Class
333B 3-Cylinder Mixed-Traffic Locomotive
Designed
by Mikhail Rodnivacek
Built
in 1955 by North British Locomotive Co., Glasgow, Scotland
At
first glance, Rodnivacek's decision to build new 2-6-2 tender
locomotives just after the class 423A and 423B 4-8-0s and 4-8-4Ts had
appeared is puzzling, to say the least. At this time, the earlier
Tešlov 2-6-2s of class 333A were in the process of being withdrawn and
it is hard to see a sensible sphere of operation for the 333Bs. Also, the
1950s were a time of decline for steam all over Europe and it was
only thanks to Rodnivacek that the RSR postponed the decision on new
forms
of motive power till 1980 and the rest, as we say, is history. Against
this background Rodnivacek
was already planning the next generation of steam power but needed in
the short term a faster version of the 423A. The 333B consisted almost
entirely of standard components (much in the manner of the Turkish 57
class 2-10-2s), simplifying construction and reducing design effort to
a
minimum. In total, eighteen engines were built, some running on boxpok
wheels (and becoming class 333BB) and some attached to Vanderbilt
tenders. All four variations
were to be seen. The highly advanced and sophisticated locomotives of
Rodnivacek's successor, Jochann Ketterik, soon outclassed the 333Bs and
the last survivor was withdrawn in 1977.
The 1950s trend towards poppet valves
almost passed the 333Bs by. In the event, it was possible to amend the
order for the last six engines, making these class 333BC. The
superiority of the poppet valve was
not able to prevent these locos from sharing the fate of their piston-valved
sisters, however.