Class
323D 2-Cylinder Passenger Locomotive
Designed
by Frihdrik Tešlov
Built
in 1933 by August Borsig, Berlin, Germany
Following
the ignominious departure of Bela Šahlmeti in 1929, it fell to
Frihdrik Tešlov, his second in command, to take up the reins and steer
the RSR
back to orthodox design policy. Although relatively young, at 37,
Tešlov
set out to complement his already wide experience of engineering
matters
by seeking knowledge from abroad. He found it in France, where he made
the acquaintance of the great André Chapelon, who was to be a
constant
source of advice and inspiration. The 4-6-0 with which Tešlov made his
debut was not the sort of engine that would have a chapter to itself in
railway history books, but certainly was the first of many examples of
sound engineering practice and innovative design. The Chapelon steam
circuit
and Kylchap exhaust, combined with an excellent boiler, made the 323D a
fast, powerful and economical load hauler, which was to serve the RSR
well
into the 1980s.
Text and graphics © Norman Clubb 2012