Locomotive Duplex

Not to be confused with duplex locomotive, which refers to a number of different locomotives.

Locomotive Duplex
Type and origin Power type Steam Designer John Haswell Builder Austrian State Railway Works, Vienna Build date 1861
Specifications Configuration: ​  • Whyte 4-2-0 Gauge 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge Driver dia. 7 ft 9 in (2,362 mm) Cylinders Four Cylinder size 10.8 in × 24.8 in (274 mm × 630 mm)

Locomotive Duplex was an experimental 4-cylinder steam locomotive designed by John Haswell of the Austrian State Railway Works at Vienna and built in 1861. It was exhibited at the 1862 International Exhibition and was then used on the line from Prague to Podmokly (part of Děčín today) where it worked till 1900. Prague was the capital of Bohemia, which became part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire in 1867.

Overview

This 4-2-0 locomotive was the last of 12 engines of the same type. Only this one was equipped with 2 cylinders on each side. The angle between the crankpins on one side was 180° with the pistons going opposite directions. There was one common valve gear with crossed steam channels. The angle between the pairs of engines on each side was normal at 90°.

Purpose

The main idea was to eliminate dynamic forces. This was successfully exhibited when the locomotive was hung on chains. It silently simulated a run at maximum speed (60 km/h) without swinging.

See also

• Imperial Royal Austrian State Railways

Sources

• Jindřich Bek: Atlas Lokomotiv - historické lokomotivy, page 94, NADAS Prague 1979