Class J 0-4-2 (1863)

During the early 1860s, the steadily increasing amounts of goods to be moved were placing ever-greater burdens on the RSR's motive power. The class G 0-6-0s were fairly powerful but, with their small driving wheels, lacked speed and caused quite a lot of line congestion. Luršimonš's answer was this sprightly 0-4-2, which was first delivered by Dübs & Co., of Glasgow, in 1863. The class J lived up very well to its promise of higher speed (and power), being able to bowl up to seventy wagons merrily along at 50 km/h, without showing any real effort. A total of eighty engines was delivered and allocated to many sheds throughout the system. Only Kropčahne, strange to relate, received none at first, having to wait until 1871, when some twenty Js were transferred there after having been displaced by the class M. The simplicity and robustness of the Js ensured them a place on the roster well past the turn of the century.

Text and graphics © Norman Clubb 2012