Nowy Sącz 2024-09-04

Steam Locomotive TKt48-177.

In the first half of the 20th century, tank locomotives were very popular. They were well suited for work on local lines and pulled passenger and light freight trains. They efficiently negotiated curves with a radius of only 150 m. Tank locomotives did not require turntables, because their running speed was the same forwards and backwards.

The TKt48 series steam locomotive was developed right after World War II at the FABLOK factory in Chrzanów. The TKt48 series steam locomotives were produced in the period 1950-1957. PKP bought 191 units of these locomotives. The TKt48 locomotives were built at the HCP factory, where 94 units were built, and at the FABLOK factory, where 115 units were built. 6 locomotives were exported to Albania. The locomotives were built from elements typical of other series of steam locomotives, which made them easier to repair. The steam locomotive was equipped with electric lighting, Westinghouse or Knorr air brakes with a 3-cylinder compressor.

TKt48-177.

The TKt48-177 steam locomotive located in Nowy Sącz was a steam locomotive built for PKP in the Bielsko Biała MD. The locomotive was built in 1956. It received the factory number 4767. The locomotive served successively in: Bielsko Biała, Czechowice Dziedzice, Skarżysko Kamienna and Nowy Sącz. The locomotive ended its service in June 1986. On April 28, 1987, the locomotive was crossed out of the inventory in the Nowy Sącz MD. In September 1987, the locomotive was placed as a monument in front of the Nowy Sącz station.

In 1987, the locomotive had a black boiler and a green booth, coal bunker and water tanks. Red wheels with white rims. In 2009, the locomotive was repainted. It is mostly green with a black roof of the cabin and a black front of the boiler. Wheels and trusses red with white elements. Currently (2024) the colors are faded by the sun.

T-T data of the TKt48 steam locomotive:

Manufacturer FABLOK. Axle arrangement 1’D1’, otherwise oOOOOo, and the Polish designation is a lowercase letter “t”. Design speed 80 km/h. Boiler pressure 16 atm (at). Boiler heating surface 123.1 m2. Superheater surface 48.6 m2. Grate surface 2.97 m2. Diameter of drive wheels 1.45 m. Diameter of rolling wheels 0.85 m. Service weight 98,000 kg. Water supply 10 m3. Coal supply 6,000 kg. The boiler manufacturer was the former Sosnowieckie Zakłady Budowy Kotłów. Length 14.20 m. Height 4.48 m.

Written by Karol Placha Hetman