The famous steam locomotive, nicknamed “General” for its characteristic colored stripes a la “stripes” on the sides, was produced at the Kolomensky Zavod in the period from 1950 to 1956. Engine power was comparable to developments for the IP series. The last built locomotive P36 was the model P36-0251. At this production was completely discontinued. Moreover, in the USSR for all the time of its further existence any passenger models of steam locomotives were no longer produced.
Prerequisites for the emergence
In the 1940s, the entire locomotive fleet of the country consisted of two thousand pieces of equipment and consisted mainly of Su series models. The design and construction of these steam locomotives was carried out in the 1920s. However, they had a reputation for being very reliable and economical locomotives, but there was one significant problem. Due to technical limitations, there was no way to increase the weight of passenger trains.
The engineers of Kolomna Plant were entrusted with solving this problem. In 1932, the best minds designed the new passenger locomotive of the IS series. The gross weight in comparison with Su models increased from 55 to 80 tons, and power increased from 1,500 liters. with. up to 3200 liters with. (at an operational capacity of 2500 hp.). As a result, the IP series did not become mass because the trains could not travel along most of the railways existing at that time due to the high axial load of up to 20.2 tf. In total, 649 locomotives were built, which is almost three times less than the fleet from the Su series. Thus, the first prerequisites for the design of P36 steam locomotives appeared.
Design history
Engineers calculated that the new mass train should have an axial load of no more than 18 tf. So he would be able to ride on all existing ways and routes in the USSR. In the first draft designs, there were four main models. All of them corresponded to one of the axial load variants (18 or 22.5 tf) and one of four gradations in power, including 1500, 2000, 2500 and 3000 l. with. The list of main models is presented in the list:
- Equivalent to Su series train. Axial load 18 tf at a power of 1,500 l. with. Actual types are 2-3-1 and 1-3-2.
- Equivalent to a train of a series L. Axial load of 18 hardware with a power of 2000 l. with. Actual types are 1-4-1 and 2-3-2.
- Equivalent to the train series IP. Axial load 18 tf at a power of 2500 l. with. Actual types are 2-4-2 and 1-4-2.
- Equivalent to the train of the UU series. Axial load 22.5 tf at a power of 3000 l. with. Actual types are 2-4-2 and 2-3-2.
Analysts have explored the possibilities of applying new projects. As a result, they came to the conclusion that locomotives of the 2-4-2 type with an axial load of 22.5 and 18 tf with a power of 3000 and 2500 liters will become the most popular. with. respectively. It was with these wishes that the Kolomensky Zavod was given an order to build the first model of the P36 steam locomotive under number 0001.
Completion of prototype development
The completion of the work dates back to March 1950. Designers were able to realize in the model P36-0001 all the most significant achievements in the industry. The first heavy test the locomotive took place on the October Railway. A driver by the name of Oshats ran on this train with freight cars on the route Khovrino - Leningrad-Sortirovochny-Moskovsky. At the same time, the schedule of passenger locomotives was observed. The traction and heat engineering qualities of the steam locomotive met all the expectations of the designers. So, boiler boost up to 70-75 kgf / sq. m per hour allowed to develop power up to 2500-2600 liters. with. The maximum speed indicators in this case were 86.4 km / h at 3077 liters. with.
From the characteristics of the steam engine P36, the following can be distinguished:
- the use of an all-welded boiler;
- air reverse drive;
- the presence of a heater for water;
- mechanical coal stacker;
- squared frame in a design.
In addition, all the axle boxes of the train and the tender included roller bearings. The locomotive’s gross weight was 75 tons. The total mass in working condition reached 135 tons.
Production Models
The success of the very first P36 locomotive soon allowed mass production to start. In 1935, steam locomotives were built under the numbers 0002-0005, and the next came the train number 0006. As for the changes compared to the prototype, they can be counted at once. For example, the front support of the furnace became sliding, axle boxes on wheelsets were reinforced, and axle boxes became self-regulating. Instead of a fan, a special cone device was installed. Thus, it was possible to reduce the total weight of the locomotive, although the change was very slight. In addition, the decorative lining was somewhat simplified, and the braking equipment on the runner trolley was abolished.
