Sentetsu Pureha-class locomotives

The Pureha-class (プレハ) locomotives were a group of steam tank locomotives with 2-6-2 wheel arrangement of used by the Chosen Government Railway (Sentetsu) in Korea. The "Pure" name came from the American naming system for steam locomotives, under which locomotives with 2-6-2 wheel arrangement were called "Prairie".[1]

Chosen Government Railway Pureha class (プレハ)
Korean National Railroad Pureo8 class (푸러8)
Korean State Railway Purŏp'a class (부러파)
Builder's photo of Sentetsu プレハ36, built by Kisha Seizō in 1939.
Type and origin
Power typeSteam
BuilderGyeongseong Works, Hitachi, Kisha Seizō
Build date1932 (Gyeongseong)
1939 (Hitachi, Kisha Seizō)
Total produced38
Specifications
Configuration:
 • Whyte2-6-2T
Gauge1,435 mm (4 ft 8+12 in)
Driver dia.1,520 mm (60 in)
Length10,800 mm (35 ft 5 in)
Width3,010 mm (9 ft 11 in)
Height3,940 mm (12 ft 11 in)
Adhesive weight43.90 t (43.21 long tons)
Loco weight67.70 t (66.63 long tons)
Fuel capacity2.00 t (1.97 long tons)
Water cap.5,000 L (1,300 US gal)
Firebox:
 • Grate area2.40 m2 (25.8 sq ft)
Boiler:
 • Small tubes89 x 51 mm (2.0 in)
 • Large tubes18 x 137 mm (5.4 in)
Boiler pressure14.0 kgf/cm2 (199 psi)
Heating surface:
 • Firebox10.20 m2 (109.8 sq ft)
 • Tubes69.60 m2 (749.2 sq ft)
 • Total surface104.30 m2 (1,122.7 sq ft)
Superheater:
 • Heating area24.50 m2 (263.7 sq ft)
Cylinders1
Cylinder size410 mm × 610 mm (16 in × 24 in)
Valve gearWalschaerts
Performance figures
Maximum speed90 km/h (56 mph)
Tractive effort78.9 kN (17,700 lbf)
Career
OperatorsChosen Government Railway
Korean National Railroad
Korean State Railway
ClassSentetsu: プレハ
KNR: 푸러8
KSR: 부러파
Number in classSentetsu: 38
NumbersSentetsu: プレハ1 – プレハ38
Delivered1932, 1939

In all, Sentetsu owned 227 locomotives of all Pure classes, whilst privately owned railways owned another 52; of these 279 locomotives, 169 went to the Korean National Railroad in South Korea and 110 to the Korean State Railway in North Korea.[2]

Description

edit

The プレハ (Pureha) class was the eighth and final class of 2-6-2 locomotives procured by Sentetsu.[3] They were designed by Sentetsu as the most advanced locomotives in Korea at the time of their introduction, and the first twelve were built in 1932 by the Gyeongsong Works. A further 26 were built in 1939 by Hitachi and Kisha Seizō and assembled at Sentetsu's Busan shops.[4] Unlike previous Pure class locomotives, the Pureha class had larger driving wheels, with a diameter of 1,520 mm (60 in), which increased their maximum speed to 90 km/h (56 mph). They were frequently used for express trains on the Gyeongin Line.[4]

Postwar

edit
 
A Pureha class locomotive in North Korea during the Korean War, with a Purena-class engine behind it.

After the end of the Pacific War and the subsequent partition of Korea, these locomotives were divided between North and South Korea.

