Os24

Os24-10 (in fact most probably Os24-7), Railway Museum, Warsaw, Poland, May 19, 2001.

Another picture of the only surviving Os24, taken on May 25, 2005...

...and yet another, taken on September 5, 2006.

Os24 drawing by M.Ćwikła, from SK vol.6/1999.

Os24-59. My data give ‘location unknown, October 1959’, but judging from the service number this is a pre-war picture. Photo from my collection.

Steam locomotives with the 2-4-0 axle arrangement were first designed and built in the USA, but never achieved much popularity there; from somehow awkward Centipede of 1855 to five machines supplied by Baldwin to Ferrocarriles Nacionales de México in 1935, only about 600 were built, not many by American standards. They were known as Mastodons or simply Twelve-Wheelers. This layout eventually found much more favor with European railways. As it combined considerable tractive effort with moderate axle load and satisfactory running qualities, it was destined primarily for passenger traffic in mountain regions with comparatively weak tracks. No wonder, thus, that one of the main protagonists of such machines were the Austro-Hungarian railways and later their descendants, ČSD and MÁV; beside these, many machines of this layout were purchased by Spanish RENFE.

In 1915, StEG (Maschinenfabrik der priv. österreichisch-ungarischen Staatseisenbahnen-Gesellschaft) of Vienna designed a 2-4-0 locomotive for Südbahn, designated class 570, mainly for heavy passenger trains that had to cross the Semmering pass between Vienna and Graz. These large machines – in fact first passenger engines with four driven axles – were fast and powerful, but prone to snaking and running above 80 km/h was somehow uneasy. Only two were built, plus five more for the KDB railway in northern Slovakia (classed I t); the latter were taken over by Czechoslovak ČSD after WWI as class 455.0 and remained in use until 1959. Between 1923 and 1928 further 40 machines of slightly modified design were built for Austrian ÖBB railways as class 113; despite certain modifications, their running qualities still left much to be desired and consequently their maximum speed was reduced to 85 km/h in 1934. Much more – about 500 – machines of similar design were also built after WWI in Hungary as class 424.

When the First Locomotive Factory in Poland (later known as Fablok) was founded in Chrzanów in May 1919, technical assistance was provided by StEG; no wonder, thus, that Austrian designs were favored. Although first five Ok22 passenger locomotives had already been supplied by Hanomag, it was felt that these machines, with axle load of 17 tonnes, were not suitable for many railway lines in southern and eastern Poland, characterized by weak tracks. StEG suggested a design based on wartime class 570 – not on modified class 113 – and in 1924 first twenty locomotives were ordered as Os24. First of them was commissioned on January 23, 1926, and the last in May. Two subsequent orders, each for 20 machines, followed and the last of these was delivered in 1927.

Os24 locomotives, large and impressive, were pre-war PKP’s pride and glory, at least until the end of 20s, when new Pu29s and later Pt31s made their appearance. Impressive they were, mainly due to high-pitched boiler (firebox had to be located very high with such axle arrangement) and quite pleasant silhouette; they were not, however, trouble-free. Despite their designation, they were initially used mainly with express trains, but soon it was found that, just as their Austrian ancestors, they had a pronounced tendency to snaking and uneasy running at higher speeds. Moreover, it soon turned out that passing tight curves resulted in frame fractures between cylinders and first drivers. Poor manufacture quality was suggested as the main reason; it was also argued that valve gear design was faulty and resulted in excessive dynamic load on rods and frame. No modifications were, however, undertaken. On the other hand, some new design concepts were tested on these engines. Two (Os24-19 and Os24-20) had their typical valve gears replaced by the Lentz-type poppet-valve ones. Four (Os24-16, Os24-17, Os24-18 and Os24-20) were fitted with Dabeg feedwater heaters and pumps, driven by third pair of drivers. Last two examples had Worthington-type feedwater pumps. Despite certain advantages (mainly concerning economy), none of these novelties was accepted for widespread use.

