Steam international.
The locomotive was built in Sweden. It operates on the Dutch heritage line Zuid Limburgse Stoomtrein Maatschappij (ZLSM). David, one of the volunteer crew, is from across the border in Germany. Also on the footplate, Kim from Texas and myself from England. That is how enthusiasms work in this world!
This steam locomotive was built in 1910 by Nydgvist & Holm in Trollhättan, Sweden. A plaque showing the original number 1040 and the first owners, Statens Järnvägar (Swedish State Railways), still exists on the cab side. 130 of this class were ordered between 1908 - 1920. In 1937 a number of these E-types were modified by adding an extra axle because of uncomfortable running at higher speeds. Due to the change in the weight balance the boiler was shifted 25 cm forewards and counterweights were placed in front of the smokebox to get sufficient load on the new axle. So the new 2-8-0 type of was named E2. Another benefit was that the maximum speed could be increased to 70 km/h.
This particular engine was modified in 1946 and also equipped with a new welded boiler in 1959. The E2-types finished service with SJ until 1972, after which they went into strategic military reserve.
E2 1040 was bought in 1998 by ZLSM and transported by rail from Sweden, through Germany, to Simpelveld.
Blagging our way onto the footplate, one of the things that stood out was how relatively simple the controls were compared to our recent climb-aboard Britain's Union of South Africa, a locomotive built 27 years later. We were most impressed with the wooden cab floor boards!
Steam international.
The locomotive was built in Sweden. It operates on the Dutch heritage line Zuid Limburgse Stoomtrein Maatschappij (ZLSM). David, one of the volunteer crew, is from across the border in Germany. Also on the footplate, Kim from Texas and myself from England. That is how enthusiasms work in this world!
This steam locomotive was built in 1910 by Nydgvist & Holm in Trollhättan, Sweden. A plaque showing the original number 1040 and the first owners, Statens Järnvägar (Swedish State Railways), still exists on the cab side. 130 of this class were ordered between 1908 - 1920. In 1937 a number of these E-types were modified by adding an extra axle because of uncomfortable running at higher speeds. Due to the change in the weight balance the boiler was shifted 25 cm forewards and counterweights were placed in front of the smokebox to get sufficient load on the new axle. So the new 2-8-0 type of was named E2. Another benefit was that the maximum speed could be increased to 70 km/h.
This particular engine was modified in 1946 and also equipped with a new welded boiler in 1959. The E2-types finished service with SJ until 1972, after which they went into strategic military reserve.
E2 1040 was bought in 1998 by ZLSM and transported by rail from Sweden, through Germany, to Simpelveld.
Blagging our way onto the footplate, one of the things that stood out was how relatively simple the controls were compared to our recent climb-aboard Britain's Union of South Africa, a locomotive built 27 years later. We were most impressed with the wooden cab floor boards!