ČSD Class 387.0
Encyclopedia
The ČSD Class 387.0 were 4-6-2
express passenger steam locomotive
s operated by the Czechoslovak State Railways
(Československé státní dráhy, ČSD) between 1926 and 1974. Forty-three of these 2100 hp pacific locomotives were built by the Škoda Works
, Plzeň in five series between 1926 and 1937, intended for the heaviest long-distance express trains.
is of the girder type, cast of vanadium steel. The twin-axle leading bogie has side play of ±80 mm (3.15 in), the rear truck of Adams
type ±60 mm (2.36 in). The centre coupled axle, which is the driving one, has its flange reduced by 10 mm (0.393700787401575 in) to allow negotiate curves of 160 m (525 ft) radius. The springs of the coupled axles and trailing truck are mounted above the axle boxes and are mutually joined by means of rockers.
The three cylinder steam engine has cranks arranged at ±120° and the central cylinder has inclination 1:10. Cylinders have a bore of 525 mm (20.67 in) (500 mm or 19.69 in for the 5th series) and stroke of 680 mm (26.77 in). Pistons and piston valves are made of aluminium and have hollow rods for to keep the weight in desirable limits. The boost compensator was self-acting, Winterthur type.
The valve gear
is of the Heusinger type, with internal link motion driven by flycrank on the left wheel of the rear coupled axle. This arrangement proved itself very reliable in contrast to initial problems with the Gresley conjugated valve gear
and was used for all subsequent Czechoslovak three-cylinder locomotives except of one series (Class 486.1).
The boiler was impressive: the centre line is 3225 millimetre above the rail and consisted of two rings, 1817 and 1850 mm (71.5 and 72.8 in) in diameter respectively. The cylindrical boiler, which had 158 large flue-tubes and 53 small flue-tubes 5250 millimetre long, had a heating surface of 242.5 square metres (2,610.2 sq ft). In the smokebox, which is 2755 millimetre long, was located a small tube superheater
with a heating surface of 93 m² (1,001 sq ft). The copper firebox had grate area of 4.8 m² (51.7 sq ft) and a heating surface of 17.5 m² (188.4 sq ft). The steam dome with throttle valve was on the first boiler ring and was cowled together with pneumatically operated sandbox. The safety valve was of Pop-Coale type cowled together on the firebox; the maximal pressure was 13 bar.
The first batch (Nos 1 to 6) had the vacuum brake as well the air-compressed brake for both the locomotive and train; subsequent batches (1930 onwards) were fitted without vacuum brake. Tachometer was of Hausshälter-Rezsny type, the lighting by means of acetylene, which changed from the second batch (Nos 7 to 11) to TELOC tachometer and electric lighting. Other changes and improvements were:
As the locomotives progressed though the workshops for repairs these improvements were retrofitted. After 1945 copper fireboxes were changed for steel ones, there were fitted Houlson grates and the arrangement of cylindrical boiler were also changed (134 large flue-tubes and 33 small flue-tubes with heating surface 230.1 m² or 2,476.8 sq ft, large tube superheater
with heating surface 60.1 m² or 646.9 sq ft) and maximum speed was united at 110 km/h (68 mph).
Piston valves were newly of Trofimov type and except of Nos 13, 14, 16, 18, 24, 26, 32, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39 and 43 were Kylchap exhaust system fitted.
The locomotive weight is 89.6–92.6 t (88.2–91.1 ) with a maximum speed of 110 km/h (68.4 mph), although this was probably because of safety with variable quality of the track. According to Mr. František Vrátil, former dispatcher in Choceň, the class was able to reach 150 km/h (93.2 mph). The class is said to have been 'among the most successful locomotives' in Europe. The locomotives started to be retired in 1967, with last one being retired in 1974. One example, 387.043, has been preserved.
Tenders were of series 923.0, 930.0 and 930.1
4-6-2
4-6-2, in the Whyte notation for the classification of steam locomotives, represents the wheel arrangement of four leading wheels on two axles , six powered and coupled driving wheels on three axles, and two trailing wheels on one axle .These locomotives are also known as Pacifics...
express passenger steam locomotive
Steam locomotive
A steam locomotive is a railway locomotive that produces its power through a steam engine. These locomotives are fueled by burning some combustible material, usually coal, wood or oil, to produce steam in a boiler, which drives the steam engine...
s operated by the Czechoslovak State Railways
Czechoslovak State Railways
Czechoslovak State Railways was a state-owned railway company in Czechoslovakia.The company was created in 1918, after the end of First World War and the breakup of Austria-Hungary...
(Československé státní dráhy, ČSD) between 1926 and 1974. Forty-three of these 2100 hp pacific locomotives were built by the Škoda Works
Škoda Works
Škoda Works was the largest industrial enterprise in Austro-Hungary and later in Czechoslovakia, one of its successor states. It was also one of the largest industrial conglomerates in Europe in the 20th century...
, Plzeň in five series between 1926 and 1937, intended for the heaviest long-distance express trains.
