The VR Class Vr3 was a class of steam locomotive built in Finland. Before 1942, the class was known as O1.[1] They were nicknamed Kukko ("Rooster" or "Cockerel")[1] and they have the same frames and boiler as the Vr Class Pr1 (Paikku) locomotive. The first locomotive was ordered in 1924 from Hanomag of Germany, number 10 351 and it was numbered 752. The remaining 4 were produced by Tampella Oy in Tampere. They were numbered 752 to 756.[1]

VR Class Vr3
No. 752 on display outside Kuopio railway station
Type and origin
Power typeSteam
BuilderHanomag, Tampella
Build date1924–
Total produced5
Specifications
Configuration:
 • Whyte0-10-0T
Gauge1,524 mm (5 ft)
Length12.83 m (42 ft 1 in)
Loco weight77.9 tonnes (76.7 long tons; 85.9 short tons)
Fuel typeCoal or firewood
Fuel capacity4 t (3.9 long tons; 4.4 short tons)
Water cap.6 cubic metres (210 cu ft)
Firebox:
 • Grate area2.11 m2 (22.7 sq ft)
Heating surface122 m2 (1,310 sq ft)
Performance figures
Maximum speed45 km/h (28 mph)
Career
Numbers752–756
Nicknames“Rooster” / "Cockerel"
First run1924
Withdrawn1975
Disposition752 Kuopio, 753 Haapamäki, 755 Hyvinkää

The VR3 was the largest and most powerful Finnish locomotive of its time. It was a success, but in the hands of inexperienced drivers, it could all too easily damage buffers or break couplings. Therefore, a screw-drive regulator was fitted.[2] At speed there could be longitudinal movement because the locomotive had no bogie wheels, only 5 rigid axles. However, the "Rooster" was generally considered to be a fine locomotive. Some say the name resulted from the slightly louder than a normal whistle. They were deliberately designed to work within very large rail yards, where the overall noise level could be very high. For half a century, the chirpy crow of the "Rooster" was a familiar sound in Finnish marshalling yards. They proved to be agile and could easily scale the humps and complex pointwork of marshaling yards where their great power compensated for their low speed.[2] They were in use until 1975.[3]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c "Suomen rautatiehistoriallinen seura ry". Srhs.fi. Archived from the original on 2016-06-29. Retrieved 2013-07-16.
  2. ^ a b Katajisto, Juhani. (1985). Eilispäivän kulkuneuvoja. Hämeenlinna:Tietoteos. ISBN 951-9035-79-6
  3. ^ "Finnish Railway Museum - Welcome!". Rautatie.org. Archived from the original on 2013-05-16. Retrieved 2013-07-16.
  • Sakari K. Salo: Höyryveturikirja, s. 14. Helsinki: Kustantaja Laaksonen, 2009. ISBN 978-952-5805-12-3.
  • Pölhö, Eljas – Pykälä-Aho, Mia: Suomen juna- ja raitiovaunukuvasto / Finnish Motive Power 1.1.1996., 1996. ISBN 91-7266-133-X. Finnish / English