NSB 0-10-0 Locomotives in Norway

Class Class 29a/39a (Locobase 6172)

Data from:

Svein Sando's Railway Site [] (9 June 2004)--(Later link: The Semaphore, accessed for link update 10 July 2022.)-- and the Jernbane (Iron Road) site [] (June 2004).

Steep grades on the Ofotbanen required earnest applications of low-speed power and these decapods filled the bill. Deliveries came in 3 years-- 1913, 1914, and 1916.

Other than the Type 49 Dovregruppens, these were the heaviest Norwegian steam locomotives. Jernbane's accompanying photo shows a high-pitched boiler, drive on the third axle, and a merged steam and sand dome over the second axle. The "over-square" cylinder dimensions are unusual.

Once the Ofotbanen electrification was completed, these engines went to the Bergensbanen or Ostfold railway lines. At some point, they received a leading truck (with large-diameter wheels), becoming 2-10-0s; at that point they were classed as Type 39. Engine weight went up to 86,000 kg (189,597 lb), while adhesion weight fell to 74,900 kg (165,126 lb). Locobase notes that the factor of adhesion, already quite low, dropped further to 3.13.

The class continued to serve for decades with the last two retirements -- 169 and 308 -- coming on 9 February 1963.

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Class Class 35a (Locobase 6178)

Data from Svein Sando's Railway Site [] (9 June 2004)--(Later link: The Semaphore, accessed for link update 10 July 2022.)-- and the Jernbane (Iron Road) site [] (originally June 2004, last accessed 30 January 2010). See also DeGolyer, Volume 60, pp. 53. See also "Baldwin Locomotives for the Norwegian Government Rys", Locomotive Magazine, Volume 24 (15 January 1917), pp. 16-17. Works numbers were 45545-45546 in May 1917.

These decapod tanks, designed by the NSB's Chief Mechanical Engineer P Hoff, appear to be near the ultimate expression of short-range, low-drivered switchers ("shunters", "bankers", whatever). Lots of adhesion, but a boiler that couldn't be pushed very hard without running out of steam.

A max speed of 40 km/h (25 mph) further underscores the specialized nature of this design, as does the early retirement date of 12 November 1937.