Hi Guys,
Here's one mor pic of my beloved Λγ994, shot at Athens-MAI in summer 1981. The engine had not been fired for at least 3 years, but still looked great.
Actually, this was the last route locomotive I saw 'hot' in ΔΠΑ (Athens region), back in summer 1977, hauling a tank car train from Aspropyrgos to Piraeus. I saw it discreetly crossing the Athens Larissa station under the amazed look of an American tourist who almost burst into tears when he heard what he called, the 'big Yankee whistle' (I certainly did...). An unconfirmed report mentions 997 with a ballast train at Aghios Stefanos in the same year.
The 'Nylon', so called because it appeared on the scene at the same time with the nylon stockings, was considered to be a difficult engine and was not very popular with the traction staff. It was blamed for unusual and unorthodox features, such as the Nathan-Worthington reversing valve and the double pre-water heater, and also for a very low-positioned steam collector in the boiler; it was not unusual to see boiling water entering the steam tubes while the engine was dancing at relatively high speed on the SEK/OSE tracks...
Not to mention the continuous complaints by people living along Konstantinoupoleos str, when the drivers blew the whistle when leaving or entering the Larissa station during the noon siesta hours! drivers mentioned they received a cascade of "Μούτζες" and "Φάσκελα" (for non-greek members of the forum, traditional greek sign of displeasure; they involve showing your open palm to the targeted person. Careful, most greeks can react quite violently when presented with this gesture...)
Still it was probably the only engine available at that time that could easily run reliably at 100 km/h, which, taking into account the state of the tracks, was quite a remarkable accomplishment. The Ma were geared at 120km/h, but for known reasons that speed had never been reached...
During the last few years, 994 was frequently seen hauling the Athens Khalkis Sunday excursion train for the ΕΡΓΑΤΙΚΗ ΕΣΤΙΑ. The consist was 10 3-wheeled ex-DB Umbau carriages, quite noisy and with wooden seats, and the train was full of screaming families with children. This sight lasted until 1973...
The anecdot is that since the maintenance of the Λγ did not include cleaning the whistles, because of the gathered dirt ('Μάκα), each one of the eight engines ended up having its own distinct whistle sound. I could recognize all eight of them when they left at night, leaving behind a child dreaming of mysterious destinations in far-away north...(
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A good weekend to all,
Iossif
- LG994 at the Athens Rentis roundhouse
Λγ 994+995
Λγ 994
Λγ 994 front view
Λγ 995
Λγ 995 front view
Λγ 994+995 coupling
. So here is one from the Balkanmodels Bought Photos Archive.