Oc2

 

 

VVZhD 188 (Borsig 3317/1874) in its original version, location and date unknown. From Ingo Hütter’s collection; source: the monograph by B. Pokropiński (see References).

 

 

Side drawing of the re-boilered version by B. Pokropiński; source – as above.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The first railway to commence operation in the part of Poland taken by Russia, the Warsaw-Vienna Railway (Varshavo-Vyenskaya Zheleznaya Doroga, VVZhD or BBЖД in Russian script), initially ordered motive power from Belgian and later Austrian and German manufacturers. One of the major suppliers was Borsig Lokomotiv-Werke GmbH of Berlin-Hennigsdorf. Between 1870 and 1885 this company delivered, among others, a number of passenger locomotives with the 1-2-0 axle arrangement. According to the monograph by Bogdan Pokropiński (see References), in all 54 examples were purchased. Borsig factory list (available from Jens Merte at http://www.werkbahn.de/eisenbahn/lokbau/), however, indicates that four of these were in fact 0-3-0 freighters. Their design was progressively improved. They were classed 24 (thirteen or nine – see above) and 28 (41 examples in five sub-types, differing in details). They enjoyed a good reputation and often ran with express trains, but their major shortcoming were comparatively small boilers. In 1912 ten examples from last three batches, delivered between 1882 and 1885, were re-boilered by Bryansk locomotive works. They were fitted with boilers of larger diameter and steam pressure increased from 9 to 11 bar. Drivers were also slightly increased in diameter and Westinghouse brakes were standardized. Tractive effort increased by almost 70 percent. In accordance with new designation system introduced in Russia they were classed Dbw (Дбв in Russian script).

In 1915, as German assault advanced towards Warsaw, almost all motive power and rolling stock of the VVZhD was evacuated to Russia and transferred to various railways. Peace treaty signed with Soviet Russia in 1921 stipulated that all locomotives of the former VVZhD be handed over to Polish authorities, but in fact only a handful returned. According to several sources (e.g. the above-mentioned monograph, LP and www.bluefish.foxnet.pl), seven engines of the re-boilered type served with PKP. Although taken over from Russia, they were considered of German origin and accordingly classed Oc2. It is not clear whether these locomotives were left in Poland in 1915 or re-claimed after 1921. The former does not seem probable, as class Dwb engines were comparatively modern and could be easily re-gauged, so they would be among the first ones to evacuate. In 1931 five Oc2s were still in use and this type disappeared from the company’s rosters before 1936.

 

Main technical data

 

No.

Parameter

Unit

Value

1.

Years of manufacture

-

1882 – 18851)

2.

Total built / used in Poland

-

10 / 7

3.

Tender class

-

12C1

4.

Axle arrangement

-

1-2-0

5.

Design maximum speed

km/h

90

6.

Cylinder bore

mm

2 X 432

7.

Piston stroke

mm

560

8.

Engine rating

kW/hp

9.

Tractive effort

kG

5 700

10.

Boiler pressure

MPa

1.11

11.

Grate dimensions

m X m

2.09 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

129.9

19.

Superheater heating surface

m2

-

20.

Diameter of drivers

mm

1 850

21.

Diameter of idlers front/rear

mm

 1 200 / -

22.

Total weight, empty

kg

39 500

23.

Total weight, working order

kg

42 400

24.

Weight on drivers, working order

kg

28 400

25.

Weight with tender, empty

kg

51 500

26.

Weight with tender, working order

kg

72 400

27.

Maximum axle load

T

14.0

28.

Axle base (with tender)

mm

11 275

29.

Overall length (with tender)

mm

15 328

30.

Brake type

-

Westinghouse

 

*) Data for modernized version (class Dbw).

1) Re-built in 1912.

 

List of vehicles can be found here.

 

References and acknowledgments

 

-       Charakterystyka parowozów (Steam Locomotive Characteristics) by A. Czeczott (Ministry of Transport, 1927);

-       150 lat Drogi Żelaznej Warszawsko-Wiedeńskiej (150 years of the Warsaw-Vienna Railway) by A. Paszke, M. Jerczyński and S.M. Koziarski (CDOKP, Warszawa, 1995);

-       Tabor Drogi Żelaznej Warszawsko-Wiedeńskiej (Vehicles of the Warsaw-Vienna Railway) by Bogdan Pokropiński (Kolpress, 2015);

-       LP;

-       A presentation by Paweł Mierosławski (available at www.psmk.org.pl).