steam locomotives in the fleet, the number of operational locomotives had dropped to around 1000 in 1945. The NMBS / SNCB urgently needed a replacement. Since the local industry was unable to deliver large numbers of new locomotives due to war damage, the state railways ordered a large series of multi-purpose locomotives in the USA and Canada. The highly standardized 29 series was delivered by the manufacturers MLW (29.001 to 29.160), CLC (29.161 to 29.220) and Alco (29.221 to 29.300) in 1945 and 1946. The locomotives were deployed first in the railway depots in Schaerbeek (64 pieces), Ronet (57 pieces), Jemelle (43 pieces) Ottignies (33 pieces) Stockem (30 pieces), groves-Saint-Pierre (27 pieces), Hasselt (26 Pieces) and Aalst (20 pieces). In the following years, the locomotives were relocated many times, including to Kinkempois and Herbesthal .
The locomotives were very popular with the staff due to their comfortable driver's cab, despite some teething problems. They were nicknamed "Jeep" after their American origins, corresponding to the US Army's all-purpose vehicle Willys MB . Like this, the 29 series was used for a wide variety of purposes, hauling heavy freight trains as well as passenger trains to express trains.
From the mid-1950s, the NMBS / SNCB procured large series of new diesel locomotives and electrified large parts of their network. As a result, the first class 29 locomotives were taken out of service after 15 years. By 1967 all 300 locomotives had been decommissioned, one of this series, the 29.013, ran the last official steam-hauled passenger train of the NMBS / SNCB between Ath and Denderleeuw on December 20, 1966 . The last 12 specimens still occasionally used in freight traffic were finally formally withdrawn in April 1967. Some examples were still used as stationary steam generators and heating locomotives in the following years .
Only one example, the 29.013 locomotive, remained operational. After a few years of storage, it was repaired in 1972 and has been used for nostalgia and museum trips ever since. In 1996, major boiler damage became apparent, which ultimately led to the boiler being replaced during repairs at the Meiningen steam locomotive works . The locomotive has been back in service in Belgium since 2003. Another locomotive, the 29.164, was used as a steam generator and is preserved in a museum in Haine-Saint-Pierre in poor condition.
technology
The 29 series is a robust, American-style design with a simple sturdy sheet metal frame and external cylinders. All locomotives received a conventional, external Walschaerts control . Many components of the 29 series are standardized according to American standards and correspond to components of the SNCF 141 R, which is also produced in America . Locomotives of largely identical construction were also delivered to China . The Chinese State Railways received 160 of the locomotives classified there as the CR series KD7 via UNRRA .
Web links
Individual evidence
- ↑ Railography: Chinese Steam Locomotive Profiles. KD7 Class 2-8-0s , accessed February 27, 2017