| #477.043 is a CSD Class 477 4-8-4T, making it one of the only 4-8-4's built for use in Europe. That it's a tank makes it even more unusual, in addition to its three cylinders and Kylchap double-blastpipe chimney. However, the 477 "Papousek" (Parrot) Class numbered 60 units in its heyday. The 477's were built by CKD from 1951 (I don't have a final production year, but this one was built in 1954), and remained in CSD service until 1981, being some of the last mainline steam locomotives to operate on CSD. #477.043 had an even longer career, however, becoming an industrial locomotive at a power plant in Malesice, not making it into the museum's collection until 2000. They were primarily suburban or express passenger locomotives, in spite of their odd configuration, and could run at up to 100Km/h, although no faster, maybe because they were tank engines, and maybe because CSD simply didn't have very good track for high speed running. Power was 1595kW (2139 horsepower, although the museum rounds this to 2100). Service weight was 130 tonnes, which was above average both for a Czech tank engine and for a Czech locomotive generally. Today, #477.043 still runs, and can occasionally be seen on excursion trains, although on the day I visited the CD Muzeum it wasn't in steam. It's officially allocated to Louny, but again not everything is what it seems. |