Century-old class 365.0 steam locomotive returns from Germany after four years
Class 365.0 represents the first type of steam locomotive constructed in Czechoslovakia.
Czech Railways and the Railroad Museum in Lužná u Rakovníka are about to put the unique class 365.024 steam locomotive from 1923 back into service. After four years in Deutsche Bahn workshops in Meiningen, the locomotive is returning to Lužná to complete its demanding renovation. It should be able to run under its power next year on the occasion of its 100th birthday. The locomotive was transported to Lužná by road.
The locomotive was transported to Germany in September 2018 with the boiler already renovated. At that time, it was planned that it would return from Germany under its power at the end of 2019. However, it turned out that the locomotive was in much worse condition than expected and the pandemic disrupted the work. To save money, ČD decided to carry out the finishing works itself in Lužná.
Experts in Meiningen restored the locomotive’s running gear with complete internal and external wiring, the steam engine itself (including the production of a new right steam cylinder), a boiler was installed and a rolling test was performed.
This type is seen as Czechoslovakia’s first independent locomotive construction and as such is an object of great technical and social importance. The locomotive was kept in various places for over 50 years and deteriorated due to weather conditions. Its condition before the renovation was extremely poor. The cost of renovation is more than EUR 407 thousand, ČD did not specify the exact amount.
Edited and translated by Lucie Trávníčková