Bulgarian State 2-8-2 Locomotives in Bulgaria

Class 01 (Locobase 1582)

[] (viewed 18 July 2003)

Simeon Trifonov reported that this class of express passenger engines used the same boiler as the 02 (2-8-2s), 10 (2-10-0), and early 46 class (2-12-4T) locomotives.

Initially, there were tracking problems on short-radius curves (described by Trifonov as "unusual lateral swinging") with the 01s as well as cracks in the frames of some of the engines. Tube diameters are inner dimensions.

Suppliers were many and varied. Hanomag delivered the first 3, Poland's Chrzanow delivered 10 more in 1931, Borsig (Berlin) added 2 in 1935 as did Henschel & Sohn, and SLM (Winterthur, Switzerland) produced 6 in the same year.

The SLM sextet were nicknamed "Das Tabaklok", commemorating the deal to which the Swiss locomotive builder agreed during the worldwide economic depression of the 1930s. The [] site (visited 27 December 2006) follows the progress of a Swiss organization which bought a retired tabaklok for restoration and operation in Switzerland. A comment under a reproduction of a tobacco-shop poster says that opinions differ on whether the tobacco mentioned in the exchange was ever actually delivered.

The 01s pulled trains out of Sofia for 35 years on several lines -- Plovdiv (South East), Karlovo to Burgas (East), Pleven (North East), Oryakhowa (North), and Vidin (North West). Soon after they entered service, the tabakloks' frames began showing cracks. After World War II, the BDZ addressed the issue by reduced the cylinder diameter to 595 mm (23.43") and thus lowering stresses. The modification consisted of replacing the entire original cylinder with new ones.

Class 02 (Locobase 1583)

[] (viewed 18 July 2003).

Tube diameters are inner dimensions. Using the same boiler as the 01s, these engines were contracted for when the 01s ran into some problems in their first few years in service. Henschel & Sohn delivered the first 2 in 1935 while Chrzanow of Poland produced 3 more to the design in 1938.

The "Drilling" layout had 2 cylinders outside driving the third axle with the inside cylinder on the second axle. The rigid wheelbase was 12 ft 6 in (3.8 m). The design was not a success, according to Trifonov. "The complicated construction did not facilitate ...repair and maintenance work. [The class] revealed even more defects than [the 01s]." So only these five were procured and they operated out of Plovdiv and G. Oriahovitza (Oryakowa).

Locobase note about the source: Trifonov's website of Bulgarian steam locomotive data remained active for only a few months to a year. A Yahoo group user profile published at [] on 13 March 2002 consisted of this "autobiography":

"I think I am regular visitor so:

Bulgarian,26 years old,not married,just finished my practice course in Russe police as detective.I have graduated St Kliment Ohridski University in Sofia/Law/ and that was a year ago.In 14 days i will be soldier for 6 months.

My interest in railroads dates back to 1982 when I used to play near the railroad close to the park,I am living.The first layout was a 1983 PIKO HO set and since i have been a keen PIKO fan.Near the block I live is the first bulgarian railstation/1866/-a km distance near the Danube.Therefore my interest in Bulgarian railroads got scientific basis for contacts with people working there were estabilished.now I build a humble site of the Museum and they help me in that.BDZ has nothing in their page.So go to [] and find some info on the topic.

I have a 2.5 /2.5 layout.Mainly Piko products on it ,my Lamps and other polystirol products-handmade.I have not finished even 1/2 of the construction .

Interested in Bulgarian railroads before 1945,DRG and Industrial structures of the pre-war era.

Class 20 (Locobase 1594)

[] (viewed 18 July 2003).

Trifonov reported that these were wartime locomotives originally ordered by Manchuria (or the Japanese government thereof?).