History
The Czechoslovak state railway looked attentively at the operating and service costs, and decided to order a three-cylinder single-expansion engine with axle load up to 16 tonnes, which could operate on all main lines. The result didn't exactly meet the original proposal, because of a higher axle load (17 tonnes), but the locomotive was great step forward in the construction of steam locomotives in Czechoslovakia.Design
The frameLocomotive frame
A locomotive frame is the structure that forms the backbone of the railway locomotive, giving it strength and supporting the superstructure elements such as a cab, boiler or bodywork. The vast majority of locomotives have had a frame structure of some kind...
is of the girder type, cast of vanadium steel. The twin-axle leading bogie has side play of ±80 mm (3.15 in), the rear truck of Adams
Adams axle
The Adams axle is a form of radial axle for rail locomotives that enable them to negotiate curves more easily. It was invented by William Bridges Adams and patented in 1865. The invention uses axle boxes that slide on an arc in shaped horn blocks, so allowing the axle to slide out to either side...
type ±60 mm (2.36 in). The centre coupled axle, which is the driving one, has its flange reduced by 10 mm (0.393700787401575 in) to allow negotiate curves of 160 m (525 ft) radius. The springs of the coupled axles and trailing truck are mounted above the axle boxes and are mutually joined by means of rockers.
The three cylinder steam engine has cranks arranged at ±120° and the central cylinder has inclination 1:10. Cylinders have a bore of 525 mm (20.67 in) (500 mm or 19.69 in for the 5th series) and stroke of 680 mm (26.77 in). Pistons and piston valves are made of aluminium and have hollow rods for to keep the weight in desirable limits. The boost compensator was self-acting, Winterthur type.
The valve gear
Valve gear
The valve gear of a steam engine is the mechanism that operates the inlet and exhaust valves to admit steam into the cylinder and allow exhaust steam to escape, respectively, at the correct points in the cycle...
is of the Heusinger type, with internal link motion driven by flycrank on the left wheel of the rear coupled axle. This arrangement proved itself very reliable in contrast to initial problems with the Gresley conjugated valve gear
Gresley conjugated valve gear
The Gresley conjugated valve gear is a valve gear for steam locomotives designed by Sir Nigel Gresley, chief mechanical engineer of the LNER, assisted by Harold Holcroft...
and was used for all subsequent Czechoslovak three-cylinder locomotives except of one series (Class 486.1).
The boiler was impressive: the centre line is 3225 millimetre above the rail and consisted of two rings, 1817 and 1850 mm (71.5 and 72.8 in) in diameter respectively. The cylindrical boiler, which had 158 large flue-tubes and 53 small flue-tubes 5250 millimetre long, had a heating surface of 242.5 square metres (2,610.2 sq ft). In the smokebox, which is 2755 millimetre long, was located a small tube superheater
Superheater
A superheater is a device used to convert saturated steam or wet steam into dry steam used for power generation or processes. There are three types of superheaters namely: radiant, convection, and separately fired...
with a heating surface of 93 m² (1,001 sq ft). The copper firebox had grate area of 4.8 m² (51.7 sq ft) and a heating surface of 17.5 m² (188.4 sq ft). The steam dome with throttle valve was on the first boiler ring and was cowled together with pneumatically operated sandbox. The safety valve was of Pop-Coale type cowled together on the firebox; the maximal pressure was 13 bar.
The first batch (Nos 1 to 6) had the vacuum brake as well the air-compressed brake for both the locomotive and train; subsequent batches (1930 onwards) were fitted without vacuum brake. Tachometer was of Hausshälter-Rezsny type, the lighting by means of acetylene, which changed from the second batch (Nos 7 to 11) to TELOC tachometer and electric lighting. Other changes and improvements were:
- From the third batch onwards (Nos 12 to 21) there were four arch tubes in the firebox, hence the heating surface got larger to 19.8 m² (213.1 sq ft)
- From the third batch onwards was used large tube superheaterSuperheaterA superheater is a device used to convert saturated steam or wet steam into dry steam used for power generation or processes. There are three types of superheaters namely: radiant, convection, and separately fired...
with heating surface 64.4 m² (693.2 sq ft). - From the third batch onwards had the cylindrical boiler 126 large flue-tubes and 35 small flue-tubes with heating surface 206.2 m² (2,219.5 sq ft).
- From the third batch onwards were fitted smoke deflectors, as seen on the picture.
- The fourth batch (Nos 22 to 33) had the maximum speed 120 km/h (75 mph).
As the locomotives progressed though the workshops for repairs these improvements were retrofitted. After 1945 copper fireboxes were changed for steel ones, there were fitted Houlson grates and the arrangement of cylindrical boiler were also changed (134 large flue-tubes and 33 small flue-tubes with heating surface 230.1 m² or 2,476.8 sq ft, large tube superheater
Superheater
A superheater is a device used to convert saturated steam or wet steam into dry steam used for power generation or processes. There are three types of superheaters namely: radiant, convection, and separately fired...
with heating surface 60.1 m² or 646.9 sq ft) and maximum speed was united at 110 km/h (68 mph).
Piston valves were newly of Trofimov type and except of Nos 13, 14, 16, 18, 24, 26, 32, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39 and 43 were Kylchap exhaust system fitted.
The locomotive weight is 89.6–92.6 t (88.2–91.1 ) with a maximum speed of 110 km/h (68.4 mph), although this was probably because of safety with variable quality of the track. According to Mr. František Vrátil, former dispatcher in Choceň, the class was able to reach 150 km/h (93.2 mph). The class is said to have been 'among the most successful locomotives' in Europe. The locomotives started to be retired in 1967, with last one being retired in 1974. One example, 387.043, has been preserved.
Tenders were of series 923.0, 930.0 and 930.1