Jarocin 2026-03-29

Steam locomotive of the Ol49 series.

The Ol49 series locomotive is a passenger steam locomotive with an “L” axle configuration, i.e., 1C1 (also known as oOOOo). The Ol49 locomotive was developed by Polish designers in 1949. Production began at the FABLOK factory in Chrzanów. 116 locomotives were built.

After World War II, almost all passenger rail transport relied on steam-powered trains. At the end of the 1940s, the rolling stock used for long-distance trains, including express trains, needed to be modernized. The Ok1 and Ok22 steam locomotives (built between 1907 and 1923) were suitable for light suburban and local passenger trains. However, they were insufficient for long-distance trains, which were necessarily operated by freight locomotives. Therefore, work began on a steam locomotive, designated the Ol49 series by PKP. Serial production of the OL49 locomotives was commissioned to the FABLOK plant in Chrzanów, which at the time bore the name of Felix Dzerzhinsky (a Bolshevik, founder of the Soviet terror apparatus, head of the Cheka and the GPU). Between 1951 and 1955, 112 Ol49 locomotives were produced for PKP. An additional four were built for North Korea.

Polish designers drew on their experience in the design and operation of the Pt47, Ty45, and Ty246 series locomotives. The locomotive’s design significantly facilitated the work of the locomotive crew. However, during operation, some components were modified. The boiler water injector was replaced. The arrangement of some closing elements was altered. New headlights were installed and their arrangement was changed, adding a third headlight to the locomotive’s front end (not on all units). Blade-type deflectors were added under the locomotive’s front end. To simplify production and repairs, the convex smokebox doors were replaced with flat doors. From 1961, the SHP (Automatic Train Braking) device was installed on the Ol49 locomotives. The running gear of the tenders was modified, with rolling bearings installed or new 2XT bogies installed, which were used in freight wagons. During operation, the locomotives were no longer painted green. Entire locomotives were painted black. In many cases, depot workers painted the locomotives according to their own discretion (paint availability): wheels, trusses, underframes, etc.

Ol49 locomotives entered service with all DOKP divisions. The locomotives pulled long-distance, express, and occasionally local trains. Most of the Ol49 locomotives were withdrawn from service in the early 1990s. By 2010, approximately 40 Ol49 locomotives had survived. Most of them are exhibits, unfit for operation and beyond their service life. However, many can be restored to service. In 2019, two Ol49 locomotives were in operation at the Wolsztyn depot.

Compared to the Ok1 and Ok22 steam locomotives, the Ol49 steam locomotive accelerated more slowly. However, it could haul trains weighing up to 300 tons at a speed of 100 km/h. The Ol49 steam locomotive hauled trains weighing up to 900 tons at speeds of up to 80 km/h. The Ol49 steam locomotive ran smoothly. With the tender moving forward, the maximum speed was 50 km/h. The large boiler required greater physical effort from the crew when shoveling coal onto the grate. The large supply of water and coal allowed the locomotive to travel up to 800 km. On the Kraków-Warsaw route, the locomotive consumed 4,800-6,200 kg of coal. Everything depended on the quality of the coal and the driving style of the engineer. In winter, coal consumption was higher because the passenger cars were heated.

Ol49-1 steam locomotive.

Manufactured in 1951. Original boiler; Boilermaking and Mechanical Equipment Construction Plant, Plant No. 1, Sosnowiec. Boiler number 12994, manufactured in 1951. Tender 25D49-89. In service: Toruń Kluczyki since December 1951. Olsztyn since 1959. Korsze since 1969. Olsztyn since 1970. Toruń Kluczyki since 1975. Jarocin since 1981. Decommissioned in 1991. A technical monument at Jarocin station since 1992. In 1965, the locomotive was converted to fuel oil. In the 1970s, the locomotive was rebuilt again to traditional coal-fired operation. In 2025, the locomotive was renovated (painted). 

Technical specifications of the Ol49 steam locomotive:

Design speed 100 km/h. Operating weight 144,900 kg. Locomotive empty weight 75,100 kg. Operating weight 82,900 kg. Drive wheel diameter 1.75 m. Rolling wheel diameter 0.85 m. Length 20.70 m. Height 4.55 m. Axle arrangement 1C1. Heating area 162.90 m². Grate area 3.70 m². Boiler pressure 16 atm. Axle load up to 17,400 kg. Schmidt superheater. Heusinger valve gear.

Type 25D49 tender (25 m³ of water, D – four axles, built in 1949). Water capacity 25 m³. Coal capacity 12,000 kg. Tender empty weight 25,000 kg. Tender service weight 62,000 kg.

Written by Karol Placha Hetman