T3A (Ferrum 47, Ferrum 724)

 

T3A_1

 

TKh-5564 (Fablok 5564/1959) plinthed at Toruń railway station, August 24, 2001 (and designated TKh49).

 

T3A_2

 

This machine (TKh-2942, Fablok 2942/1951), now plinthed at Węgliniec loco depot, was used at Turoszów lignite mine until 1990; photo taken on October 10, 2001

 

T3A_15

 

Another picture of TKh-2942, taken on April 27, 2007.

 

 

T3A_3

 

TKh-4207 (Fablok  4207/1955) at Zduńska Wola Karsznice loco depot; photo taken on October 26, 2005.

 

T3A_16

 

Another picture of this engine, taken on August 13, 2008; note makeshift coal-box extension.

 

T3A_4

 

TKh-3140 (Fablok 3140/ 1954) from the Kętrzyn sugar plant at  the Kościerzyna loco depot, August 2000…

 

T3A_5

 

… and the same machine, snow-covered, photographed on February 5, 2003.

 

T3A_23

 

Another picture of this engine, taken on September 23, 2013.

 

T3A_6

 

This beautiful TKh49-1 (Fablok 5695/1961), photographed at Chabówka heritage park on April 13, 2004, is the only one owned (and operated – more photos here and here and also here) by PKP

 

 

…while this one, photographed on the same occasion, was displayed as TKh100- 191, while in fact this is the TKh-0175 (Fablok 4938/1957).

 

 

Another picture of the TKh-0175, with fictitious designation removed; May 6, 2017.

 

T3A_8

 

TKh-5699 (Fablok  5699/1961) is shown here plinthed at Zajączkowo Tczewskie loco depot (March 16, 2002); a few months later this machine was transferred to Tczew...

 

T3A_12

 

… and given fictitious designation TKh49-11 (photo taken on June 27, 2005). Again, note makeshift coal box extension.

 

T3A_sc1

 

Side drawing, domestic variant (from PNP)…

 

T3A_sc2

 

… and export version for China (drawing by Edward Pokropiński from PPE).

 

TKh-5376-02

 

This TKh-5376 (Fablok 5376/1956), once operated by Chemitex-Anilana chemical works, was photographed at Łódź Widzew station on June 7, 2000. Photo by Adam Krzemiński – thanks for permission!

 

T3A_10

 

Two interesting photos of Chinese XK13s from Duncan Cotterills' website (thanks for permission!):  XK13 5904 at Baotou Steelworks, April 1988…

 

T3A_11

 

… and XK13 114 at Capital Iron & Steel Works, Beijing, January 1990 (note footplates, modified cab and coal box).

 

T3A_13

 

This TKh 2949 (Fablok 2949/1952) is owned by PSMK and was photographed at the Skierniewice depot on August 6, 2005.

 

T3A_14

 

The same engine, photographed by the Skierniewice shed on September 17, 2006.

 

T3A_17

 

TKh 2191 (Fablok 2191/1950), location and date unknown; photo by J.Weselik (postcard from my collection). This engine was initially plinthed at the Railway Stock Repair Works in Łapy…

 

T3A_21

 

 …which went bankrupt in July 2009. Fortunately the engine was taken over by a private owner and currently can be seen at the former Białowieża Towarowa station, which has been converted into a restaurant and small hotel. Photo taken on March 23, 2013.

 

 

Another picture of this engine, taken on October 24, 2015.

 

T3A_18

 

Three excellent pictures of Hungarian T3As that had been purchased for Ózdi Kohászati Üzemek (Ózd Iron Works): No. 58 (Fablok 5394/1959)…

 

T3A_19

 

…No. 59 (Fablok 5393/1959)…

 

T3A_20

 

…and No. 60 (Fablok 5395/1959). All pictures were taken in 1991 by Attila Kirchner – many thanks for the permission!

 

T3A_22

 

TKh 2944 (Fablok 2944/1952), recently purchased by a group of volunteers from the Churnet Valley Railway, shortly after arriving in Cheddleton; June 1, 2013. Photo by Ian Calderwood (thanks for permission!).

 

 

Another picture from Ian (thanks again!): TKh 2944 ‘Hotspur’ fully operational, photographed on October 20, 2018.

 

 

TKh 05353, owned by DB Schenker Rail Polska and operated by KSK of Wrocław, photographed during the steam locomotives parade at the Wolsztyn depot on April 30, 2016, by MacQtosh (source: www.commons.wikimedia.org).

 

 

5703/1961 ‘Marine’, owned and operated by the Chemin de Fer Touristique du Haut-Quercy, location and date unknown (source: http://trainduhautquercy.info).

