Soviet locomotive class OR23

The OR23 was a Soviet experimental locomotive built in 1949. Its cylinders were placed above the center driving axle, and had rods on both ends which transferred power to the wheels. The purpose was to balance the driving forces on the wheels, allowing the counterweights on the wheels to be smaller and reducing hammer blow on the track. The design was a failure and no further examples were built. The locomotive was never used beyond testing and was returned to its builder, the Voroshilovgrad Works, and scrapped sometime afterward.

OR23
Type and origin Power type Steam Designer M. N. Anikeev, Yu. G. Kirilov and N. A. Turik Builder Voroshilovgrad Locomotive Works Build date 1949 Total produced 1
Specifications Configuration: ​  • Whyte 2-10-4 Gauge 1,524 mm (5 ft) Leading dia. 900 mm (2 ft 11 in) Driver dia. 1,500 mm (4 ft 11 in) Trailing dia. 1,050 mm (3 ft 5 in) Length With tender: 29,540 mm (96 ft 11 in) Engine only: 16,775 mm (55 ft 0.4 in) Axle load: ​  • Coupled 23.1 t (22.7 long tons; 25.5 short tons) Adhesive weight 115.4 t (113.6 long tons; 127.2 short tons) Service weight 168.1 t (165.4 long tons; 185.3 short tons) Tender type Six-axle 6P Firebox: ​  • Grate area 8.2 m2 (88 sq ft) Boiler pressure 17 kgf/cm2 (240 psi; 17 bar) Heating surface 324 m2 (3,490 sq ft) Superheater: ​  • Type Double-turn Schmidt  • Heating area 184 m2 (1,980 sq ft) Cylinder size 520 mm × 645 mm (20.5 in × 25.4 in)
Performance figures Maximum speed 90 km/h (56 mph) Indicated power 2,500 hp (1,900 kW)
Career Operators Soviet Railways

See also

• History of rail transport in Russia
• Russian Railway Museum, Saint Petersburg