The NMBS/SNCB Type 64 was a class of steam locomotives built as

Prussian P 8 The Prussian Class P 8 of the Prussian state railways (DRG Class 38.10-40 of the Deutsche Reichsbahn) was a 4-6-0 steam locomotive built from 1906 to 1923 by the Berliner Maschinenbau (previously Schwartzkopff) and twelve other German factories. Th ...

s for German railways, delivered as war reparations to Belgium at the end of

World War I World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fightin ...

. 168 locomotives of this type were delivered to Belgium, working mostly on light passenger trains operated by the

National Railway Company of Belgium french: Société nationale des chemins de fer belgesgerman: Nationale Gesellschaft der Belgischen Eisenbahnen , type = Statutory corporation , industry = Rail Transport , foundation = 1926 , founder = Government of ...

(NMBS/SNCB). The final locomotives of this type were withdrawn in 1967, marking the end of steam service in the country.

Design, construction and service history

As part of the

Treaty of Versailles The Treaty of Versailles (french: Traité de Versailles; german: Versailler Vertrag, ) was the most important of the peace treaties of World War I. It ended the state of war between Germany and the Allied Powers. It was signed on 28 June ...

, Germany had to deliver over 2000 locomotives to Belgium as reparations. The first units arrived in Belgium in 1919, still wearing their German paint and copper plates identifying their region of use and a number. Painted verdigris for the body, black for the smoke box and the red for the chassis, wheels and decoration, these units would retain their German number identification plates until January 1925, keeping their German numbers until they were renumbered by the SNCB on October 1, 1931. Originally built as Prussian P 8 locomotives, the Belgian Type 64 were capable of running up to speeds of 100 km/h. Many of this type of locomotive were maintained at the Central workshop in

Mechelen Mechelen (; french: Malines ; traditional English name: MechlinMechelen has been known in English as ''Mechlin'', from where the adjective ''Mechlinian'' is derived. This name may still be used, especially in a traditional or historical contex ...

, which also performed services including complete tear-downs and boiler repairs. Type 64 locomotives were seen in the Flemish TV series

Wij, Heren van Zichem ''Wij, Heren van Zichem'' (''We, Gentlemen of Zichem'') was a Flemish TV drama series, originally broadcast between 1969 and 1972 in 26 episodes on the BRT (nowadays the Vlaamse Radio- en Televisieomroeporganisatie, VRT). The program was based on ...

, during filming circa 1966.

Preservation

Only one of the Type 64 was preserved by SNCB, the 64.045, which is not in working order. Another locomotive, no. 64.169, has been preserved by

Patrimoine Ferroviaire et Tourisme Patrimoine Ferroviaire et Tourisme (PFT) are a society dedicated to the preservation of Belgian railway heritage. They cover a number of aspects of railway enthusiasm, operating charter trains, maintaining heritage locomotives ( steam and dies ...

(PFT) in Belgium. Originally a CFR 230.084, it was found in a dilapidated state in

Romania Romania ( ; ro, România ) is a country located at the crossroads of Central Europe, Central, Eastern Europe, Eastern, and Southeast Europe, Southeastern Europe. It borders Bulgaria to the south, Ukraine to the north, Hungary to the west, S ...

, sitting in

Bacău Bacău ( , , ; hu, Bákó; la, Bacovia) is the main city in Bacău County, Romania. At the 2016 national estimation it had a population of 196,883, making it the 12th largest city in Romania. The city is situated in the historical region of ...

for 20 years until it was purchased by the PFT on February 3, 2001 for a cost of $23 000. €130.000 was set aside for restoration of the locomotive, which was done by Cumeg in

Cluj-Napoca ; hu, kincses város) , official_name=Cluj-Napoca , native_name= , image_skyline= , subdivision_type1 = Counties of Romania, County , subdivision_name1 = Cluj County , subdivision_type2 = Subdivisions of Romania, Status , subdivision_name2 ...

. It returned to excursion service in Belgium in 2007.

References

* {{DEFAULTSORT:SNCB Type 64 4-6-0 locomotives 64 Type 64 Passenger locomotives Standard gauge locomotives of Belgium

Design, construction and service history

Preservation

See also

References