 

 

Motive power shortages after WWII called for rapid production of virtually all kinds of locomotives, from heavy freighters to small switchers. The latter were necessary primarily for major industrial establishments; factories which had their own sidings needed simple and reliable engines designed for hard everyday service rather than for brilliant performance. Demand for heavier switchers was fulfilled by German OS (‘Oberschlesien’), built by Fablok since 1950 as T2D and commonly known as ‘Śląsk’ (Silesia). This 66-tonne locomotive, with the tractive effort of 12.7 tonnes and axle load of 16.5 tonnes, was too heavy and powerful for many operators, so lighter switcher was also needed.

In fact design of such machine was at hand. Between 1927 and 1929, Fablok built seven light tank locomotives with factory designation T1A. These machines, which showed considerable influence of Austrian designs, were later developed into T2A, known also as ‘Ferrum 29’ – after the name of steelworks that first ordered this type. As technical documentation of the latter type fortunately survived the war, it was quickly decided to build it afterwards, however with certain changes. In particular, new machines ran on saturated steam, were slightly lower, lighter by 1200 kg and their power was lower; diameter of drivers was also slightly reduced. But their tractive effort was enough to haul heavy drafts (even 1500 tonnes and more), they were simple, undemanding and reliable, and axle load was only 14.8 tonnes.

Combined output of T1A and T2A had been small, less than twenty examples (data from various sources differ considerably). New engine, with factory designation T3A (commonly known as ‘Ferrum 47’), went into series production in 1947 and, until 1961, 477 examples were built by Fablok. There are, in fact, some discrepancies between various sources as far as the total output is concerned; numbers from 437 to 480 are given. This total includes also later variant, known as ‘Ferrum 724’, developed in order to fulfill foreign orders. As early as in 1953, three machines were sold to Romania. In 1959 three (some sources incorrectly give four) went to Hungary, purchased for the Ózdi Kohászati Üzemek (Ózd Iron Works); one was withdrawn in 1987 and the remaining two followed in 1991. Hungarian engines were unofficially nicknamed ‘Gomulka’, after the first secretary of the Polish communist party then in office. China bought probably 82 examples between 1958 and 1960; they were designated class XK13 and some were fitted with makeshift tenders. Chinese machines had air brakes, Janney couplers and electric lightning. It should be noted that first machines for domestic use were fitted with steam brakes and kerosene lights, in order to facilitate rapid deliveries. In fact, differences between two basic variants were limited to details and all later examples, not only export ones, were also built as ‘Ferrum 724’ type. According to Duncan Cotterill’s very interesting and competent website on Chinese steam power (www.railography.co.uk/tractive-efforts), last XK13s were reported in service in 1993 and probably three examples have been preserved at various locations. Given the fact that reliable sources give 378 examples built for domestic operators, this leaves two examples; possibly they went to Northern Korea (either directly or via China), as one source reports export also to this country, but confirmation is lacking.

The lower you fly, the less you suffer when you’ve fallen down. This proverb (by the way, Chinese) can easily be applied to this class. Despite obsolescence of the basic design, they remained in service for quite a long time, just like many other steam locomotives used by industrial establishments. At least three were still used by a foundry in Ozimek in mid-1990s; it was intended to keep them in operation until boiler certificate has expired – for one of them it meant 2000, but further information is lacking. Common designation of these engines was TKh (after wheel arrangement), followed by serial number – a typical practice with industrial operators. This was, however, a practice rather than a rule and there were some exceptions.

As many as seventeen examples have been preserved in Poland, although one of them (TKh 2873, Fablok 2873/1951, in Pyskowice) is in poor condition and dismantled. Currently (mid-2016) one engine of this type is in working order: TKh 05353 (Fablok 3121/1953), originally built for the Lenin foundry, was transferred to PTK Holding. At present it is formally owned by DB Schenker Rail Polska and operated by Wrocław-based KSK railway fans society. Its overhaul was completed in July 2008. Fablok 5695/1961 was transferred to the Chabówka railway stock heritage park in April 1997 and restored in service. It was fitted with air brakes and electric lighting and formally entered in the PKP rosters as TKh49-1. Previously it was used by the Florian foundry in Świętochłowice as TKh 5695/9 and was one of the last steam locomotives withdrawn from service in Poland. TKh49-1 saw much service with special trains. At present it is awaiting overhaul, with boiler ticket expired. TKh 643 (Fablok 2181/1949), originally built for a cement plant, was sold to France in 1992; however, it remained in Poland, as its new owner intended to perform an overhaul at the Interlok company of Piła. This was never completed and in April 2019 dismantled locomotive was transferred to the Industry and Railway Museum of Jaworzyna Śląska. Further thirteen examples are on static display or have been plinthed at various locations. For reasons unknown to me, TKh-0145 (Fablok 4938/1957), displayed in Chabówka, has purely fictitious designation TKh100-191. TKh-5564, plinthed in Toruń, is designated TKh49, although this engine never served with PKP; similarly, TKh-5699 plinthed in Tczew in 2002 (after spending a few years at the loco depot in Zajączkowo Tczewskie), is designated TKh49-11, although it has never had anything to do with PKP. Very comprehensive list is available at www.polskieparowozy.pl.

