Kaiser-Ferdinands-Nordbahn 2-4-0 Locomotives in Austria

Class 815 (Locobase 7807)

Data from [], accessed 30 August 2006.

Wikipedia explains that these nameless locomotives were bought in 1857 to operate near Krakow. Yhe KFNB intended to name them after Galician towns and cities when the railway won the concession to operate in that Polish region. The railway failed to get the rights and the locomotives were called simply by their builder's name and works number.

Although they were rebuilt in 1867 with a bigger boiler sustaining a higher pressure (as shown in the specifications), they were still unsatisfactory. The very small size of the grate in comparison to the boiler's heating surface, as well as the relatively low perrcentage of direct heating surface must have proved a considerable limitation. The KFNB began withdrawing the class in 1872 and completed its deletion by 1877.

Class Antilope (Locobase 7809)

Data from [], last accessed 2 September 2006.

Although the date given is 1867, these locomotives first entered service a decade earlier with a smaller boiler and firebox. The design seems not to have been entirely satisfactory as the weight distribution fell more heavily on the leading drive axle than on the trailing axle. Even though the KFNB enlarged the boiler and firebox in 1867, the railway scrapped 4 of the 6 by the next year and discarded the last two - MAZEPPA and STEPHENSON - in 1874.

Class Jupiter II (Locobase 7812)

Data from [], last accessed 2 September 2006.

The KFNB persisted in building 2-4-0s for freight work and took delivery of this class in 1861-1862. Some noticeable features were the windshield on the footplate, a tall and nobly adorned steam dome between the driving axles, and a tall, classically turned stack with flared cap. Some of the names were JUPITER II as lead engine, CLIO as the last engine, and OLOMUCIA in the middle.

After a reconstruction in 1872 that substantially enlarged the boiler, this class served until 1898-1902.

Class Tiberius (Locobase 7811)

Data from [], last accessed 2 September 2006.

Another in the series of classes of 2-4-0s delivered to the KFNB in 1856-1857 and rebuilt with a new boiler. Although their arrangement suggests a passenger engine, these were freight locomotives. The photo accompanying the Wikipedia entry shows lots of overhang from the cylinders and big, flared, spark-arresting stack to the low-hanging grate behind the last driver. Also, as delivered there was no protection for the engine crew.

TIBERIUS was the first, PILADES the last, and HORAZ somewhere in the middle.

The class left service in 1890-1900

Class Vindobona II (Locobase 7810)

Data from [], last accessed 2 September 2006.

It's not clear to Locobase how many locomotives are grouped in this class. VINDOBONA II was the first, FLORA was the last and CONCORDIA was in the mix as well. The specs show the reconstruction in 1866 that eliminated the steam dome and substituted a safety-valve stand. One unusual feature was the positioning of the lever equalizing the front axle and the lead driving axle outside the frame.

The class left service in 1880-1883.

Class Vulcan II (Locobase 7782)

Data from [], accessed 16 August 2006. Works numbers were 113-118 in 1852-1853. (NB: Jens Merte's list of Maffei production show Vulcan II as 113, Glaucos as 118. Locobase infers that four more locomotive belonged to the class.)

Although the date given is 1867, this sexrtet - Vulcan II, Glaucos I, Aeakus, and Apis I - actually were delivered in 1852-1853. This was John Haswell's first venture into the 2-4-0 layout (which seems to Locobase an odd choice for a freight engine). A profile shows a typical layout with long straight boiler with firebox behind the last driver, tall, cylindrical dome over the front driven axle, and a very tall stack with collar and flanged top.

Over the years the design was tweaked at least three times and the final version is what is shown in the specs. Glaucos I came to a violent end, suffering a boiler explosion in Oderberg on 23 May 1871. Vulcan II and APS I were sold off in 1869 & 1871, while Aeakus survived until 1880.