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Today I present you the Belgian type 10


The series 10 of the Belgian State Railways (SNCB) was a type of express train steam locomotives 2'C1 '(Pacific). From 1910 to 1912, a first series of 29 locomotives was built, followed by 1914 by a second, equal in number series in lighter version, especially for use on the railway Brussels-Oostende. Originally provided with numbers from 4501, they were given by the SNCB their final series designation.

Since the beginning of the 20th century, the engineer Jean-Baptiste Flamme has developed several types of superheated steam locomotives. After tests with compound engines u. a. in a locomotive series 19bis [1] he decided for Vierlings engines with simple steam expansion, which were used in several series, in particular in the powerful ranks 36 (for freight trains) and 10 (for express trains). The construction of the ranks 10 and 36 was discontinued with the outbreak of the First World War.

The boilers of both types were identical except for the dimensions of the fireboxes. Due to the weight limitations of the series 36, this resulted in the unusual appearance of the series 10 with a compared to the axle very short boiler and a large platform in front of the smoke chamber, on the front axle and the cylinders. In favor of a larger firebox, the rear (third) boiler shot was conical. The locomotives of the second series were 4 tons lighter than the first and had a slightly smaller rust surface.
The locomotives proved to be one of the most efficient Pacific designs in Europe. For about 40 years they dominated the heavy express train service in Belgium and inter alia transported the Edelweiss Express between Brussels and Luxembourg. During the First World War, most locomotives in this series were evacuated to France, but because of their high axle load but not used there.

From 1922 they were equipped with double chimneys of the type Legein [4] and with feed pumps of the type Davies & Metcalfe. Seven of the locomotives were rebuilt in 1926 as part of reparation services at Vulkan in Hamburg and at Hanomag in Germany. 1923 was tested on the locomotive No. 4512, a stoker, a mechanical grate feed, but in Belgium did not prevail. From 1931, the locomotives were equipped with ACFI preheaters, wind deflectors and new safety valves. Overall, their performance could be increased by 20% by the conversions, so that the locomotives were ever the strongest European Pacific locomotives. Their mass increased to 115 or 112 tons and the maximum towing load from 350 tons to 430 tons, after the last conversions even to 500 tons. Finally, from 1938 (in most locomotives but only after the Second World War), the Legein chimneys were replaced by Kylchap facilities. The first loco of the series was tentatively shortened slightly and thus while maintaining the friction mass about 2.4 tonnes lighter.

After the electrification of the railway line Namur-Luxembourg on September 30, 1956, the locomotives were no longer needed and almost all parked. Only five of these types remain in service until 1959 for express services between Brussels and Mons, as well as Brussels and Tournai until they have been replaced by diesel locomotives and the newer Type 1.

The locomotive 10.018, the last of its kind, which did service on the route to Luxembourg, has been preserved and worked on externally for the exhibition at the Museum Train World in Schaerbeek. Since their axles and rods are cracked, an operational recovery is unlikely.

Information from: https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/NMBS/SNCB-Reihe_10