TKb nr 2 steam locomotive is a typical example of one-off series of machines built for industry purposes, mostly from unified parts. Large railway companies had already stopped ordering small locomotives like these in the nineties of the 19th century. Later only factories and local railway lines, operated by municipal or private companies ordered them. Two large German locomotive factories – Krauss-Maffei and Orenstein & Koppel had specialised in this sort of production.

These small locomotives were able to operate on short distances ranging from 10 to 30 km. They didn’t have a tender extending water and coal supplies. Boilers and steam machines were of small power, ranging from 150 to 300 KM. Because of that the locomotives were very economic and cheap in operation. Being relatively light they didn’t require expensively built lines and bridges.

Locomotives from local lines had been in many cases connected with the areas currently located in Poland. Individual units were being operated on various private local Prussian railways in the area of Poznan, Gdansk, Szczecin and Wroclaw. Hundreds of locomotives also worked on many industrial sidings in all partitions of Poland and later in sovereign Poland. Unfortunately, out of large number of locomotives not many have survived. Only one of them was built especially for Polish industrial factory – now it’s one of the most precious items in our collection.

2-axle TKb nr 2 locomotive was built in 1925 for the Sugar Factory “Dobrzelin”, located near Kutno. Constructed by 19th century production standards it includes typical Orenstein & Koppel boiler, armature and gear solutions. Its shape and look as well as the cone-shaped chimney are also characteristical for this particular factory.

Having purchased the locomotive, the Sugar Factory marked it with number “2” and began operating its 3-kilometers long siding connecting the factory with the railway station in Zychlin. The machine continued to work there until 1975. Several years later the locomotive was saved from scrapping by generously donating it to the Polish Association of Railway Enthusiasts as an important relic of technical culture.

Currently the PSMK is restoring the chassis, driver’s cabin and coal box. The boiler needs a sponsor.

ESSENTIAL TECHNICAL DATA

• track width: 1435 mm
• wheel arrangement: 0 – 2 – 0 (0 – 4 – 0)
• boiler pressure: 12 atmospheres
• total heating surface: 32,8 square meters
• grate area: 0,6 square meters
• type of steam engine: twin
• maximal speed: 35 km/h
• weight in working order: 16,1 tons
• water/coal capacity: 2 cubic meters / 0,3 tons
• length over buffers: 6785 mm

The TKb nr 2 locomotive was built in 1925 by

• Orenstein & Koppel AG factory in Berlin-Drewitz (serial number: 10672/1925)