SEK class Μα
| Company type | Steam locomotive class |
|---|---|
| Industry | Rail transport |
| Predecessor | None |
| Founded | 1953 |
| Successor | Diesel traction (Hellenic Railways Organisation) |
| Products | 2-10-2 steam locomotives |
Number of employees | 20 units produced |
| Parent | Sidirodromoi Ellinikou Kratous (Hellenic State Railways) |
SEK (Sidirodromoi Ellinikou Kratous, or Hellenic State Railways) class Μα (also known as class Ma; Mu-alpha) consisted of 2-10-2 steam locomotives produced by Ansaldo and Breda during 1953. These locomotives were assigned numbers Μα 1001 through 1020.
Representing the final steam engines procured by SEK prior to their transition to diesel power, the Μα series was designed and manufactured in Italy by Breda (10 units) and Ansaldo (10 units) between 1953 and 1954. Certain components, including entire tender frames, were supplied by Nuove Reggiane. Combined with their tenders, these locomotives measured 24.93 meters in length and stood 4.51 meters tall, with a service weight totaling 136 tons. Their boilers operated at a pressure of 18 bar, delivering an output of 2950 horsepower. The maximum speed achievable was 90 km/h.
Following operational challenges encountered shortly after their deployment, all units underwent modifications by Henschel during 1957–1958. This refurbishment included converting the boilers to utilize heavy fuel oil instead of coal.
Primarily stationed at the Aghios Ioannis Rentis and Thessaloniki depots, these locomotives served predominantly on freight duties and occasionally hauled express passenger services along the Piraeus–Thessaloniki and Thessaloniki–Idomeni main routes until their retirement in the early 1970s. The successor organization, the Hellenic Railways Organisation, phased them out as diesel traction became standard.
Out of the original fleet, only two units survived the widespread scrapping of steam locomotives between 1984 and 1985. Locomotive number 1002 was preserved and is exhibited at Rouf station in Athens as part of the theatrical installation "Το Τρένο στο Ρουφ" ("The Train at Rouf").
References
- G Handrinos & Tim Hills: "Tribute to Breda: Series Ma 1001-1020", Σιδηροτροχιά, issue 35, pages 29–43, June 2009