2-3-2K

Experimental Soviet locomotive 2-3-2K (P12) Паровоз 2-3-2К (№ 2).jpg Locomotive No. 2 Locomotive No. 2 Steam Kolomna Works, Kolomna, Soviet Union 1936 1937–1938 2 15364 mm on 4760 mm on 21.35 t on 123.5 t on 6.5 m2 on 15 at 124.5 m2 on / 146.4 m2 on 580 mm on 700 mm on 150 km/h on 900 mm on / 1050 mm on 2000 mm on 11930 mm on 2'C2' 1520 mm on The 2-3-2K (factory designation P12, Russian: ru П12) was an experimental steam locomotive built in the Soviet Union for hauling express passenger trains. Designed at the Kolomna Works in Kolomna, two examples were constructed between 1937 and 1938. They operated express services before World War II. Design and construction The P12 factory-type locomotive was developed at the Kolomna Works in Kolomna as an experimental high-speed machine for express passenger trains.Rakov 1995 297, 300 At the time, the new mass-produced Soviet express locomotive IS had a design speed of 115 km/h. After evaluating various wheel arrangements, engineers selected the 2'C2' configuration, denoted as 2-3-2 in Russian notation.Rakov Vitaly 1974 Posledniy rekord skorosti parovozov ru:Последний рекорд скорости паровозов The Last Steam Locomotive Speed Record Tekhnika Molodezhi ru 9 Initial plans called for driving wheels of 1,850 mm diameter for a design speed of 130 km/h, but these were enlarged to 2,000 mm, raising the design speed to 150 km/h.Rakov 1995 2972-3-2K – opytnyy passazhirskyy parovoz ru:2-3-2К - опытный пассажирский паровоз 2-3-2K - Experimental Passenger Steam Locomotive http://par.licasoft.com.ua/index.php/informatsionnye-materialy/13-parovozy/parovozy-rossii-sssr/25-2-3-2k https://web.archive.org/web/20150401234747/http://par.licasoft.com.ua/index.php/informatsionnye-materialy/13-parovozy/parovozy-rossii-sssr/25-2-3-2k 1 April 2015 par.licasoft.com.ua ru The design was completed between 1935 and 1936 under the leadership of engineers L. Lebedyansky and M. Shchukin.Ianin V. A. 2017 L.S. Lebedyanskyi – vid ryadovoho inzhenera do holovnoho konstruktora zavodu uk:Л.С. Лебедянський – від рядового інженера до головного конструктора заводу L.S. Lebedyanskyi – From a Regular Engineer to the Chief Designer of the Plant https://dspace.snu.edu.ua/server/api/core/bitstreams/9893e10d-77e0-409a-85a8-d0980ff657fa/content#page=123 Visnyk of Volodymyr Dahl East Ukrainian National University uk 11 125 The People's Commissariat of Transport ordered two units. The locomotives received no official railway designation but are known in literature as 2-3-2K to distinguish them from the similar 2-3-2V built in Luhansk.Rakov 1995 300 The first locomotive was completed on 7 November 1937, and the second on 1 May 1938Banach Michał 2 December 2015 Lokomotywy 2-3-2W i 2-3-2K - rosyjskie streamlinery 2-3-2V and 2-3-2K Locomotives – Russian Streamliners https://www.smartage.pl/lokomotywy-2-3-2w-i-2-3-2k-rosyjskie-streamlinery/ 6 November 2025 SmartAge.pl pl-PL – dates aligned with Soviet holidays marking the 20th anniversary of the October Revolution and International Workers' Day. Efforts were made to minimise weight, particularly in the running gear, using disc wheels, stamped pistons, and alloy steel. To reduce rolling resistance, rolling-element bearings were fitted to the axles of both locomotive and tender.Rakov 1995 298 Streamlined casing lowered aerodynamic drag. All wheels on the locomotives and tenders were braked for improved stopping power. The first locomotive received a new L40 superheater with large-diameter tubes, while the second used an Elesko-E superheater (as on FD and IS locomotives) for comparison, resulting in differing boiler parameters.Rakov 1995 297-298 In service, the L40 proved more efficient and economical. A drawback compared to the 2-3-2V was the lack of parts standardisation with existing production locomotives.Rakov 1995 298-299 In 1940, a booster engine was installed on the trailing truck of No. 1, improving starting and low-speed hill climbing. Service thumb|Locomotive No. 1 In 1938, the first locomotive underwent extensive testing, achieving 3,070 hp at 149.2 km/h. On 24 April 1938, it reached 160 km/h. On 29 June 1938, with a special four-car train, it set a Soviet steam record of 170 km/h between Likhoslavl and Kalinin.A model of the legendary 2-3-2V steam locomotive will become the centrepiece of the new exposition at the National Centre RUSSIA https://en.russia.ru/news/model-legendarnogo-parovoza-tipa-2-3-2v-stanet-centralnoi-castiu-novoi-vystavki-v-nc-rossiia 6 November 2025 en.russia.ru Both locomotives entered service on the October Railway, hauling fast and express passenger trains. They operated the Krasnaya Strela (Red Arrow) express between Leningrad and Moscow, reducing journey time to 8 hours. On one occasion, to recover lost time, a 2-3-2K covered the 331 km from Bologoye to Moscow in 3 hours. Timetables, however, were geared to slower Su locomotives, preventing optimal operation and increasing fuel consumption by 10–12%. Before World War II, plans called for faster express schedules and an order for 10 more units from Kolomna, but the German invasion halted production. Between 1938 and 1940, the locomotives covered about 170,000 km. Post-war, they were limited to 70 km/h. Streamlined casing, trailing-wheel brakes, and the booster on No. 1 were removed for easier maintenance, reducing service weight to 115 t and adhesive weight to 57 t. References Bibliography Rakov Vitaly Lokomotivy otechestvennykh zheleznykh dorog 1845–1955 ru:Локомотивы отечественных железных дорог 1845–1955 Locomotives of the Domestic Railways 1845–1955 ru 1995 5-277-00821-7 Category:Steam locomotives of the Soviet Union Category:Individual locomotives Category:4-6-4 locomotives Category:2′C2′ locomotives Category:Railway locomotives introduced in 1937 Category:Streamlined steam locomotives Category:5 ft gauge locomotives