Class 403.5 | TrainsDepot.org

Class 403.5

Vehicle type: Steam locomotive

Registration country: Hungary

Railway companies: MAV / MÁV - Magyar Államvasutak GySEV - Raaberbahn

Vehicle's history

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1928

The MÁV Class 403.5 consisted of eight steam locomotives belonging to the broader kkStB Class 270 family, but unlike most members of that family operated in Hungary, these locomotives were newly built in Hungary rather than acquired from another state railway.

The locomotives were constructed between 1928 and 1930 by MÁVAG (Magyar Királyi Államvasutak Gépgyára) in Budapest for the Duna–Száva–Adria Vasút (DSA), or Danube–Save–Adria Railway, the successor to the Hungarian network of the former Southern Railway.

Eight locomotives were produced and originally numbered DSA 140.01 - 140.08. Although based on the Austrian kkStB Class 270 design, the Hungarian locomotives incorporated several modifications, including a feedwater dome with scale separator, relocated sandboxes, electric lighting and mechanical lubrication equipment.

1932

Following the reorganisation of the DSA operations in Hungary, the eight locomotives were incorporated into the Hungarian State Railways (MÁV) classification system. In 1932 they became MÁV Class 403.5, receiving the numbers 403.501 - 403.508.

The locomotives subsequently remained part of the Hungarian fleet through the interwar period. Their history became considerably more complicated during the final stages of the Second World War, when locomotives and railway equipment were evacuated westwards or dispersed across territories occupied by different armies. As a result, several members of Class 403.5 were found outside Hungary after 1945. Some were eventually returned to MÁV, while others were incorporated into foreign railway fleets. MÁV 403.502 and 403.504, for example, entered Czechoslovak State Railways service after the war. They became ČSD 434.102 II and 434.107 II respectively, with the latter subsequently renumbered 434.1191 in 1948.

Other locomotives eventually returned to Hungary after several years abroad. MÁV 403.501 was returned from West Germany on 28 July 1952, while 403.503 returned from Poland on 18 November 1952.

1957

During the post-war period, three surviving Class 403.5 locomotives were transferred from MÁV to the Győr-Sopron-Ebenfurth Railway (GySEV). 403.503 was transferred on 16 January 1957, followed by 403.507 in February 1957 and 403.508 in 1958. They continued operating on the GySEV network, with 403.503 withdrawn in 1961 and 403.508 in 1965. The longest-lived of the three was 403.507, which remained with GySEV until 30 April 1970, when it was returned to MÁV.

The progressive introduction of diesel traction reduced the need for the ageing steam locomotives, and the remaining members of Class 403.5 were gradually withdrawn. Although 403.507 survived considerably longer and was at one stage retained for possible museum preservation, it was ultimately scrapped at Szolnok in November 1995.

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