PKP_class_Pt31

PKP class Pt31

PKP class Pt31

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PKP Class Pt31 is a Polish steam locomotive of Polskie Koleje Państwowe, designed for hauling heavy long-distance passenger trains, built in 1932-1940. The designation stood for fast passenger (P) 2-8-2 (t) steam locomotive designed in 1931.

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The locomotive was entirely Polish design, designed in Fablok in Chrzanów. Polish Ministry of Transport ordered two classes of fast passenger locomotives in Polish factories to compare their merits. Fablok 2-8-2 design was to be named Pt29, but the design was delayed and accepted on in 1931, thus becoming Pt31.[1] Three prototypes were built in 1932 and successfully competed with 4-8-2 Pu29 locomotive - both were similar, but more compact Pt31 better suited Polish turntables.[1] From 1934, a series production for the PKP followed, and by the outbreak of World War II in 1939, 98 were made, numbered Pt31-1 to 98.[2] Further twelve were completed in 1940 under German occupation.[3]

Pt31 became the strongest machines hauling long-distance passenger trains in Poland. A maximum speed was 110 km/h (68 mph). It could achieve at least 105 km/h with a train of 600 tonnes (590 long tons; 660 short tons), or could haul the train of 810 tonnes (800 long tons; 890 short tons) with lower speed.[2]

During the war, 54 locomotives were captured by the Germans and impressed into service as DR class 191, with numbers 101 to 154.[3] Further twelve were first designated as class 3910, finally class 191, with numbers 155 to 166.[3] Remaining 44 Pt31 locomotives were captured by the Soviets in Poland, 21 of them had been converted to broad gauge by 1941, transliterated as ПТ-31 class.[3] A number of Soviet locomotives were captured again by the Germans from 1941, and received German numbers up to 180.[3]

After World War II, Poland reclaimed 65 locomotives, receiving new numbers Pt31-1 to 66 (number 46 was mistakenly assigned to Pu29-3).[4] Before that, they temporarilly served in Czechoslovakia as class 488, Austria, Hungary and both German countries.[5] Three locomotives of wartime production remained on Austrian railways as ÖBB class 919 until 1961, and several broad-gauge remained in the Soviet Union.[5]

These locomotives were used until 1979 in Poland. Only two were preserved, in non-working condition.[4] A post-war development was PKP class Pt47.[6]

References

  1. [1]
    Pokropiński 2007, p. 92-96.
  2. [2]
    Pokropiński 2007, p. 96-98.
  3. [3]
    Pokropiński 2007, p. 98.
  4. [4]
    Pokropiński 2007, p. 104-106.
  5. [5]
    Pokropiński 2007, p. 100-103.
  6. [6]
    Pokropiński 2007, p. 148.
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  • Pokropiński, Bogdan (2007). Parowozy normalnotorowe produkcji polskiej [Normal gauge steam locomotives of Polish manufacture] (in Polish). Warsaw: Wydawnictwa Komunikacji i Łączności. pp. 96–106, 254. ISBN 978-83-206-1617-0.
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