SEK Class Λβ (WD Austerity 2-10-0)
Former Λβ951 preserved as 90775 on the North Norfolk Railway.
Type and origin
Power typeSteam
DesignerRiddles
BuilderNorth British Locomotive Company
Build date1943-1944
Total produced16
Specifications
Configuration:
​
 • Whyte2-10-0
 • UIC1′E h
Gauge4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm)
Driver dia.4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm)
Loco weight78 long tons 6 cwt (175,400 lb or 79.6 t)
Fuel typeCoal
Boiler pressure225 lbf/in2 (1.55 MPa)
CylindersTwo
Cylinder size19 in × 28 in (483 mm × 711 mm)
Performance figures
Tractive effort34,215 lbf (152.20 kN)
Career
Withdrawn1975-1985

SEK (Sidirodromoi Ellinikou Kratous, Hellenic State Railways) Class Λβ (or Class Lb; Lambda-beta) is a class of 16 2-10-0 steam locomotives, ex-WD Austerity 2-10-0s purchased after the Second World War. All of them were previously stabled in Egypt and were transported to Greece, as part of the UNRRA mission in Greece (arrived at Thessaloniki port on 16 January 1946). They were given the class letters "Λβ" and numbers 951–966.

They were mainly allocated to the Salonika division, but hauled both freight and passenger trains (including Athens to Istanbul Expresses) all across Greece, until they were slowly replaced by diesel locomotives until the mid-1970s, being one of the last classes of steam locomotives of SEK to be withdrawn from regular service.

Preservation

A total of six Greek Austerity 2-10-0s survived the 1984-1985 steam locomotive scrappings,[1] two of which were repatriated to Great Britain. Two continued to work tourist specials out of Drama until the mid-00s whilst the remaining two were left in open storage thereby leaving just four survivors in Greece and the two repatriated examples.

Numbers Name Location Image
WD SEK BR
(7)3652 Λβ951 90775* The Royal Norfolk Regiment* (formerly known as Sturdee) Operational, North Norfolk Railway, Norfolk, England[2]
(7)3653 Λβ952 — — Scrapped 1984–85 at Thessaloniki.
(7)3654 Λβ953 — — Scrapped 1984–85 at Thessaloniki.
(7)3655 Λβ954 — — Scrapped 1984–85 at Tithorea
(7)3656 Λβ955 — — Dumped, Thessaloniki old depot, Greece.[3]
(7)3657 Λβ956 — — Scrapped 1984–85 at Tithorea.
(7)3658 Λβ957 — — Scrapped 1984–85 at Tithorea.
(7)3659 Λβ958 — — Stored derelict at Tithorea, Greece.[4]
(7)3660 Λβ959 — — Scrapped 1984–85 at Thessaloniki.
(7)3672 Λβ960 — Dame Vera Lynn* Awaiting overhaul at Grosmont North Yorkshire Moors Railway, Yorkshire, England[5]
(7)3674 Λβ961 — — Scrapped 1984-85 at Rentis Depot, Athens.
(7)3677 Λβ962 — — Stored Drama. Was operational on the Drama to Xanthi line hauling tourist specials until mid 2000s.[6]
(7)3678 Λβ963 — — Scrapped 1984–85 at Thessaloniki.
(7)3682 Λβ964 — — Stored in Thessaloniki depot. Was operational on the Drama to Xanthi line hauling tourist specials until mid 2000s.[7]
(7)3683 Λβ965 — — Scrapped 1984–85 at Tithorea.
(7)3684 Λβ966 — — Scrapped 1984-85 at Thessaloniki.

* Name or number applied after preservation

References

  1. ↑ http://harakevetmagazine.com/downloads/HRKIssue52.pdf
  2. ↑ "Steam Locomotive Information".
  3. ↑ "Steam Locomotive Information".
  4. ↑ "Steam Locomotive Information".
  5. ↑ "Steam Locomotive Information".
  6. ↑ "Steam Locomotive Information".
  7. ↑ "Steam Locomotive Information".


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