St Petersburg-Warsaw 4-4-0 Locomotives in Russia

Class unknown (Locobase 9112)

Data from Apercu des Chemins de Fer Russes Depuis l'Origine Jusqu'en 1892, Editor in Chief Andre de Gortschakov (Brussells: Paul Weissenbruch, 1897). See also "A Russian Compound Passenger Engine", National Car and Locomotive Builder, Volume 23, No 11 (November 1892), p. 171.

These wood-burning cross-compound express engines, claimed the NCLB report, marked "the introduction of an entirely new type on Russian railways." Taller drivers than had "hitherto been employed" showed that the design was "altogether intended for fast service." They were rated to pull 175 tonnes up a 0.6% grade at 60 km/h (40 mph) and on the level at 80 km/h (50 mph).

The LP cylinder was mounted to the left of the smokebox (facing forward) and had a Trick valve to "obtain the required port opening with a shorter travel of the valve."

Class unknown (Locobase 9123)

Data from Memoires et compte-rendu des travaux de la Societe' des Ingenieurs Civils de France (1900), p 349 (An account of locomotives displayed at the 1900 Paris Exhibition). See also "Tandem-Compound Express Locomotives for Russian Empire Railways", Railroad Gazette, Volume XXXV [35], No 46 (13 November 1903), pp. 817-818. Works number was 645.

This unusual tandem-compound Eight-wheeler was designed by Putilov to pull 270 long tons (302 short tons) in a train with ten double-bogie coaches up 1 in 125 grades at an average speed of 32 mph [52 kph] and down the same incline at 62 1/2 mph [101 kph]. "They have proved their ability to do much more in service," reported the RG in late 1903, "as in trials they have covered the distance between St Petersburg--171 miles--in 3 h[ours] 31 min or at about 48 1/2 mph [78 kph]."

Unlike most North American tandem-compounds, the cylinders on each side of the Russian engine were separated, probably because of the difficulties of combining the two in a single casting--with short lengths of the common piston and valve rods visible from the side. (Locobase wonders if this was wise considering the possibility of heavy snow or ice packing those gaps.) All four piston valves measured 220 mm (8 2/3") in diameter.

RG also noted the tall domes that contained a considerable steam space. These could be used on the broad gauge without breaking through the loading gauge's height limit because the boiler could be set lower than on the standard gauge.