The Russian locomotive class U was a four-cylinder de Glehncompound locomotive, which first appeared in 1906. 62 class Us were built between 1906 and 1916 at the Putilov factory (later the Kirov Plant. By the beginning of 1940 the inventory still listed 47 class U locomotives.[1] The last locomotives were withdrawn in 1952.[1] U-127 is famous for being Vladimir Lenin's locomotive, hence its preservation. It was used to bring his body back to Moscow for his funeral. For this reason it has escaped the ravages of time and, much like Lenin himself, it was preserved in perfect condition. It has not moved since 1948.[2]
U-127 was the Soviet Union's first and, until the 1980s, only preserved Russian locomotive. The only other preserved locomotive was Hk1 293 at Finland Station in Leningrad/St. Petersburg, which brought Lenin back from exile.[2] However, Hk1 293 was built by Richmond Locomotive Works in the USA for the Finnish State Railways, and thus technically not a Russian locomotive.[2] U-127 was built in 1910 with builder's number 1960, and was destined for the Tashkent railway.[1]
Gallery
Locomotive U-127 and funeral train exhibit at the Museum of the Moscow Railway
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