BDZ CLASS 01
(01.23)
Historical reference, Part 1
This is the most numerous class of fast steam locomotives in the whole history of the Bulgarian State Railways. The first three units gave birth to the new constructive design, which was later on adopted in our railways. This class was formed and finally finished in 1935 by five different locomotive factories – three German, one Polish and one Swiss. Nevertheless, the different deliveries did not have essential differences in their mechanisms, because they were built using the same constructive documentation. Some of the factories did make aberrations (feed-devices, tender driving part, coal bunker, water lids, sanding installation etc.), but we must say these were actually intended as a modernization and improvement of the construction design without risking the standardization capabilities of the different parts and mechanisms, not only in class 01, but also in the locomotives of series 10.00 and 46.01 – 46.12 that were delivered in the same time.
The above mentioned standardization was one of the main achievements of the new constructive design, widely spread within our railway literature.
An interesting thing to know is the fact that the last six units of the 01.00 series were the only Swiss locomotives ever delivered in Bulgaria . As an achievement of the company we can say they were the biggest steam engines built in SLM – Winterthur .
Particularly these six engines were delivered with a delay of two months or so. By a written statement from the 20 th of December, 1935 , the reclamation committee of the administration reviewed the request for delivery of the locomotives to be prolonged. The committee found out the reason for the delay was caused by the Control Authorities of BDZ, therefore postponed the delay with 93 days. This settles the question of possible financial penalties that should be assigned to the factory because of the delay.
Through its representatives in Sofia – Dorken & Kolmann, the SLM – Winterthur demanded a certificate confirming that the Administration of the Bulgarian National Railways was satisfied with the delivered in 1935 steam locomotives.
”This certificate will serve to the company as a reference” – said the letter from 26 th of February, 1936.
Such reference was issued on the 11 th of March, 1936 . It said:
”The Administration of the Railways and Marine Ports – Traction Department, issues the following certificate to the Swiss locomotive factory WINTERTHUR in order to testify that so far it is satisfied with the delivered in 1935 six locomotives of type 1 – D – 1.”
The definitive admission of the locomotives took place in the Sofia Depot on the 29 th of December, 1936 . Without reproaching the very good relations between Traction Department and SLM – Winterthur, as a background on the above mentioned certificate, we can specify that to the written statements for concluding acceptance, were attached bills for the work carried out on the locomotives from the temporary until the definitive admission, as for the more important staffs, like it follows:
01.18 – Blocked piston pipe, stuck connections, making of cylinder gaskets on several occasions etc.
01.19 – Leakage through a joint of the external right hatch, that lead to the dismantlement of the fourth right couple bearing, torn bolts on the returning springs of the bogie, cracked bell of the steam whistle, stuck connections and so on.
01.20 – Torn connections of the firebox etc.
01.21 - Torn clamp of the left returning spring, fallen right returning string, stuck connections, abdominal connections and so forth.
01.22 - Torn bolts of the bogie returning springs, torn and stuck connections, torn abdominal connections of the firebox etcetera.
01.23 - Repairs of the left returning spring, torn abdominal connections and others.
Afterward, on the 16 th of April 1937 , the disk of the left valve-piston became loose in the pipe of locomotive 01.22.
On the 2 nd of March 1940 , all the locomotives were inspected on the expiry of their paint and bandage warrantee. The committee decided that a sum between 8400 and 11300 per locomotive is needed for the conduction of the repairs of the paintjobs and the bandages. After these repairs the warranty of the paintjobs and the bandages was taken down.
The above mentioned details, concerning the warranty terms of the locomotives 01.18 – 01.23 were taken right from “the spot of the action” (which is unknown for many) during the delivery and admission of the new traction units and might serve as an example for the usual work in this respect during the steam traction in the Bulgarian Railways. /To be continued.../
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