The Locomotives of Bela Šahlmeti 

Bela Šahlmeti (1878-1944) had the shortest term of office of all RSR chief engineers so far. When he took over the reins from Karel Belčamin, who had died suddenly in 1919 and whose successor-designate he was, Šahlmeti brought a refreshingly new style of both leadership and locomotive design. Gone was the old hierarchical style of management and gone was the by now old-fashioned belle-époque style of design. The new chief's engines were of simple construction and bold outline. The crews took to them at once. Unfortunately for Šahlmeti, his bosses on the RSR board were not all on his side and spared no effort in ridding themselves of this iconoclast at the first opportunity. They had to wait till 1928, when by means of internal politics, approval for Šahlmeti's new high-pressure 4-8-2 was denied after the event (the order had already been placed with Henschel and the engine was about to be delivered) and he was summarily fired.

	323A	1920		423BB	1921		423BC	1922
	423BD	1924					323B	1925
	323C	1926		423Q	1926		423QQ	1926
	323BB	1927		523W	1927		523X	1927
	433A	1928					523Y	1928
	433AA	1928		434A	1928		534A	1928