The history of steam locomotives in Russia is interesting and unique. After all, it was they who became the basis of railway transport, which today connects the most remote corners of the country. Many admit that this is one of the most amazing things ever created by man. A machine that managed to combine air, fire, metal and water.
Forerunner of steam locomotives
The forerunner of steam locomotives in Russia was the twin steam engine, which was the first in the world invented by Ivan Ivanovich Polzunov. In 1763, he developed a design for a steam engine, and the following year, he began to create the machine itself.
The project was even approved by the Empress of Russia Catherine II, who encouraged domestic bright minds, she transferred 400 rubles to Polzunov.
In 1766, the inventor died at the age of 38, just a week before the first test run of his machine. Apparently, the enormous tension under which he worked lately played a fatal role. Unfortunately, in Soviet times, even his grave was lost,so the memory of Polzunov was practically not preserved.
The first locomotive
Russian steam locomotives originate directly from the machine invented by the father and son Cherepanovs - Efim Alekseevich and Miron Efimovich. This happened in 1833, a full two years earlier than in Germany.
Moreover, the first steam locomotives in Russia were built so successfully that they differed markedly from their foreign counterparts in their original design solutions.
The car created by the Cherepanovs could carry more than three tons of cargo, moving at a speed of about 16 kilometers per hour. In 1835, they produced a second steam locomotive, the carrying capacity of which increased several times, up to 16.4 tons, and the speed remained at the same level, which was a serious achievement.
It is noteworthy that the first steam locomotive in Russia was called the word "steamboat", which is completely unusual for us. This was how the simplest steam engine was described, which used its own power.
Overseas order
Surprising as it may seem, the first steam locomotives on the Russian railways, which began to be used for public use, were ordered not from the Cherepanovs, but from abroad. It happened in 1838. They began to run on the route St. Petersburg - Tsarskoye Selo.
The basis for the large-scale development of domestic steam locomotive building was the construction of a railway between Moscow and St. Petersburg. It only began in 1843. By the way, for her cars were already built ondomestic enterprises. In 1845, they were produced at the Aleksandrovsky factory.
Already by the mid-60s of the XIX century, the history of steam locomotives in Russia is rapidly developing. This is facilitated by the massive construction of new railways, which leads to an increase in the demand for steam locomotives.
Since 1869, steam engines began to be produced at the Kamsko-Votkinsky and Kolomensky plants, and a year later at M altsevsky and Nevsky. Since 1892, a series of steam locomotives have been produced at the Putilov, Kharkov, Bryansk, Lugansk, and Sormovo plants.
Own development path
It is important that the construction of steam locomotives in Russia developed along its own unique path. Over time, even a special school of locomotive building was formed.
So, in 1878 it was at the Kolomna plant that the world's first passenger steam locomotives appeared, which had a front bogie. It was much safer. Abroad, analogues of such steam engines began to be produced only after 14 years.
In 1891, it was in Russia that the first steam locomotive with steam condensation appeared. And since the end of the 19th century, domestic engineers have been using superheaters everywhere.
At the same time, the doctrine of train traction is already being finalized in Russia. Domestic scientists turned it into a real science, which made it possible to calculate the speed, mass of the train, the time of its movement with the utmost accuracy, as well as set the stopping distance depending on the conditions.
Steam building at the beginning of the 20th century
At the beginning of the 20th century, Russia finally freed itself from foreign influence in the field of locomotive building. Russian engineers created original forms that met the advanced technologies of their time.
From 1898 to the October Revolution, more than 16 thousand steam locomotives were produced in the country. Moreover, the fleet of these machines was very diverse. The Ministry of Railways even introduced separate series for private and state roads.
Soviet history
In the history of Russia and the USSR steam locomotives occupy a special place. In Soviet industry, the first steam engines began to be built already at the end of 1920. It was then that a 5-year plan for the restoration and development of the locomotive economy was adopted.
In 1925, one of the best passenger locomotives in the world at that time was designed. In 1931, the most powerful steam locomotive in Europe was launched on the rails, from the following year their mass production began at the Voroshilovgrad plant.
This industry also developed after the end of the Great Patriotic War. At the end of the 40s, two mass-produced freight locomotives were produced in the USSR, and in 1950 a powerful passenger car, which had the highest performance.
Steam locomotive competitors
Over time, steam locomotives begin to seriously yield to electric and diesel locomotives in terms of power and efficiency. But for many years they surpass them in unpretentiousness and amazing endurance.
Surprisingly, the steam locomotive is able to withstand overloads of 400%with respect to its rated power. At the same time, it could be heated by almost any type of fuel. For example, with raw firewood, and during the Civil War, it was even drowned with dried roach.
Besides, these machines were much cheaper to repair than electric and diesel locomotives, which is why they were not abandoned for so long. In addition, fuel oil and coal were many times cheaper and more affordable than diesel fuel and electricity. This played a decisive role in the fact that it was the steam locomotives that ensured the smooth operation of the railways during the Great Patriotic War.
As a result, the history of the steam locomotive has about 130 years. Even at the beginning of the 21st century, interest in solid fuel locomotives still persists.
The most amazing steam locomotives
There are many truly unique locomotives in history. The most trouble-free locomotive is considered, which in 1912 was assigned a series of OVs. It was as simple as possible to repair and maintain. It was heated with fuel oil, coal, peat, firewood.
In the 1930s, they were transferred to secondary highways, and after that they were used mainly in industrial transport. This model was operated until the mid-50s.
The most massive locomotive in the history of steam locomotive construction was the E-class. The first machines of this type were produced in 1912, they were finalized and improved until 1957. The people called them "Eshaks".
Such a locomotive worked on freight and passenger traffic. In total, about 11 thousand such machines were produced. Now these locomotives remain onlyin museums, but they can be seen in many domestic films. For example, in "The Elusive Avengers" or "Admiral".
The heaviest locomotive is the P-38. Its service weight was as much as 383 tons. This is with a length of 38 meters. Due to the temporary suspension of the production of steam locomotives in Russia, the series turned out to be limited. As a result, only four freight locomotives were produced. This happened in the mid 1950s. They still remain in history as the heaviest, and therefore, one of the most powerful.
A steam locomotive is a technical invention that domestic science can rightfully be proud of.
