Class
344D 4-Cylinder Compound Express Passenger Locomotive
Designed
by Frihdrik Tešlov
Built
in 1935 by Robert Stephenson & Company, Newcastle-upon-Tyne,
England
By
the 1930s the RSR had become the railway hub of Europe, with many major
international routes passing over its metals, and saw the need for a
more
powerful express passenger locomotive to service them. After meeting
various
needs arising from the forced departure of his predecessor,
Tešlov was
able to start work, building on the experience gained with his earlier
engines. The sound yet forward-looking design of the 344D bears out the
success of this approach very well. French influence is readily
apparent
in both the compound layout and the general outline of the locomotive.
Despite the benefits of the highly efficient Chapelon steam circuit,
however,
the problem of sometimes indifferent steaming continued to plague the
344Ds and a comprehensive rebuilding programme was embarked upon,
several engines being
fitted with new tapered boilers from 1938 onwards and becoming class
344DD. There were also problems with the trailing bogie, which tended
to derail on awkward curves. Starting in 1950, all survivors
of the Second World War were
rebuilt as 4-6-2s (class 344E) with
new trailing wheels, which allowed a much freer passage of air to the
grate,
and a new front end.
Text and graphics © Norman Clubb 2012