„Vladikavkaz Pacifik“ – the Russian/USSR series „L“ passenger steam locomotive

In 1912, due to the increased passenger traffic on Vladikavkaz railway trains and the need to increase the speed of passenger trains, it was necessary either to pair two 2-3-0 type steam locomotives per train or to start using more powerful locomotives. The sketch project of the new steam locomotive was created by the engineer V. Lopushinski, the working design was carried out by the constructor of the Putilov factory A. Rajevski and the factory consultant M. Gololobov, the production of the steam locomotive took place at the Putilov factory. The first "L" series locomotive was produced in 1914. It was very different from the previous steam locomotives of the Vladikavkaz railway, which were produced only 15-20 years ago, but already looked archaic. Externally, it was made according to the best traditions of the Russian locomotive building school of that time - it had a large firebox, a tall boiler and a shortened chimney. The writer A. Platonov, who admired "Vladikavkaz Pacific", was indifferent to steam locomotives and knew a lot about them, testified, that it was a "huge and reliable machine of the Putilov factory". By 1918 18 locomotives were built and sent to the Vladikavkaz line. After the Civil War, production resumed, continuing until 1926. Steam locomotives of this series hauled trains of the main line of the "October line", and other steam locomotives from the Vladikavkaz line were also transferred to it. A total of 66 "Pacific" steam locomotives were produced, factory numbers 101-166, and only one of them was broken in an accident near Novorossiysk. The streak wasn't plentiful, and there were good reasons for that. On the Vladikavkaz road locomotives powered by liquid fuel operated, so the fire engine of "Pacific" was adapted exclusively for burning fuel oil, and the small fuel hole did not allow it to be converted for burning with coal. Although the capacity of steam locomotives was increased, not every line could buy expensive oil-based fuel. Another reason was the inadequacy of the express locomotive to pull heavy passenger trains at low speed, namely after 1917. These began to prevail. Also, the shortcomings of the "L" steam locomotives began to appear, compared to the "S" series, their efficiency was lower. Due to excessive pulling force, there was a tendency to slip, which sometimes led to couplings bending and even breaking. Repair and maintenance of the complex multi-cylinder machine required a lot of manpower. In Russian conditions, extremely simple locomotives, which use all types of fuel and are equally suitable for various jobs, turned out to be more suitable. "Pacific" steam locomotives worked on the "October Railway" until 1937, hauling long-distance passenger trains, including the famous "Red Arrow". With high-speed trains, their features and high power manifested themselves in full force. With the advent of the powerful "IS" series, the "Vladikaukaz Pacific" were sent to their historical homeland - the railways of the North Caucasus. In the first years of the Great Patriotic War, many 2-3-1 locomotives were transferred to the back railways of Tomsk and some to Ashgabat. Here "Pacific's" survived the terrible earthquake of 1947. In the early post-war years there was a shortage of such locomotives, as passenger traffic began to grow and their production was stopped in 1941. It breathed a second life into powerful, but aging and complex machines. Since the new freight locomotive was given the same "L" series by the constructor L.S. In the name of Lebedyansky, Lopushinsky locomotives were renamed Лп (п - p - "Putilovskyj"). The locomotives, which had served for a long time and endured difficult times, were returned to the North Caucasus, where they worked until the 1960s. The last Лп 151 was written off in 1967, adding to the list of steam locomotives, that have disappeared forever.

Well designed and detailed, a complex, but beautiful model, that only an intermediate to experienced modeler can make. The interior of the driver's cabin, chassis, tender, exterior details are perfectly detailed.