The locomotive is based on a draft from the years 1927-1929; seven locomotives of the factory designation T1A, basing upon Austrian license, were built by Fablok then.[1] Its development with a superheater was Fablok T2A (Ferrum 29 or Tkh29), of which eleven were built before World War II.[2] The name Ferrum came from Ferrum Ironworks, for which it was developed.[2] The technical documentation survived until after World War II and ten more T2A were manufactured.[2] Due to big need of industrial locomotives in looted post-war Poland, it was decided to develop it into a simplified class of locomotive, factory name T3A or Ferrum 47, from 1947 year. Among other it lacked a superheater.[3] At least 437 examples were made in the years 1948 - 1961, including 30 to China, 3 to Romania and 3 to Hungary.[3] Some factory records indicate 480 locomotives made, but details are not confirmed.[3] Later production locomotives, with more welding adopted, were referred to as Ferrum 724.[3] In China the locomotives were designated as XK 13 and several examples of the class were reported to be working in 1993, with at least three preserved thereafter.[4]
These locomotives worked exclusively in industry, like coalmines, ironworks, chemical works, and were usually designated with TKh prefix, meaning 0-6-0T freight locomotives in Polish State Railways designation system, merged with serial numbers. Only in 1996 one locomotive was acquired by the Polish State Railways (PKP) for its museum depot in Chabówka, and formally designated as PKP class TKh49, namely TKh49-1, thus being the newest PKP steam locomotive.[5]
The locomotive TKh49-1 is preserved at the Museum of Vehicles and Railway Technology in Chabówka, whilst thirteen more are in other museums or as monuments.[6] Several are in working condition. After industrial service, several locomotives have been exported to the United Kingdom for use on heritage railways as detailed below.
Owned by "TKh Support Group". Arrived April 2014 from the Spa Valley Railway, after purchase by Members of the CVR MPD. Funds being acquired for eventual restoration.
Owned by "TKh Support Group". Entered service June 2014 after 12-month restoration by members of MPD following purchase by Members of the MPD. Already done ~1500 miles since restoration!
Purchased by the AFRPS in 1993, and brought back to Scunthorpe shortly afterwards. It was used for over 17 years on passenger trains, but in 2009 was found to be in need of boiler repairs.
Imported to UK and moved to the Avon Valley Railway. Withdrawn in 2013, and sent to the Flour Mill in the Forest of Dean for overhaul. Returned to traffic September 2016.
Arrived in UK in 1992, and entered service on Northampton & Lamport Railway. Sold in November 2016 to a new owner. Boiler requires overhaul with the aim of being back in steam for 2024. 5374 is now in procession of a boiler ticket and will be commencing trials into 2025
Used in Poland until 1990 as a switch engine in a cement yard. In 1992 bought - with TkH 5387 - by the Northampton & Lamport Railway. Back in service condition in 2000. Sold after few years of touristic service to Stoomcentrum_Maldegem (2006). Loaned to CFV3V in 2020.
Pokropiński, Bogdan (2007). Parowozy normalnotorowe produkcji polskiej [Normal gauge steam locomotives of Polish manufacture] (in Polish). Warsaw: Wydawnictwa Komunikacji i Łączności. ISBN978-83-206-1617-0.
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