Unspecified 0-8-0 Locomotives in Poland


Class Details by Steve Llanso of Sweat House Media

Class Slask/TKp (Locobase 4783)

Data from Phillipe Quiot on the website [link] . Also see [link] (last accessed 7 December 2006).

One of a series of Polish industrial locomotives built after World War II. Rated at 800 hp, it reached 40 kmh (25 mph). The Swiss VVT museum railroad credits the Slask ("Silesia") with a 50 kmh (31 mph) top speed. The VVT also publishes tonnage ratings as follows:

On the level at 20km/h with 2,000 tons.

On the level at 15km/h with 3,200 tons

Up a 1 % grade at 15 km/h with 580 tons, and

Up a 2 1/2% grade at 10 km/h with 420 tons.

Interlok (see below) says the 2nd and 4th axles have a 25-mm play, which allows negotiation of 100-m curves.

Photos show a stocky profile similar to that of the Ferrum 0-6-0T, with long side tanks, two small domes and stubby stack. According to [link], a Swiss museum website, the Slask was derived directly from a Henschel and Sohn design. [link] (August 2002) confirms this and notes that the OS (Ober-Schliesen) went into production in 1944. Chrzanow recommenced production in 1955, says the interlok site.

The Nene Valley Railway's website -- [link], accessed 4 March 2006 -- has an entertaining description of this design:"This engine is a beast. If it were a lorry it would be an earth mover, built for shifting massive loads over short distances, with big cylinders and very small wheels ....

"Polish engineering is not known for it's [sic] high quality, and the engine is no exception. For example, the cylinder bore on engines should line up with the axle centre - not here, the cylinder centreline is clearly inches above the axle centreline. General construction is simple, for example the smoke box door is made from flat plate welded together, where most engines have a rounded door made from pressings / castings. Many of the steam valves are made from steel / iron, which can corrode, where other loco's would use brass or bronze which doesn't corrode. Oddly, for a simple machine, it has the complexity of superheaters ..."

The website delves deeper into what it's like to run an engine like this:"for the crew it is an easy engine to fire, with a large boiler that has plenty of steam generating capacity, and a medium size firebox where the first time fireman won't have trouble getting coal to the far end of the fire. There is also a drop grate in the firebox and a hopper ashpan, making the disposal of fire and ash simpler. The injectors have been proven to be reliable, after fettling work. For the driver, the controls are well placed and all reachable from the cab window."

Production continued until 1960. The Slask also was exported to China (90 as ET7). (VVT says 102 examples were supplied.)

Principal Dimensions by Steve Llanso of Middle Run Media
ClassSlask/TKp
Locobase ID4783
Railroad
CountryPoland
Whyte0-8-0T
Number in Class300
Road Numbers
GaugeStd
Number Built300
BuilderChrzanow
Year1949
Valve GearWalschaert
Locomotive Length and Weight
Driver Wheelbase (ft / m)13.78 / 4.20
Engine Wheelbase (ft / m)13.78 / 4.20
Ratio of driving wheelbase to overall engine wheelbase1
Overall Wheelbase (engine & tender) (ft / m)13.78 / 4.20
Axle Loading (Maximum Weight per Axle) (lbs / kg)36,960 / 16,765
Weight on Drivers (lbs / kg)147,840 / 67,059
Engine Weight (lbs / kg)147,840 / 67,059
Tender Loaded Weight (lbs / kg)
Total Engine and Tender Weight (lbs / kg)
Tender Water Capacity (gals / ML)1716 / 6.50
Tender Fuel Capacity (oil/coal) (gals/tons / Liters/MT) 3.30 / 3
Minimum weight of rail (calculated) (lb/yd / kg/m)62 / 31
Geometry Relating to Tractive Effort
Driver Diameter (in / mm)43.30 / 1100
Boiler Pressure (psi / kPa)198.70 / 1370
High Pressure Cylinders (dia x stroke) (in / mm)21.65" x 21.65" / 550x550
Tractive Effort (lbs / kg)39,582 / 17954.11
Factor of Adhesion (Weight on Drivers/Tractive Effort) 3.74
Heating Ability
Tubes (number - dia) (in / mm)
Flues (number - dia) (in / mm)
Flue/Tube length (ft / m)
Firebox Area (sq ft / m2)
Grate Area (sq ft / m2)23.67 / 2.20
Evaporative Heating Surface (sq ft / m2)1197 / 111.20
Superheating Surface (sq ft / m2)430 / 40
Combined Heating Surface (sq ft / m2)1627 / 151.20
Evaporative Heating Surface/Cylinder Volume129.76
Computations Relating to Power Output (More Information)
Robert LeMassena's Power Computation4703
Same as above plus superheater percentage5926
Same as above but substitute firebox area for grate area
Power L1
Power MT

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