Class 533C 2-10-4T (1961)

Class 533C 3-Cylinder General Purpose Tank Locomotive
Designed by Mikhail Rodnivacek
Built in 1956 by Henschel & Sohn, Kassel, Germany

As good as the 423E 4-8-4Ts proved to be, there was always a need for more power, i.e. more adhesion than four coupled axles could provide. Furthermore, the uneven torque of the 423E's two-cylinder drive reduced the truly available tractive effort. The combination of these two arguments led to the three-cylinder ten-coupled tank engine we see here. Henschel, who were by this time about to leave the business of building steam locomotives, delivered a total of ten units, all of which were allocated to Forihv. The 533Cs did the job they were built to do but were limited to second-class assignments such as shunting, pickup goods and relief passenger work. In view of their low-key duties, the 533Cs were not fitted with poppet valves. The entire class was withdrawn during 1997.

Graphics and text © Norman Clubb 2015