Class
P 2-Cylinder Passenger Tank Locomotive
Designed
by Marek Luršimonš
Built in 1880 by SLM,
Winterthur, Switzerland
The opening of new
suburban
routes and the extension of existing ones in the late 1870s caused a
rapid
and drastic increase in the weight of local trains. Almost overnight
the
plucky class L 2-4-2Ts were virtually outclassed. Luršimonš,
forewarned
in good time, had already ordered this stocky 0-6-2T from SLM. Sixty of
them were placed in service over a period of 18 months. Unfortunately,
their long rigid coupled wheelbase caused trouble (and a few
derailments)
on the sharp curves of the Bevice circle line until the necessary
modifications
could be made. This line thus remained a stronghold of the class L for
a while longer. The Ps kept charge of suburban passenger and goods work
well into the 20th century, staving off the challenge of Belčamin's B9
with almost accomplished ease. The final task of the class P was the
so-called
back alley line from Velšia Damroka to Dämenova, where they lasted
till
1913.
Text and graphics © Norman Clubb 2012
Text and graphics © Norman Clubb 2012