Chabówka 2022-01-17
Steam locomotive Ty37-17.
The Ty37 series steam locomotive is a heavy steam locomotive of Polish design and production. Ty37 is a 'y-axis' freight locomotive which was approved in 1937. Axis system 1'E, i.e. 1-5-0 (oOOOOO), and the Polish designation is a small letter "y". 37 units were built in HCP plants.
The Ty23 steam locomotives turned out to be very good. But technical progress continued and the need for even more powerful locomotives grew. The idea was to use the existing routes as efficiently as possible in order to increase the tonnage of transported goods. Therefore, work was started on a new Polish steam locomotive. The new locomotive was designated Ty37 and was to be a development of the Ty23 locomotive. It was intended for heavy trains weighing 2,000-2,200 tons. Therefore, the installation of the Westinghouse continuous brake in the freight cars was started.
The engineers set themselves the following tasks: Increasing the steam pressure in the boiler by 2 at, up to 16 at, by increasing the temperature in the boiler. Unification of the boiler equipment with Ok22, OKz32, Pt32 and Pu29 steam locomotives was to be undertaken. Installation of new engines with cylinders from OKz32 steam locomotives, which increased the power to 1,720 HP at a running speed of 75 km / h. Improvement of the front rolling axle to make the running of the locomotive even more smooth and to reduce the harmful effect on the rails in the curves. From the outside, the locomotive received smoke deflectors, which were not present in the Ty23 steam locomotives, and a modified driver's cabin to improve the working conditions of the mechanics.
The locomotive project was developed at HCP in Poznań. The production of the new Ty37 series steam locomotive was started by HCP. 27 steam locomotives were built until the attack of the Germans and Russians on Poland. The first 15 locomotives were allocated to the depot in Toruń, and the next 12 to Warsaw. During the occupation, the Germans ordered the construction of another 10 Ty37 series locomotives from the materials and devices already collected. These locomotives received the German designation BR58 and numbers from 2918 to 2927. Thus, some of the Ty37 steam locomotives were taken over by the Germans, and some by the Russians, who seized the copies that were then in the East of Poland. At the end of the war, the Germans evacuated some of the steam locomotives to the West.
After the Second World War, it turned out that we only recovered 12 Ty37 locomotives. The locomotives were given a new Polish numbering. Locomotives operated in Tarnowskie Góry, Wałbrzych, Katowice, Łódź, Piotrków and Karsznice. In 1948, a few more locomotives arrived from Germany. They were sent to work in Szczecin, Szczecinek and Słupsk. In 1956, there were 21 operational Ty37 locomotives in PKP. In 1960, most of the locomotives were working in Upper Silesia and on the coal route to Gdynia. The first Ty37 locomotives were removed from the Polish State Railways at the beginning of 1971. The last Ty37-17 steam locomotive was withdrawn from service in 1977. In 1980, it was donated to the Railway Museum. Currently (2022) it can be seen in the Chabówka open-air museum.
Ty37-17.
The Ty37-xx steam locomotive was built in 1939. He worked in the Polish State Railways, and during the occupation for the needs of the partitioning powers. After the Second World War, the locomotive with the new number Ty23-17 again worked at the Polish State Railways. In 1977, the steam locomotive was removed from the state of the Polish State Railways. In 1991, the locomotive went to Jaworzyna Śląska, and then to Chabówka.
T-T data of the Ty37 locomotive:
Production at HCP in Poznań in the period 1937 - 1941. Axis system 1'E. The own weight of the locomotive is 91,600 kg. Service weight of the locomotive is 98,800 kg. Length 12.55 m. Tare weight 22,600 kg. Service weight tendra 54 100 kg. Total length with tender 20.50 m. Height 4.62 m. Diameter of driving wheels 1.45 m. Diameter of rolling wheels 0.85 m. Steam pressure in the boiler 16 at. The heating area of the boiler is 196.7 m2. The superheater area is 84.1 m2. The grate area is 4.5 m2. Tender type 22D23. Design speed 75 km / h.
Written by Karol Placha Hetman