European Railroad Discussion > BDZ 46.03, 2-12-4, Under Repair

BDZ 46.03, 2-12-4T (Cegielski Poznan 203 / 1936) was recently moved from Asenovo to Sofia, Bulgaria, for repairs. European correspondents guess this locomotive could be steamed as soon as 2016.

In addition to two images supplied my correspondent, the attached image was found on the Internet:

"BDZ 46 Class 2cyl 2-12-4T 46.05 at Sofia Podenue shed 4th May 1964. Gerald Robinson"

Additional information from another website:

"Apart from the number of axles, this design was a standard gauge superheated simple-expansion locomotive. The 3rd and 4th axles had flangeless wheels. They were designed to haul heavy coal trains on steep mountain gradients (up to 1 in 35.7 and more) which they did very successfully. Bulgarian railwaymen called them "Mother Bear". These engines appear to be the most powerful steam locomotives built in Europe. Remarkably, it appears that two examples, 46.03 and 46.13, have been preserved."

"Two batches were built, with some significant differences."

"The first batch of 12 was built in 1931 by Cegielski Poznan (a company in Poland) as 4 501 - 512; from 1936 46 01 - 12 (Builder nos: 201 - 212). These had two cylinders of 700 mm diameter."

"The second batch of 8 was built by Schwartzkopff Berlin 46 13 - 20 (Builder nos: 11794-11801) These had three cylinders of 550 mm diameter."

Source: http://www.douglas-self.com/MUSEUM/LOCOLOCO/12/12.htm

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That's a brute that will be fun to see under steam…

Steve Mitchell
http://www.yardgoatimages.com

Union Pacific had 88 4-12-2 locomotives, they all had three cylinders; these were the only 12-coupled-driver locomotives in North America. One of them is preserved in Southern California. I've read that in Russia/USSR a 4-14-4 locomotive was built, but it was one axle too many and was scrapped. Did any other European railway use a 12-driver non-articulated engine? The BDZ 46 series must have been used for short-turn helper service--a locomotive that large wouldn't get very far without the fuel and water capacity of a tender.