Class C5A 4-Cylinder
Tandem
Compound Passenger Locomotive
Designed by Karel
Belčamin
Rebuilt from Class C5
in 1899 by RSR Works, Bevice-Akohniçe, Ruhnia
Toward the end of
the
delivery period of the original C5 4-6-0s, their boiler capacity was
already
barely adequate for keeping time with the ever-heavier trains of the belle
époque. Belčamin had already started work on a new boiler
for
the C5s a year earlier, and was able to fit it to the last ten new
engines
to be delivered. By 1901, a further 20 locomotives had been rebuilt,
becoming
class C5A. The larger grate and higher pressure made a big difference
in
performance and economy. The crews were not so keen, however.
The
engines were considered difficult to fire, which was blamed for a
frequent
shyness of steam, whereas the older C5 class was trusted and revered.
The
upshot was that Belčamin had to design another boiler, with which over
half the class was rebuilt from 1901 onwards, becoming class C5B.
Text and graphics © Norman Clubb 2012