Soviet E class steam locomotive

[KvadratGnezdo]

Coming back after a lot of stuff was a bit hard, but here we are. The today's topic is an internationally overlooked engine. but an important one nonetheless. The E ("Э", "Echo", "Eass") class was a mainline freight locomotive produced during the last years of the Russian Empire and into the early Soviet period. In design philosophy it's closest counterparrt would be the famous Br52 - it is a technologically streamlined steamer, designed for wide scale production (and it was wide as E class is considered to be the most numerous steam engine class ever), meant to be used during wartime. Almost all E class were made in a decapod configuration and were generally lightweight as they were supposed to navigate not only the mainline, but the hastely built railways during the war and the rather gaudy byroads during peacetimes, which meant the engine had to be short with 6 of its 10 wheels being blind for better turning capabilities. 

The first model I've made was based on E-2432, currently a monument, but still - a rather rare example of a pure E class without any modifications (so rare, that most E classers you will find online and IRL will be either Em, Eu or Er)

And here's my model:

 

On most picks of the class you will probably see it coupled to a normal tender car (нормальный тендер) - a contemporary design, meant to be used with a wide variety of steam engines, both passenger and freight ones, many modifications exist, but the model is based on the default one - without the raised sides, extended bunker and oil tanks.

The model is fully motorised, also I've made the cab frame to be able to swivel in order to mitigate the overhang created by standard lego track. This is all for now, I will slowly update during the week, I've almost finished my Er model, then I will make some more contmeporary rolling stock and maki this into a real MOC somwhere closer to december.

[idlemarvel]

Very good indeed and as you say an unusual source of prototype. Thanks for posting.

Do you have details of the swinging cab frame? That could be useful for other long steam locos.

[zephyr1934]

That's an interesting prototype and a good recreation.

 

The railings along the running boards look strange, but that is coming from the US where they didn't invent the railing for running boards until the 1960's, after the steam era had passed

[KvadratGnezdo]

Update time, yaaaaay, so I've finished it a while ago, but here it is - the last of the E class mods, the post-war Er class. With this one it's like hopping from the start straight to finish. Despite looking very similar to the standard E, the Er is a very different machine in terms of it's composition and mechanics. In real world Er class had a better smokebox and boiler design, weight distribution, steam re-usage, onboard electrics, tractive effort, cab view, ventillation and many other improvements. As most late soviet steamers, a lot of Ers were converted to use crude oil instead of coal or wood as their main fuel source. The standard tender also had it's improvements - the tender's fuel storage volume had increased almost twice and later was replaced with the oil tank as shown on my model. Another standout feture for many Ers is the top roof superstructure which helped to better ventillate the cab, save up on using the electrig generator for lighting and also hepled to spot potential aerial attackers, which was really useful for running military convoys and armoured trains.

Additionaly, the Ers were also present to test and work changes, implimented by the MPS during late 40s and early 50s: wide acceptance of the SA autocouplers and the buffer removal

And now for the model:

 

And the swinging cab action - ladders and other underside cab detail is actually attached to the frame and moves along with it

[KvadratGnezdo]

Some more renders and I've made a depot for this thing)

On this picture the tender car is mounting an extended oil tank

To some the colour palette may seem christmas-ey, but the red/green/white/tan was the prevalent paint scheme for the Russian empire and USSR when it came to railroad infrastructure all the way until the late 50s.

 

[Feuer Zug]

Fine looking depot. The colors are fine as they fit with the period easily. Interesting way of making the clerestory windows fit.

[Shiva]

KvadratGnezdo, nice builds!

It seems that NOHAB, built the ESh version, 500 locomotives. They are a version of the original E class.

[KvadratGnezdo]

17 hours ago, Shiva said:

KvadratGnezdo, nice builds!

It seems that NOHAB, built the ESh version, 500 locomotives. They are a version of the original E class.

Yep, as far as I know parts of the fleet were made in Sweden, Germany, Poland, Hungary, Czechoslovakia and Romania as well as the E class "Russian decapod" built in the US. Another interesting fact is that all trophy Br 52s were renamed ТЭ - which stood for "Trophy equivalent to Э class"

 

[LEGO Train 12 Volts]

Very nice steam locomotive and amazing train depot!