Withdrawal of T3As from active service was comparatively late and coincided with rapidly growing nostalgia for steam all over Europe. It is thus perhaps not surprising that as many as nine machines were sold abroad. These are (status as for early 2020):

-        2871/1951 (sold in 1997 to Spa Valley Railway, UK, cannibalized, remains sold later to Churnet Valley Railway);

-        2944/1952 (sold in 1997 to Spa Valley Railway, UK, named ‘Hotspur’, withdrawn after boiler ticket expiry and sold to a group of volunteers from the Churnet Valley Railway at Cheddleton, Staffordshire, restored in service in May 2014 – many thanks to Ian Calderwood for information);

-        3135/1954 (sold in 1997 to Spa Valley Railway, UK, named ‘Spartan’, in December 2014 sold to Swindon & Cricklade Railway, a fundraising campaign being raised in September 2015 to keep it operational);

-        3138/1954 (sold in 1992 to Appleby Frodingham Railway Preservation Society, Scunthorpe, UK, withdrawn in 2009);

-        3153/1954 (sold to Sweden in 1994 and initially plinthed in Sollentuna, in 2000 moved to the Harley-Davidson Sweden premises in Täby Kyrkby, in 2018 transferred to Tallin, Estonia);

-        4015/1954 (sold in 1993 to UK, operated by Cholsey & Wallingford Railway, Pontypool & Blaenavon Railway, North Norfolk Railway and finally Avon Valley Railway, named ‘Karel’, reported operational in late 2010, now under repair);

-        5374/1959 (sold in 1992 to Northampton & Lamport Railway, UK, named ‘Vanguard’, recently listed as a private property and offered for sale in late 2016, non-operational);

-        5387/1959 (sold in  1992 to Northampton & Lamport Railway, UK, named ‘Northamptonshire’, sold to Stoomcentrum Maldege, Belgium, in 2006 and restored in service in 2011);

-        5703/1961 (sold in 2000 to Chemin de Fer Touristique du Haut-Quercy, Martel, France, restored in service in 2001 and named ‘Marine’, operational).

Preserved Locomotives of British Railways by Peter Fox and Peter Hall (Platform 5, 2002) give slightly different details: according to this source, as many as nine T3As were sold to British heritage railways; ‘Northamptonshire’s serial number is given as 3112/1952 and 2871/1951 is listed as belonging to Bridgend Valleys Railway. Two more are listed, 5380/1960 and 5697/1959; both are actually kept in Pyskowice on static display. 


 

Main technical data

 

No.

Parameter

Unit

Value

1.

Years of manufacture

-

1947 – 1961

2.

Total built / used in Poland

-

4772) / 378

3.

Tender class

-

-

4.

Axle arrangement

-

0-3-0

5.

Design maximum speed

km/h

40

6.

Cylinder bore

mm

2 x 460

7.

Piston stroke

mm

540

8.

Engine rating

kW/hp

294 / 400

9.

Tractive effort

kG

7 850

10.

Boiler pressure

MPa

1.33

11.

Grate dimensions

m x m

1.7 m2

12.

Firebox heating surface

m2

 

13.

Distance between tube plates

mm

 

14.

Number of flue tubes

-

 

15.

Heating surface of flue tubes

m2

 

16.

Number of smoke tubes

-

 

17.

Heating surface of smoke tubes

m2

 

18.

Evaporating surface, total

m2

100.0

19.

Superheater heating surface

m2

-

20.

Diameter of drivers

mm

1150

21.

Diameter of idlers front/rear

mm

-

22.

Total weight, empty

kg

34 800

23.

Total weight, working order

kg

44 400

24.

Weight on drivers, working order

kg

44 400

25.

Weight with tender, empty

kg

-

26.

Weight with tender, working order

kg

-

27.

Maximum axle load

T

14.8

28.

Axle base (with tender)

mm

3 400

29.

Overall length (with tender)

mm

9 170

30.

Brake type

-

steam / Westinghouse1)

 

1)      In later examples (from mid-1950s).

2)      Some sources give 480.

 

References and acknowledgments

 

-        PNP and PPE;

-        Heritage Railway, various issues;

-        Tomisław Czarnecki (private communication – many thanks for spotting an error concerning the engine from Kościerzyna in the earlier issue of this entry!); also his website www.polskieparowozy.pl;

-        Attila Kirchner (private communication – many thanks for the photos and factory list!);

-        Ian Calderwood (private communication – many thanks for the photo!);

-        http://trainduhautquercy.info (website of the Chemin de Fer Touristique du Haut-Quercy).