Chabówka 2022-01-01
Fast steam locomotive Pt47.
The Pt47 locomotive is a Polish express steam locomotive of Polish construction, produced in the period 1948–1951 for the Polish State Railways. The steam locomotive is modeled on the Polish, pre-war Pt31 locomotive. The production of Pt47 steam locomotives was carried out at FABLOK in Chrzanów and at HCP in Poznań. A total of 180 steam locomotives were built.
The Second World War left the railroads in Poland very devastated and looted. In addition, there has been a shift in boundaries. Poland lost the borderlands in favor of the CCCP (new occupant), and gained the so-called "Regained Territories". In addition, the return of plundered rolling stock took many years. For example, the last steam locomotives were returned to us in 1955. Much of the rolling stock never returned to Poland. Especially the one that was stolen by the Russians.
Therefore, it was necessary to start the production of new rolling stock in Poland. In the first place, it was necessary to undertake the production of freight cars and steam locomotives. In the case of steam locomotives, the extensive experience of Polish engineers was used, who designed several successful steam locomotives, still during the Second Polish Republic. Virtually every type of steam locomotive was needed in the Polish State Railways. The lack of steam locomotives for heavy long-distance passenger trains was annoying. In 1946, there were only 60 express steam locomotives in the Polish State Railways, and most of them required repairs. Only 13 Pt31 steam locomotives were in operation. The rest were steam locomotives from 20 years.
Therefore, work began on developing a new steam locomotive based on the very successful Pt31 locomotive. The project left the proportions of the boiler, steam engines, and the running gear. Despite this, there were many improvements and modifications. They resulted from the experience gained and the necessity to apply new solutions due to technological changes. Boilers supplied by Babcock-Zieleniewski from Sosnowiec were installed in Pt47 locomotives.
The new locomotive was marked Pt47, which means a speedy steam locomotive with the axle system 1'D1 ', and marked in Poland - a small letter "t", meaning oOOOOo.
The locomotives were accompanied by rebuilt, post-German 2'2'T34 tenders adapted to a closed mechanic's booth with an elevated coal box. They have been given the designation of series 34D48. 91 examples of such tenders were built. In 1948, a new tender for the Pt47 steam locomotive was produced at the PaFaWag in Wrocław. Tender was developed in Poznań at CBKTK. The Tender is marked 33D48 and has a higher water and carbon capacity. 89 copies were built. Since the beginning of the 70s, tenders have replaced plain bearings with roller bearings. During the operation of Pt47 steam locomotives, mechanical coal feeders (stokers) were installed in about 100 of them.
The first Pt47 locomotive was manufactured at the FABLOK plant in Chrzanów, where the Pt31 locomotives were produced before World War II. The Pt47 steam locomotive was handed over for testing on August 18, 1948. The production of Pt47 steam locomotives was also started at HCP in Poznań, and the first steam locomotive was brought out of the assembly hall on December 14, 1948. 120 locomotives (numbered 1–100 and 161–180) were manufactured in Chrzanów, while 60 locomotives (numbered 101–160) were manufactured in Poznań. The last of the ordered locomotives was built on January 25, 1952.
Pt47 steam locomotives were operated in passenger traffic on all main lines. Additionally, steam locomotives ran light freight trains and local passenger trains. The locomotives were used very intensively. There were examples that covered a distance of over 500 km during the day. There were also those with a mileage of over 700 km, and one of them ran over 800 km in a day. Due to the electrification of railway routes, the Pt47 steam locomotives were moved to non-electrified routes. In the period 1980 - 1990, the Pt47 locomotives were in stock at the depots: Białystok, Siedlce, Tomaszów Mazowiecki, Lublin, Rozwadów, Skarżysko Kamienna, Olsztyn, Toruń, Wrocław Gądów, Kłodzko, Poznań Główny, Kostrzyń, Żagań, Szczecin Główny, Białogard, Słupsk, Stargard Szczeciński, Szczecinek. The last Pt47 locomotives ended their service in 1990 in the Kłodzko locomotive shed. Officially, the last Pt47-13 locomotive was withdrawn from regular service on October 30, 1988 in Rozwadów.
Until now, a few steam locomotives have survived, most of which have run out of service life, especially for the boiler. The Pt47-65 steam locomotive in Wolsztyn is one of the working steam locomotives. Active steam locomotives are kept for the service of Retro trains. The biggest problem is the boilers that must have UDT certificates. In Piła, the INTERLOK plant has specialized in the construction of new boilers for steam locomotives. The Chabówka open-air museum also conducts general repairs of steam locomotive boilers.
Steam locomotive Pt47-152.
The Pt47-152 steam locomotive was delivered to Kraków on January 13, 1950. From 1953, he worked in Skarżysko Kamienna. He was temporarily in Olsztyn. He finished his work in Lublin in July 1987. Then he was on the slopes in Trzebinia and Kraków Główny. In 1993, it was transferred to the Chabówka open-air museum. In 1996, it was set as an exhibit on the Steam Locomotive Alley.
T-T data of Pt47 locomotive:
Axis system 1'D1 '. Curb weight 97,000 kg. Service weight 103,000 kg. Length with tender 23.83 m. Width 3.05 m. Height 4.75 m. Diameter of driving wheels 1.85 m. Diameter of front rolling wheels 1.00 m. Diameter of rear rolling wheels 1.20 m. Pressure in the boiler 15 atm. The heating area of the boiler is 239.2 m2. Boiler superheater area of 99 m2. The grate area is 4.5 m2. Maximum gear speed 110 km / h.
Tender (standard) 33D48. Water reserve of 33 m3. Coal stock 17,000 kg. Two two-axle bogies.
Written by Karol Placha Hetman