All machines of the Os24 class were used in eastern and south-eastern Poland. With gradual improvement of track quality and mounting supplies of superior Pt31s of indigenous design they were shifted to passenger trains; in this role, however, Ok1 (Prussian P8) and Ok22 (its direct derivative) proved much better. In the end, these machines were judged too heavy and powerful for their ultimate role and in general rather unsuccessful. This also explains why this layout was not developed further; no other Polish locomotive had the 2-4-0 axle arrangement.

In 1939, two machines (Os24-17 and Os24-31) were destroyed and ten were taken over by the Germans. In 1941 they were re-numbered 33 201 through 210 – their Austrian counterparts were designated class 33⁰ (ex-570) and 33¹ (ex-113) – and served mainly with Ostbahn. The remaining 48 engines were taken over by the Soviets. According to PNPP, thirty were converted to the 1524 mm track; in 1941 they were evacuated eastwards and never returned. The remaining 18 were captured by Germans after Fall Barbarossa. They were in a very poor condition, so only six were repaired and restored in service (DRG 33 211 through 216). Some unserviceable Os24s, brought by DRG to Warsaw and awaiting repair, were destroyed during hostilities. Most German engines of this type were transferred to Austria during the closing stages of WWII, so in 1945 only four were taken over by Polish railways (two left by DRG in Poland and two captured by the Soviets, but not impressed into the NKPS service). However, eleven more soon followed from Austria. After the war, Soviet railways had 34 examples, which retained their original service numbers, written in Russian script (OC24). According to PNPP, last were withdrawn in 1962.

Just as before the war, all fifteen machines of this type were used in eastern Poland, namely in Lublin, Chełm and Rozwadów. They were known by the affectionate name ‘Osa’ (Wasp), derived from its designation. Their service was not very long and lasted only until late 60s. One locomotive of this type – the sole surviving example – has been preserved in the Railway Museum in Warsaw. Despite bearing plates with Os24-10 service number, it is in fact most probably the Os24-7 (s/n 147/1926, pre-war Os24-39, DRG 33 215 – the latter implies that it was captured at the Eastern Front), withdrawn from use on April 17, 1970, as the last machine of this class, and reconditioned in 1983.

Main technical data

No.	Parameter	Unit	Value
1.	Years of manufacture	-	1925 – 1927
2.	Total built / used in Poland	-	60 / 60
3.	Tender class	-	27D24^1)
4.	Axle arrangement	-	2-4-0
5.	Design maximum speed	km/h	90
6.	Cylinder bore	mm	2 X 615
7.	Piston stroke	mm	650
8.	Engine rating	kW/hp	955 / 1300
9.	Tractive effort	kG	11 800
10.	Boiler pressure	MPa	1.43
11.	Grate dimensions	m X m	2.794 X 1.63
12.	Firebox heating surface	m^2	16.1
13.	Distance between tube plates	mm	5 200
14.	Number of flue tubes	-	161
15.	Heating surface of flue tubes	m^2	120.8
16.	Number of smoke tubes	-	32
17.	Heating surface of smoke tubes	m^2	65.34
18.	Evaporating surface, total	m^2	202.24^2)
19.	Superheater heating surface	m^2	75.5
20.	Diameter of drivers	mm	1750
21.	Diameter of idlers front/rear	mm	1000 / -
22.	Total weight, empty	kg	82 000
23.	Total weight, working order	kg	90 000
24.	Weight on drivers, working order	kg	63 200
25.	Weight with tender, empty	kg	104 400
26.	Weight with tender, working order	kg	144 850
27.	Maximum axle load	T	15.8
28.	Axle base (with tender)	mm	17 174
29.	Overall length (with tender)	mm	19 760
30.	Brake type	-	Westinghouse

1) Some pre-war sources give 25D24.

2) Some sources give about 217 m², which is incorrect.

References and acknowledgments

Comprehensive account of this class history and design can be found in the monographic article by Pawel Terczynski in SK vol.6/1999. Detailed description can also be found in PNPP.