VR Class Hr1
The Hr1 class (original classification P1) was the largest passenger express steam locomotive built in Finland. Twenty-two were built between the years 1937–1957. They were numbered 1000–1021. In the 1930s, there was a need for faster and heavier express trains in Finland, and the Hv1–Hv3 classes were not powerful enough to fill the need. Lokomo Oy in Tampere built first two prototypes, and after successful trials 20 more were built. Most of the locomotives were fitted with Wagner-type smoke deflectors, but the last two, which were equipped with roller bearings, had Witte-type deflectors. The class's nickname was "Ukko-Pekka", meaning approximately "(respected) Grandpa Pekka", after the President of Finland Pehr Evind Svinhufvud. The Hr1 was built for coal firing, but during the coal shortage after the war in 1945, birch wood was used as fuel. Larger chimneys needed for extinguishing wood sparks were temporarily fitted. The Hr1s were the most important express steam locomotive and could justifiably be called the "flagships" of VR until 1963, when diesel locomotives started to replace steam. Their use ended officially in 1971, but two Hr1s equipped with roller bearings were brought back to use for a short time in the spring of 1974. One engine, 1005, was a participant in the worst peacetime railroad accident in Finland, the Kuurila accident, in 1957. The engine is preserved at Haapamäki. Hr1's sister locomotive was the Tr1 class, otherwise similar, but with 2-8-2 wheel arrangement and smaller diameter drivers for freight train use.
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The Hr1 class (original classification P1) was the largest passenger express steam locomotive built in Finland. Twenty-two were built between the years 1937–1957. They were numbered 1000–1021.
In the 1930s, there was a need for faster and heavier express trains in Finland, and the Hv1–Hv3 classes were not powerful enough to fill the need. Lokomo Oy in Tampere built first two prototypes, and after successful trials 20 more were built. Most of the locomotives were fitted with Wagner-type smoke deflectors, but the last two, which were equipped with roller bearings, had Witte-type deflectors.
The class's nickname was "Ukko-Pekka", meaning approximately "(respected) Grandpa Pekka", after the President of Finland Pehr Evind Svinhufvud.
The Hr1 was built for coal firing, but during the coal shortage after the war in 1945, birch wood was used as fuel. Larger chimneys needed for extinguishing wood sparks were temporarily fitted.
The Hr1s were the most important express steam locomotive and could justifiably be called the "flagships" of VR until 1963, when diesel locomotives started to replace steam. Their use ended officially in 1971, but two Hr1s equipped with roller bearings were brought back to use for a short time in the spring of 1974. One engine, 1005, was a participant in the worst peacetime railroad accident in Finland, the Kuurila accident, in 1957. The engine is preserved at Haapamäki.
Hr1's sister locomotive was the Tr1 class, otherwise similar, but with 2-8-2 wheel arrangement and smaller diameter drivers for freight train use.
Preservation
[edit]The following are preserved:
- 1000 Haapamäki
- 1001 Hyvinkää
- 1002–1005 Haapamäki, 1003 sectioned to show the inside of a steam locomotive
- 1008 Epping Ongar Railway
- 1009 Kouvola
- 1010 Haapamäki
- 1011 Otanmäki
- 1012 Oulainen
- 1014 Haapamäki
- 1016 named "Lady Patricia" on a Private Railway near Windsor, Berkshire, United Kingdom[1]
- 1019, 1020 Haapamäki
- 1021 Riihimäki
Gallery
[edit]-
Hr1 1002 at Haapamäki -
Hr1 1003 at Haapamäki -
Hr1 1003 at Haapamäki -
Hr1 1003 at Haapamäki -
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Hr1 1009 at Lappeenranta -
A 1944 Postage stamp depicting a Finnish train with a steam locomotive; the nickname of this heavy locomotive was "Ukko-Pekka" -
Hr1 1009 at Toijala railway station 1953 -
Scale 1:10 model of VR Class Hr1 1001 in the ticket hall of Helsinki Central Station -
Scale 1:10 model of VR Class Hr1 1001 in the ticket hall of Helsinki Central Station -
Scale 1:10 model of VR Class Hr1 1001 in the ticket hall of Helsinki Central Station -
Scale 1:10 model of VR Class Hr1 1001 in the ticket hall of Helsinki Central Station -
Scale 1:10 model of VR Class Hr1 1001 in the ticket hall of Helsinki Central Station -
Scale 1:10 model of VR Class Hr1 1001 in the ticket hall of Helsinki Central Station -
Scale 1:10 model of VR Class Hr1 1001 in the ticket hall of Helsinki Central Station -
Scale 1:10 model of VR Class Hr1 1001 in the ticket hall of Helsinki Central Station
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See also
[edit]- Finnish Railway Museum
- VR Group
- List of Finnish locomotives
- List of railway museums Worldwide
- Heritage railways
- List of heritage railways
- Restored trains
- Jokioinen Museum Railway
- History of rail transport in Finland
- VR Class Pr1
- VR Class Tk3
- VR Class Hr11
- Ukko-Pekka
References
[edit]- ^ "Steamlocomotive.com - Fifield Central". Archived from the original on 2015-09-24. Retrieved 2015-08-11.
External links
[edit]
Media related to VR Class Hr1 at Wikimedia Commons- 1016 "Lady Patricia" on her test run 28 June 2013
