VR Class Pr2
| Company type | Steam tank locomotive |
|---|---|
| Industry | Railway transportation |
| Founded | 1939 |
| Headquarters | Finland |
| Products | Steam locomotives |
VR Class Pr2 Steam Locomotives
The VR Class Pr2, commonly referred to by the nickname "Henschel," was a series of passenger tank locomotives originally commissioned by the Estonia State Railways from the Henschel & Son workshops during the spring of 1939 and completed by 1941. Due to the onset of the Second World War, these locomotives were never delivered to Estonia. However, a number of them were operational in Latvia in 1942. As the German forces began converting Baltic railway lines to standard gauge, these engines became redundant, enabling Finland to acquire all four units. Upon their arrival in December 1942, they were designated as Pr2 and assigned fleet numbers 1800 through 1803.
Derived from the 1928 Henschel Class 62 tank locomotive design, the Pr2 engines represented a relatively modern class of steam tank locomotives. After overcoming initial technical challenges, they demonstrated strong performance and speed, becoming a valuable asset for Finland’s locomotive fleet. Originally constructed as oil-fired engines, they were converted back to oil fuel between 1947 and 1954 during periods of low oil prices. The Pr2’s large driving wheels measured 1,830 mm in diameter, enabling impressive speeds; one unit reached 144 km/h during a test run. The last Pr2 engine in active service, No. 1803, was retired in May 1960. Of the original four, only No. 1800 remains preserved at Haapamäki.
Gallery
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Pr2 1800 stationed at Haapamäki -
Pr2 1800 displayed at Haapamäki -
Pr2 1800 alongside its tender at Haapamäki
.JPG)
See also
References
- Salo, Sakari K. (2009). Höyryveturikirja, s. 14. Helsinki: Kustantaja Laaksonen. ISBN 978-952-5805-12-3.
- Pölhö, Eljas; Pykälä-Aho, Mia (1996). Suomen juna- ja raitiovaunukuvasto [Finnish Motive Power 1.1.1996] (in Finnish and English). ISBN 91-7266-133-X.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: unrecognized language (link) - Katajisto, Juhani (1985). Eilispäivän kulkuneuvoja. Hämeenlinna: Tietoteos. ISBN 951-9035-79-6.
- Official website of the Finnish Railway Museum
- Finnish website containing locomotive technical specifications Archived 2016-06-29 at the Wayback Machine