TKh15

 

 

The only picture of kkStB class 98 known to me: KLB 034 ‘Słoboda’ (StEG 1923/1886), factory photo. Later re-numbered 9804 and then 98.04, this locomotive was withdrawn in 1909. Source: SK vol. 8/2013.

 

 

Kolomeaer Localbahn (Kolomiya local railway, KLB) was one of the oldest private railways in Eastern Galicia. First line, 14.4 km in length, was opened in October 1886 and the entire length of tracks was just below 33 km. Railway construction was financed entirely from private sources and it served mainly local petroleum refining industry.

Motive power initially comprised four locomotives for mixed traffic, built by StEG in 1886 and numbered 031 through 034. These were light engines with the 0-3-0 axle arrangement, inner frame and Allan valve gear. Boiler pressure was 14 bar – high for that time – and axle load barely exceeded seven tonnes. The most peculiar feature of these locomotives was external fairing of rather angular shape, intended to protect mechanisms from dirt and dust and minimize risk of accidents involving people and animals. Such layout was referred to as ‘tram type’ and was quite common with locomotives running along busy roads or city streets. All four locomotives had individual names.

Traffic on the KLB lines was operated by the Lemberg-Czernowitz-Jassy Eisenbahn (LCJE). Following its nationalization in 1889, all four above-mentioned engines were given kkStB service numbers, initially 9801 through 9804 and in 1905 98.01 through 04. 98.04 was written off in 1909; 98.01 followed in August 1910 and 98.01 in 1917. 98.02 ‘Peczeniżyn’ (StEG 1921/1886), former KLB and LCJE 032, was captured by Russians in 1916, but regained by Austrians the following year. After a short period with Romanian state railways CFR it was finally taken over by PKP and most probably remained on the former KLB lines. According to the new system, introduced in 1926, this engine was to have been designated TKh15-1, but it was withdrawn before this system came into use, as the last locomotive of this type.

 

Main technical data

 

No.

Parameter

Unit

Value

1.

Years of manufacture

-

1886

2.

Total built / used in Poland

-

4 / 11)

3.

Tender class

-

-

4.

Axle arrangement

-

0-3-0

5.

Design maximum speed

km/h

50

6.

Cylinder bore

mm

2 ´ 290

7.

Piston stroke

mm

350

8.

Engine rating

kW/hp

105 / 144

9.

Tractive effort

kG

3 460

10.

Boiler pressure

MPa

1.44

11.

Grate dimensions

m x m

0.84 x 0.9

12.

Firebox heating surface

m2

4.4

13.

Distance between tube plates

mm

2 110

14.

Number of flue tubes

-

132

15.

Heating surface of flue tubes

m2

42.0

16.

Number of smoke tubes

-

-

17.

Heating surface of smoke tubes

m2

-

18.

Evaporating surface, total

m2

46.4

19.

Superheater heating surface

m2

-

20.

Diameter of drivers

mm

750

21.

Diameter of idlers front/rear

mm

- / -

22.

Total weight, empty

kg

17 040

23.

Total weight, working order

kg

22 100

24.

Weight on drivers, working order

kg

22 100

25.

Weight with tender, empty

kg

-

26.

Weight with tender, working order

kg

-

27.

Maximum axle load

T

7.4

28.

Axle base (with tender)

mm

1 900

29.

Overall length (with tender)

mm

5 890

30.

Brake type

-

Hardy

 

1)      PKP designation not assigned.

 

References and acknowledgments

 

-        LP, TK vol. 4;

-        www.pospichal.net/lokstatistik (website by Josef Pospichal);

-        article on the Kolomeaer Lokalbahn by Ryszard Stankiewicz (SK vol. 8/2013).