Caile Ferate Romane 2-6-2 Locomotives in Romania

Class 131.001 (Locobase 5876)

Data from the First Romanian railway club ([] -- visited 14 Jan 2004). Considerably more data came from [] (the Kluetzer museum railway site visited 11 July 2004 and 19 March 2005).

The First Romanian site explains that a small and agile locomotive was needed for short-haul service. Among the limitations were a 12-metric ton axle loading and a wheelbase able to handle tight curves.

The website proudly notes that this was a wholly Romanian design. The first prototype steamed quite well, achieving superheat of 400 deg C and the class proved able to haul 455 tons up a 1% grade at 25 km/h (16 mph), 100 tons more than the Hungarian-built Class 375s could accomplish.

Resita turned out 66 more in 1940-1942. They operated until 1975-1976 on CFR lines with some going to industrial lines for many years of additional service.

NB: The direct heating surface (including the firebox heating surface) is an estimate calculated by subtracting the calculated tube heating surface from the reported total evaporative heating surface.