Locomotive 424
Encyclopedia
Locomotive 424 is the most famous steam locomotive
produced in Hungary
and Class 424 is considered the best steam locomotive type of the Hungarian State Railways
. 424 appears in numerous nostalgic remembrances, in literature, in the movies and as models. The 424 is a double-chimney, superheated machine. It's nicknames were "Buffalo" (for their strength) and "Nurmi" (for their speed, after Paavo Nurmi
, a famous Finnish runner, well known and highly regarded in Hungary).
MÁVAG
began to manufacture the Class 424 in 1924, with 2′D axle layout (4-8-0
in Whyte notation
). It made its first test run between Budapest
and Vác
on 22 April 1924. The planning was led by Béla Kertész (1882–1970) locomotive constructor.
The 424 was a universal main line locomotive. It was used to haul heavy freight trains, stopping trains and express trains. The 424 locomotives are well known abroad as well.
Until 1958, 514 machines were produced, of which 149 were foreign orders. They remained in service until 1984, when steam engines were withdrawn in Hungary.
The 424s were coal burners by design. In the early 1960s some engines were converted to burn oil, but their performance did not increase enough to compete with the diesel
equipments of that time, like NOHAB
DSB engines and Soviet-made M62s.
Few engines are exhibited on static display. 424,001 was accommodated at the Zagreb
Railway Station, lately moved to Budapest and displayed in front of the Museum of Transportation.
The 424,124 locomotive is exhibited on the main station of Dombóvár (in the county of Tolna, found in central Hungary). The vehicle shows the times of the socialist era, with the red star in the front of the water tank.
Steam locomotive
A steam locomotive is a railway locomotive that produces its power through a steam engine. These locomotives are fueled by burning some combustible material, usually coal, wood or oil, to produce steam in a boiler, which drives the steam engine...
produced in Hungary
Hungary
Hungary , officially the Republic of Hungary , is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is situated in the Carpathian Basin and is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine and Romania to the east, Serbia and Croatia to the south, Slovenia to the southwest and Austria to the west. The...
and Class 424 is considered the best steam locomotive type of the Hungarian State Railways
Hungarian State Railways
Hungarian State Railways is the Hungarian national railway company, with divisions "MÁV Start Zrt" and "MÁV Cargo Zrt" ....
. 424 appears in numerous nostalgic remembrances, in literature, in the movies and as models. The 424 is a double-chimney, superheated machine. It's nicknames were "Buffalo" (for their strength) and "Nurmi" (for their speed, after Paavo Nurmi
Paavo Nurmi
Paavo Johannes Nurmi was a Finnish runner. Born in Turku, he was known as one of the "Flying Finns," a term given to him, Hannes Kolehmainen, Ville Ritola, and others for their distinction in running...
, a famous Finnish runner, well known and highly regarded in Hungary).
MÁVAG
MÁVAG
MÁVAG was a Hungarian rail vehicle producer. MÁVAG was the property of the Kingdom of Hungary. After the World War II MÁVAG was nationalized, and "Királyi" was removed from its name.The company employed thousands of workers. The buildings were in the VIII...
began to manufacture the Class 424 in 1924, with 2′D axle layout (4-8-0
4-8-0
Under the Whyte notation for the classification of steam locomotives, 4-8-0 represents the wheel arrangement of four leading wheels on two axles , eight powered and coupled driving wheels on four axles, and no trailing wheels. The type was nicknamed the Mastodon or Twelve-wheeler in North America....
in Whyte notation
Whyte notation
The Whyte notation for classifying steam locomotives by wheel arrangement was devised by Frederick Methvan Whyte and came into use in the early twentieth century encouraged by an editorial in American Engineer and Railroad Journal...
). It made its first test run between Budapest
Budapest
Budapest is the capital of Hungary. As the largest city of Hungary, it is the country's principal political, cultural, commercial, industrial, and transportation centre. In 2011, Budapest had 1,733,685 inhabitants, down from its 1989 peak of 2,113,645 due to suburbanization. The Budapest Commuter...
and Vác
Vác
Vác is a town in Pest county in Hungary with approximately 35,000 inhabitants. The archaic spellings of the name are Vacz and Vacs.-Location:...
on 22 April 1924. The planning was led by Béla Kertész (1882–1970) locomotive constructor.
The 424 was a universal main line locomotive. It was used to haul heavy freight trains, stopping trains and express trains. The 424 locomotives are well known abroad as well.
Until 1958, 514 machines were produced, of which 149 were foreign orders. They remained in service until 1984, when steam engines were withdrawn in Hungary.
The 424s were coal burners by design. In the early 1960s some engines were converted to burn oil, but their performance did not increase enough to compete with the diesel
Diesel locomotive
A diesel locomotive is a type of railroad locomotive in which the prime mover is a diesel engine, a reciprocating engine operating on the Diesel cycle as invented by Dr. Rudolf Diesel...
equipments of that time, like NOHAB
NOHAB
NOHAB was a manufacturing company in the city of Trollhättan, Sweden.The company was founded by Antenor Nydqvist, Johan Magnus Lidström and Carl Olof Holm in 1847 as Trollhättans Mekaniska Verkstad as a manufacturer of turbines for hydraulic power plants...
DSB engines and Soviet-made M62s.
Preservation
Nowadays three working examples survived and used for historical and excursion trains. The surviving engines are 424,009; 424,247 and 424,287.Few engines are exhibited on static display. 424,001 was accommodated at the Zagreb
Zagreb
Zagreb is the capital and the largest city of the Republic of Croatia. It is in the northwest of the country, along the Sava river, at the southern slopes of the Medvednica mountain. Zagreb lies at an elevation of approximately above sea level. According to the last official census, Zagreb's city...
Railway Station, lately moved to Budapest and displayed in front of the Museum of Transportation.
The 424,124 locomotive is exhibited on the main station of Dombóvár (in the county of Tolna, found in central Hungary). The vehicle shows the times of the socialist era, with the red star in the front of the water tank.