Engerth locomotive

The Engerth locomotive was a type of early articulated steam locomotive designed by Wilhelm Frieherr von Engerth cite web |url=http://www.steamindex.com/people/contengr.htm |title=Continental engineers|accessdate = 2008-03-23] for use on the Semmering Railway in Austria.

Designer

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History

Von Engerth first patented his design for an articulated locomotive on 11 December 1852.cite web | url = http://www.wefer.com/w5/pv/kengerth.htm| publisher = Wefer| title = LOCOMOTORAS DE VAPOR DEL PV| accessdate = 2008-03-25es]

emmering

The Semmering Railway, opened on 17 July 1854, was one of the first true mountain railways, traversing a section of the Austrian Alps. It was characterized by steep gradients and sharp curves. To work this railway a new design of locomotive was developed.

A competition was held to decide which locomotives would be bought for operation on the Semmering Railway. One stretch of the line had gradients of 1 in 40 (2.5%) and curves with a minimum radius of convert|190|m|yd and a maximum radius of convert|285|m|yd. A speed of convert|11.5|km/h|mph was required to be maintained and a maximum axle loading of 14 tonnes, with a boiler pressure not exceeding 8.5 kgf/cm² (830 kPa). There were four entrants, "Bavaria", built by Maffei; "Weiner-Neustadt" built by Weiner-Neustadt; "Seraing" built by Société John Cockerill in Belgium and "Vindobona" built by the Glognitz Bahn in Vienna. All four locomotives fulfilled the conditions of the trial, but did not prove reliable in practice. The Semmering Trials lead to a number of developments in locomotive design:- Fairlie's Patent of 1863, The Meyer locomotive and the Mallet locomotive.cite web | url = http://home.hetnet.nl/~renefvink/ArticulatedLocomotives/AlPages/Semmering%20contest.htm| publisher = René Vink| title = The Semmering contest, 1851| accessdate = 2008-03-25]

The Engerth design articulated the tender with the main locomotive frame, allowing some of the weight of the fuel and water to be carried on the driving wheels to improve adhesion. Because the tender was articulated, rather than directly attached to the frame, the locomotive could traverse relatively sharp curves, while still enjoying the advantage of the additional adhesive weight gain. The original design also included an indirect drive from the main driving wheels to the wheels under the tender. This arrangement proved too complex to maintain and was dropped from the design.cite book |last=Hamilton Ellis |first=Cuthbert|title=The Pictorial Encyclopedia of Railways |publisher=Hamlyn |id=ISBN 060003075X |year=1973]

Sixteen locomotives were supplied to the Semmering Railway between November 1853 and May 1854. They proved capable of convert|19|km/h|mph uphill on gradients of 1 in 40 (2.5%). An Engerth locomotive was featured on an Austrian stamp commemorating the 150th anniversary of the Semmering Railway in 2004.cite web | url = http://www.stampnews.com/stamps/stamps_2004/stamp_1175629928_721424.html| publisher = Stamp News| title = Series 'Locomotives' - Imperial and Royal Southern State Railway - the Engerth Locomotive| accessdate = 2008-03-25] The Engerth locomotive also appeared on a 25 Euro coin issued by Austria in 2004.

Other Engerth locomotives

- Bazias railway in Romania in 1854.cite web | url = http://www.cfr.ro/CFR_new/Eng/istorie.htm| publisher = CFR | title = The history of Romanian Railways| accessdate = 2008-03-25]

Fink variation

A variation of the Engerth system was devised by Pius Fink. This entailed having the rear wheels also driven by coupling rods from a crankshaft, thus making the locomotive an 0-6-4-0T. One locomotive was built by the Staats Eisenbahn Geschellschaft, Vienna in 1861 carried No. 500 and was named "Steyefdorf". It was used on the Reschtiza - Orawicza line. Three more were built, the last in 1867. These included No. 501 "Krassova" and No. 502 "Gerliste". One of these four locomotives survived until 1891, becoming Hungarian State Railways No.4270.cite web | url = http://www.robinbarnes.net/roundthebend_3.html| publisher = Robin Barnes| title = AUSTRIA-HUNGARY 1861 | accessdate = 2008-03-25] cite web | url = http://www.dself.dsl.pipex.com/MUSEUM/LOCOLOCO/fink/fink.htm| publisher = Douglas Self| title = Shaft CounterShaft: The Fink System | accessdate = 2008-03-26]

Preservation

. She is the oldest locomotive in Switzerland.cite web | url = http://www.martynbane.co.uk/2003Trips/Brienzetc/oct042003.htm| publisher = Martyn Bane| title = The Journey Out & 'Verkehrshaus' The Swiss State Transport Museum, Lucerne| accessdate = 2008-03-26] cite web | url = http://www.wymann.info/SwissRailwayZ/Railways_of_Switzerland.html| publisher = Wymann| title = The Railways of Switzerland, How it all started| accessdate = 2008-03-26]

Bushtehradska Railway locomotive 103 "Kladno" is preserved in the National Technical Museum in Prague, Czech Republic.cite web | url = http://www.ntm.cz/en/glossary/steam-locomotive-kladno| publisher = National Technical Museum in Prague| title = Steam locomotive KLADNO| accessdate = 2008-03-25]

Locomotive Mh6, an 0-8-4T built in 1908, is preserved on the Mariazellerbahn in Austria.cite web | url = http://www.mariazellerbahn.at/en/routeeng1.htm| publisher = Friends of the Mariazellerbahn | title = The Mariazellerbahn| accessdate = 2008-03-25] cite web | url = http://www.mariazellerbahn.at/nostalgie/mh6.php| publisher = Friends of the Mariazellerbahn | title = Dampflok Mh.6| accessdate = 2008-03-25

(German)]

The Waldviertler Schmalspurbahnen in Austria has an Engerth locomotive, No.399.03, an ex-ÖBB locomotive.cite web | url = http://www.erlebnisbahn.at/wsv/ENGL/rolsteam.htm| publisher = Waldviertler Schmalspurbahnen | title = Rolling stock of the Waldviertler Schmalspurbahnverein 1a steam traction| accessdate = 2008-03-25]

Chemin de Fer du Midi 0-6-4T locomotive no.312 "L'Adour" is preserved at the Musée Français du Chemin de Fer, Mulhouse, France.cite web | url = http://br.peres.free.fr/Album%20photos/Vapeurs/cadre_engerth.htm| publisher = Bruno Pérès| title = La 032 Engerth 312 "L'Adour"| accessdate = 2008-03-25]

Reproduction

The Beer Heights Light Railway has "Gem", an Engerth type locomotive on its RailGauge|7.25 gauge line.cite web | url = http://www.peco-uk.com/Pecorama/BHLR.htm| publisher = Peco | title = Beer Heights Light Railway | accessdate = 2008-03-25]

Further reading

* Transactions of the Newcomen Society, Volume 57 (1985-86), Engerth and similar locomotives. D.R. Carling

External links

* [http://www.webalice.it/alberto.pezzoli81/treni/Storia/CramptonEngerth.htm Photo] and description of Engerth locomotive it.
* [http://site.voila.fr/h.trains/galerie_fichiers/frame.htm#slide0022.htm Photo] of an Engerth locomotive.
* [http://www.internationalsteam.co.uk/cd/reviews.htm Review] of CD with Javan Engerth locomotives mentioned.

References