VR Class Hr1
Encyclopedia
Hr1 class was the largest passenger express steam locomotive built in Finland. Twenty-two were built between the years 1937–1957.
In the thirties there was a need for faster and heavier express trains in Finland, and the Hv1 - Hv3 classes were not powerful enough to fill the need. Lokomo Oy in Tampere built first two prototypes, and after successful trials 20 more were built.
Most of the locomotives were fitted with Wagner-type smoke deflectors, but the last two, which were equipped with roller bearings, had Witte-type deflectors.
The nickname of the locomotive was meaning approximately "(respected) Grandpa Pekka", after the President of Finland Pehr Evind Svinhufvud
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The Hr1 was built for coal firing, but during the coal shortage after the war in 1945, birch wood was used as fuel. Larger chimneys needed for extinguishing wood sparks were temporarily fitted.
The Hr1s were the most important express train haulers and could justifiably be called the flagships of VR up to 1963, when diesel locomotives started to replace steam. Their use ended officially in 1971, but two roller bearing Hr1s were returned for a short use in spring 1974.
Hr1's sister locomotive was the Tr1-class, otherwise similar, but with 2-8-2 wheel arrangement and smaller diameter drivers for cargo train use.
In the thirties there was a need for faster and heavier express trains in Finland, and the Hv1 - Hv3 classes were not powerful enough to fill the need. Lokomo Oy in Tampere built first two prototypes, and after successful trials 20 more were built.
Most of the locomotives were fitted with Wagner-type smoke deflectors, but the last two, which were equipped with roller bearings, had Witte-type deflectors.
The nickname of the locomotive was meaning approximately "(respected) Grandpa Pekka", after the President of Finland Pehr Evind Svinhufvud
Pehr Evind Svinhufvud
Pehr Evind Svinhufvud af Qvalstad , December 15, 1861 – February 29, 1944) was the third President of Finland from 1931 to 1937. Serving as a lawyer, judge, and politician in the Russian Grand Duchy of Finland, he played a major role in the movement for Finnish independence...
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The Hr1 was built for coal firing, but during the coal shortage after the war in 1945, birch wood was used as fuel. Larger chimneys needed for extinguishing wood sparks were temporarily fitted.
The Hr1s were the most important express train haulers and could justifiably be called the flagships of VR up to 1963, when diesel locomotives started to replace steam. Their use ended officially in 1971, but two roller bearing Hr1s were returned for a short use in spring 1974.
Hr1's sister locomotive was the Tr1-class, otherwise similar, but with 2-8-2 wheel arrangement and smaller diameter drivers for cargo train use.