The Refurbished Quality (RFQ) series is essential to the SLW-NE collection since it guarantees that the re-issues of historial steamers reach the quality the new versions of Trainz need. So this release of the historical PKP Pm36-2 ‘Beautiful Helena’ with refined modelling details and enhanced textures and tweaks for TRS22 & Plus is an evidence of the new life we are giving to our steamers – always reasonably priced for a fine loco+tender set within this RFQ series.

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Pm36 was designed and built for ambition and prestige rather than actual demands from PKP, which in fact had never ordered this engine: there were almost no railway lines in Poland suitable for 140 km/h, for which the new machine was designed. But it was certainly in line with current trends. Furthermore, it basically offered an alternative for old, light express machines, e.g. Pk1, Pk2 and Pk3, built before 1915, of which PKP had 52 examples, not to mention even older and weaker classes Pd1 through Pd5 with two driven axles, which numbered over 200. It could also supplant passenger locomotives, mainly Ok1s and Ok22s, with lighter express trains. Compared to standard Polish express locomotive, class Pt31, it was lighter by almost 11 tonnes and slightly shorter, but its tractive effort was lower by over 21%.

Pm36 was not ordered by PKP and the question whether it could have been built in quantity shall remain open. Most sources claim that both examples were used by PKP before WWII, but no traces in rosters have been found and most probably they were used only for service tests, including hauling the ‘Nord-Express’ between Kutno and Zbąszyń. Footplate crews were not enthusiastic: firing was judged troublesome and tiring, due to comparatively long distance between coal pile in the tender and grate. According to some sources, coal feeder was probably intended for possible production machines. In 1939, Pm36-1 was captured by Germans, impressed into DRG service and operated (with streamlined fairing removed) with fast trains. DRG service number 18 601 was, however, assigned only in 1944. After a serious boiler failure in 1941 or 1942 it was fitted with Riggenbach counter-pressure brake and used by LVA Grünewald test establishment for various experiments. Many sources claim that it was finally scrapped. According to some Russian sources, however, it was later impressed into SZD service and scrapped in 1952.

Pm36-2 was captured by Soviets and later by Germans. DRG service number 18 602 was in fact never assigned. In 1944 it was evacuated to Austria, in 1947 returned to Poland and was impressed into PKP service as Pm36-1. Withdrawn in June 1970, it was transferred to the Railway Museum in Warsaw. In 1995, however, it was restored in service with its original number Pm36-2. Overhauled by InterLok company of Piła with financial support of British steam enthusiasts and christened ‘Beautiful Helena’ (after Ms. Helena Jones, who substantially contributed to its restoration), it was  widely used with both scheduled and special trains. In 2003 it set the national speed record for steam locomotives, attaining 130 km/h – most probably, never to be beaten. Wolsztyn-based Pm36-2 is well-known among steam fans and even those not particularly interested in railways and locomotives will often claim that they have heard about it. Internet surfers will easily find many traces of its activity; two photos, taken by Tomek Drzewiecki (thanks for permission!), can be seen here. After boiler ticket expiry Pm36-2 was withdrawn in April 2012 and its current status is given as ‘awaiting repair’. With recent decision of PKP Cargo, which is still the formal owner of the engine, to suspend scheduled steam at the Wolsztyn depot, it is not sure if the ‘Beautiful Helena’ will steam again, which is expected to involve considerable expediture.

Extracted from a monographic article by Paweł Terczyński

• This SLW RFQ series production is released with the well-known modelling skills by Marcin Skalbania and enhanced textures powered by Zato Visual Works. Interactivity enabled with coal and water consumption and loading in the tender unit. Full cab enabled with moving parts.
• Models for TRS22 and TRS Plus. Please, check our technical note on our models and previous versions of Trainz here.

• Locomotive+tender and dependencies for them included except for the TRS22/Plus built-in ones.

• New kuid #’s to diferentiate these assets from previous released ones.

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