VR Class Hr1

The Hr1 class (original classification P1) was the largest passenger express steam locomotive built in Finland. Twenty-two were built between the years 1937–1957. They were numbered 1000–1021.

In the 1930s, there was a need for faster and heavier express trains in Finland, and the Hv1–Hv3 classes were not powerful enough to fill the need. Lokomo Oy in Tampere built first two prototypes, and after successful trials 20 more were built.
Most of the locomotives were fitted with Wagner-type smoke deflectors, but the last two, which were equipped with roller bearings, had Witte-type deflectors.

The class's nickname was , meaning approximately "(respected) Grandpa Pekka", after the President of Finland Pehr Evind Svinhufvud.

The Hr1 was built for coal firing, but during the coal shortage after the war in 1945, birch wood was used as fuel. Larger chimneys needed for extinguishing wood sparks were temporarily fitted.

The Hr1s were the most important express steam locomotive and could justifiably be called the "flagships" of VR until 1963, when diesel locomotives started to replace steam. Their use ended officially in 1971, but two Hr1s equipped with roller bearings were brought back to use for a short time in the spring of 1974. One engine, 1005, was a participant in the worst peacetime railroad accident in Finland, the Kuurila accident, in 1957. The engine is preserved at Haapamäki.

Hr1's sister locomotive was the Tr1 class, otherwise similar, but with 2-8-2 wheel arrangement and smaller diameter drivers for freight train use.

Preservation

The following are preserved:
* 1000 Haapamäki
* 1001 Hyvinkää
* 1002–1005 Haapamäki, 1003 sectioned to show the inside of a steam locomotive
* 1008 Acton, Suffolk, England
* 1010 Haapamäki
* 1011 Otanmäki
* 1012 Oulainen
* 1014 Haapamäki
* 1016 named "Lady Patricia" on a Private Railway near Windsor, Berkshire, United KingdomSteamlocomotive.com - Fifield Central
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* 1019, 1020 Haapamäki
* 1021 Riihimäki

Gallery

File:Hr1 1002 (2'C1'h2).jpg, Hr1 1002 at Haapamäki
File:Hr1 1003 (aufgeschnitten).jpg, Hr1 1003 at Haapamäki
File:Hr1 1003, Tender (aufgeschnitten).jpg, Hr1 1003 at Haapamäki
File:Halkihoyrykupu.jpg, Hr1 1003 at Haapamäki
File:Ukkopekka.jpg, Finnish Hr1 class 4-6-2 steam locomotive No 1009 at Pasila
File:Lokomo HR1 in Lappeenranta August 6th 2014.jpg, Hr1 1009 at Lappeenranta
File:Steam-Train-1944.jpg, A 1944 Postage stamp depicting a Finnish train with a steam locomotive; the nickname of this heavy locomotive was "Ukko-Pekka"
File:Toijala railway station 1953.jpg, Hr1 1009 at Toijala railway station 1953
File:Model VR Class Hr 1 1001 Helsinki Central Station Ticket Hall 1.jpg, Scale 1:10 model of VR Class Hr1 1001 in the ticket hall of Helsinki Central Station
File:Model VR Class Hr 1 1001 Helsinki Central Station Ticket Hall 2.jpg, Scale 1:10 model of VR Class Hr1 1001 in the ticket hall of Helsinki Central Station
File:Model VR Class Hr 1 1001 Helsinki Central Station Ticket Hall 4.jpg, Scale 1:10 model of VR Class Hr1 1001 in the ticket hall of Helsinki Central Station
File:Model VR Class Hr 1 1001 Helsinki Central Station Ticket Hall 5.jpg, Scale 1:10 model of VR Class Hr1 1001 in the ticket hall of Helsinki Central Station
File:Model VR Class Hr 1 1001 Helsinki Central Station Ticket Hall 6.jpg, Scale 1:10 model of VR Class Hr1 1001 in the ticket hall of Helsinki Central Station
File:Model VR Class Hr 1 1001 Helsinki Central Station Ticket Hall 7.jpg, Scale 1:10 model of VR Class Hr1 1001 in the ticket hall of Helsinki Central Station
File:Model VR Class Hr 1 1001 Helsinki Central Station Ticket Hall 8.jpg, Scale 1:10 model of VR Class Hr1 1001 in the ticket hall of Helsinki Central Station
File:Model VR Class Hr 1 1001 Helsinki Central Station Ticket Hall 9.jpg, Scale 1:10 model of VR Class Hr1 1001 in the ticket hall of Helsinki Central Station

See also

* Finnish Railway Museum
* VR Group
* List of Finnish locomotives
* List of railway museums Worldwide
* Heritage railways
* List of heritage railways
* Restored trains
* Jokioinen Museum Railway
* History of rail transport in Finland
* VR Class Pr1
* VR Class Tk3
* VR Class Hr11
* Ukko-Pekka

References

External links

*

1016 "Lady Patricia" on her test run 28 June 2013
{{Finnish locomotives

Tampella locomotives
Hr1
4-6-2 locomotives
2′C1′ locomotives
Railway locomotives introduced in 1937
Hr1
Passenger locomotives
5 ft gauge locomotives