The following changes occurred already in 1954. Locomotives numbered 0007-0036 had a weight reduced to 72.4 tons. Among the working models of that series there were only steam locomotives P36-0031 and P36-0032. The first was transported to the Red Baltiets station in 2012, and the second still stands in the Petersburg-Sortirovochny-Moskovsky locomotive depot. Due to the success of the last iteration, it was decided to start mass production. Since then, this model has gained its current name P36. In the first two years, another 215 identical locomotives were born. At the same time, designers with each new model continued to improve the train.
The device of the crew
At the heart of the chassis are the main frame and a pair of trolleys. Each of them has two axes, including a slider and a supporting one. On the back side of the frame is a coupling box connecting the locomotive to the tender. A buffer bar for fixing an automatic coupler of type SA-3 is fixed in front. Each axis of the train incorporates roller bearings.
The driving wheels are close in design to those of the Su and IS models. The second driving axis is the leading one, that is, it is precisely on it that the force from the steam engine is supplied. Wheel pairs have disc centers, and their diameter is 1850 mm. In this case, the rear and front trolleys are able to deviate. This design decision was made to better fit the locomotives of the P36 series into curves. Spring suspension is based on leaf springs, however, special coil springs are used in the front trolley.
Steam boiler device
The performance of this node is for the most part even redundant. When working at maximum power during testing, it was not possible to significantly reduce the amount of steam. The headset of an all-welded boiler in P36 is similar to that used in trains of the L series.
At the same time, the design of the superheater has not undergone any changes since the release of the prototype P34. The number of smoke and flame tubes on a steam locomotive P36 is 66 and 50 pieces, respectively. Their diameter is also not changed compared to the locomotive model P34.
The grate had an area of 6.75 square meters. m., as well as pneumatic drive. In this regard, the boiler furnace was considered highly developed for its time. Inside were four pipes for air circulation and a fan that increased traction. However, the latter had to be replaced soon with a more advanced conical device. The fan too often failed, and therefore could not become part of the serial models of steam locomotives of this series.
Machine and tender
The installed version of the machine is considered quite simple and standard. It has a piston stroke of 800 mm and block-type cylinders with a diameter of 575 mm. In steam locomotives P36-0120 and later models, a steam distribution mechanism according to the Geisinger system was also used. Among its main advantages, reliability in operation and low complexity for specialists during repair work were noted. The cylinders were cast in half blocks and combined with the designs of boiler supports and slide chambers. The connection took place by screwing in ordinary bolts and installing them on the main frame.
Already from the second iteration of the locomotive, the applied tender was changed. It was based on six axes of type P58. A similar tender soon found a place in a series of steam locomotives. The chassis design provides for two bogies with three axles and wheels with a diameter of 1050 mm. The mechanical carbon feeder of the S-3 model was located at the bottom of the coal box, and at the heart of its mechanism was a conveyor with three working screws. The drive functions were performed by a steam engine with high speed.
Operational Features
The routes of the P36 steam locomotives were very diverse. They were sent to ply the Northern, Belorussian, October, Kuibyshev, Stalin, Krasnoyarsk and Kalinin railways. Soon, this series displaced all Su-type trains from the main directions. The reason for this was not only doubled power and increased weight level of new locomotives, but also their increased speed indicators. An example is the Moscow-Leningrad highway, the distance of which the P36 was able to cover in 9 hours 30 minutes. This exceeded the previously set record by 1 hour and 45 minutes. Since then, not a single steam train could compare with this result.
After a certain period of time, a massive transition to diesel and electric locomotives took place in the country. By decision of the management, steam locomotives were removed from the main routes and transferred to remote or less busy routes. The final year of operation is considered to be 1974. The last representatives were located in the Mogochi and Belogorsk depot. A photo of the P36 series steam locomotive is located below.
Immortalization in culture
In the railway philately, this model was a fairly popular plot. Her image was issued on serrated and toothless postage stamps. Different countries also made their pictures of the train. At different times it was possible to meet such postage stamps in Mongolia, Yemen, Bhutan, Grenada, Palau and other states.
Some models, like the P36-0110 steam locomotive, have become original monuments in certain regions of modern Russia. In particular, this train is located in the village of Mogzon, which is located in the Trans-Baikal Territory.
Interesting fact
On the pediment of all the locomotives in the series there was a red star, on which a bas-relief image of Stalin and Lenin was applied. After the 20th Congress of the CPSU, this element was abolished on most locomotives. Instead, an image of the coat of arms of the USSR appeared.