Prins August

The Prins August is a preserved Swedish steam locomotive, built in 1856 by Beyer, Peacock and Company.[1] It is the world’s oldest operating standard gauge steam locomotive, and one of the world's oldest operating steam locos overall, currently in the collection of the Swedish Railway Museum.[2]

Prins August
Prins August in 2006
Type and origin
Power typeSteam
BuilderBeyer, Peacock & Co
Serial number33
Build date1856
Specifications
Configuration:
​
 • Whyte2-4-0
Gauge1,435 mm (4 ft 8 1⁄2 in) standard gauge
Length12.714 m (41 ft 8.6 in)
Fuel typeCoal and water
Performance figures
Maximum speed75 km/h
Career
OperatorsSwedish State Railways
ClassB
Official namePrins August
Last run1906
DispositionPreserved Swedish Railway Museum

The name of the locomotive honors Prince August, Duke of Dalarna, who was fond of railways.

In Service

The locomotive is one of 45 SJ B class types built for service on the Southern Main Line and the Western Main Line, used in mixed freight and passenger service by the Swedish State Railways.

This type was SJ's first locomotive, originally built for passenger service. The units arrived from England without a cab and were capable of 75 km/h in service.[3]

Preservation

The locomotive was taken out of service in 1906 and preserved as a museum object. Kept at the Swedish Railway Museum, it is occasionally used for excursion service, as happened in 2006 for the 150th anniversary celebration of the Malmö–Lund rail line.

References
  1. "SJ No. 3 'Prins August'". steamlocomotive.info. Retrieved June 6, 2020.
  2. "Our Trains". Swedish Railway Museum. Retrieved June 6, 2020.
  3. "LOKOMOTIVET 100 ÅR". Teknisk Tidskrift (in Swedish). No. 528. 1929. pp. 527–528. Retrieved June 6, 2020.
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