Korean National Railroad 푸러8 (Pureo8) class

edit

Many Pureha class locomotives were used by the Korean National Railroad after Liberation, which designated them 푸러8 (Pureo8) class;[4] they were used by the KNR primarily for shunting duties, and on light local and suburban passenger services.[5]

Korean State Railway 부러파 (Purŏp'a) class/1800 series

edit

The Sentetsu Purena class locomotives that remained in the North after the partition of Korea were operated by the Korean State Railway, designating them 부러파 (Purŏp'a) class, and later renumbering them into the 1800 series around the early 1970s. The total number and identities of the engines that went north is uncertain, but it is known プレハ38 had gone to the north, where it was in use around Hamheung in 1951, still carrying Sentetsu number plates and emblems. It is unknown whether the locomotive remained in the North after the Korean War, or if it was taken by UN forces during the withdrawal.[5]

Construction

edit
Sentetsu Purena-class
Sentetsu running number Postwar
1938–1945 pre-1938 Owner Number Builder Year Works no. Notes
プレハ1 プレ351 KNR 푸러8-1 Gyeongseong 1932
プレハ2 プレ352 ? ? Gyeongseong 1932
プレハ3 プレ353 ? ? Gyeongseong 1932
プレハ4 プレ354 ? ? Gyeongseong 1932
プレハ5 プレ355 ? ? Gyeongseong 1932
プレハ6 プレ356 ? ? Gyeongseong 1932
プレハ7 プレ357 ? ? Gyeongseong 1932
プレハ8 プレ358 ? ? Gyeongseong 1932
プレハ9 プレ359 ? ? Gyeongseong 1932
プレハ10 プレ360 ? ? Gyeongseong 1932
プレハ11 プレ361 ? ? Gyeongseong 1932
プレハ12 プレ362 ? ? Gyeongseong 1932
プレハ13 - KNR 푸러8-13 Hitachi 1939 Large Latin "KNR" lettering in 1954.[5]
プレハ14 - KNR 푸러8-14 Hitachi 1939
プレハ15 - KNR 푸러8-15 Hitachi 1939 Derelict by 1953.[5]
プレハ16 - ? ? Hitachi 1939
プレハ17 - ? ? Hitachi 1939
プレハ18 - ? ? Hitachi 1939
プレハ19 - KNR 푸러8-19 Hitachi 1939 In service in 1960.
プレハ20 - KNR 푸러8-20 Hitachi 1939
プレハ21 - ? ? Hitachi 1939
プレハ22 - KNR 푸러8-22 Hitachi 1939
プレハ23 - KNR 푸러8-23 Hitachi 1939
プレハ24 - ? ? Hitachi 1939
プレハ25 - KNR 푸러8-25 Hitachi 1939
プレハ26 - ? ? Hitachi 1939
プレハ27 - ? ? Hitachi 1939
プレハ28 - KNR 푸러8-28 Hitachi 1939
プレハ29 - ? ? Hitachi 1939
プレハ30 - ? ? Kisha Seizō 1939 1710
プレハ31 - ? ? Kisha Seizō 1939 1711
プレハ32 - ? ? Kisha Seizō 1939 1712
プレハ33 - ? ? Kisha Seizō 1939 1713
プレハ34 - ? ? Kisha Seizō 1939 1714
プレハ35 - ? ? Kisha Seizō 1939 1715
プレハ36 - ? ? Kisha Seizō 1939 1716
プレハ37 - ? ? Kisha Seizō 1939 1717
プレハ38 - KSR 부러파38 Kisha Seizō 1939 1718 Still with Sentetsu number plates in 1951.[5]

References

edit
  1. ^ Colvin, Fred H. (1906). The railroad pocket-book: a quick reference cyclopedia of railroad information. New York, Derry-Collard; London, Locomotive Publishing Company (US-UK co-edition). p. L‑9.
  2. ^ "North and South Korea Steam Locomotives". 20 April 2004. Archived from the original on 20 April 2004.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  3. ^ "プレーリー型タンク機関車". Archived from the original on 2017-08-26.
  4. ^ a b c Byeon, Seong-u (1999). 한국철도차량 100년사 [Korean Railways Rolling Stock Centennial] (in Korean). Seoul: Korea Rolling Stock Technical Corp.
  5. ^ a b c d e "Korean National RR Class PR-8 2-6-2T". donsdepot.donrossgroup.net.