The Pureshi-class (プレシ) locomotives were a group of steam tank locomotives with

2-6-2 Under the Whyte notation for the classification of steam locomotives, represents the wheel arrangement of two leading wheels, six coupled driving wheels and two trailing wheels. This arrangement is commonly called a Prairie. Overview The major ...

wheel arrangement of used by the Chosen Government Railway (''Sentetsu'') in Korea. The "Pure" name came from the American naming system for steam locomotives, under which locomotives with 2-6-2 wheel arrangement were called "Prairie". In all, Sentetsu owned 227 locomotives of all Pure classes, whilst privately owned railways owned another 52; of these 279 locomotives, 169 went to the

Korean National Railroad The Korea Railroad Corporation (Korean: 한국철도공사, Hanja: ), branded as KORAIL (코레일, officially changed to in November 2019), is the national railway operator in South Korea. Currently, KORAIL is a public corporation, managed ...

in South Korea and 110 to the Korean State Railway in North Korea.

Description

The Pureshi class consisted of 46 Purei-class locomotives rebuilt by Sentetsu's

Gyeongseong Works Seoul has been known in the past by successive names, including Wiryeseong () and Hanseong (Baekje era), Bukhansangun (Goguryo era), Hanyang (North and South states period), Namgyeong (, Goryeo era), Hanyangbu (Goryeo under Mongol rule), Hanseong ...

from 1925. Major modifications included increasing the size of the

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to allow the use of

lignite Lignite, often referred to as brown coal, is a soft, brown, combustible, sedimentary rock formed from naturally compressed peat. It has a carbon content around 25–35%, and is considered the lowest rank of coal due to its relatively low heat ...

, which has a lower caloric value than

anthracite Anthracite, also known as hard coal, and black coal, is a hard, compact variety of coal that has a submetallic luster. It has the highest carbon content, the fewest impurities, and the highest energy density of all types of coal and is the hig ...

coal. Boiler volume was increased, the heat transfer area was increased, the

stoker Stoker may refer to: Arts and entertainment * "The Stoker", a 1927 short story by Franz Kafka * ''The Stoker'' (1932 film), an American drama/romance film directed by Chester M. Franklin * ''The Stoker'' (1935 film) , a British comedy film direc ...

was enlarged, and special attention was given to the prevention of sparks. The performance was found to be good, and eventually 46 Purei class locomotives were rebuilt to Pureshi standard. The redesign work also gave Sentetsu engineers important experience, which was later applied to the design of the Pashishi and

Mikasa Mikasa ( ja, 三笠) may refer to: Businesses * Mikasa Sports, a sporting goods manufacturer * Mikasa & Company, a brand of tableware and food utensils Places * Mikasa, Hokkaido, Japan * Mikasa Park, in Yokosuka, Kanagawa, Japan * Mount Wakakusa ...

-class locomotives. After Sentetsu's general renumbering of 1938 they were numbered プレシ1 through プレシ46. The original identities of the locomotives rebuilt is unknown.

Postwar

After the

Liberation Liberation or liberate may refer to: Film and television * ''Liberation'' (film series), a 1970–1971 series about the Great Patriotic War * "Liberation" (''The Flash''), a TV episode * "Liberation" (''K-9''), an episode Gaming * '' Liberati ...

and

partition of Korea The division of Korea began with the defeat of Japan in World War II. During the war, the Allied leaders considered the question of Korea's future after Japan's surrender in the war. The leaders reached an understanding that Korea would be li ...

, the Pureshi-class locomotives were divided between North and

South South is one of the cardinal directions or Points of the compass, compass points. The direction is the opposite of north and is perpendicular to both east and west. Etymology The word ''south'' comes from Old English ''sūþ'', from earlier Pro ...

, but the specifics of which engine went where are unclear; those going to the

in the South would be designated 푸러4 (''Pureo4'') class, those with the Korean State Railway in the North would be designated 부러너 (''Purŏnŏ'') class.

References

{{DPRKloco Locomotives of Korea under Japanese rule Locomotives of North Korea Locomotives of South Korea Railway locomotives introduced in 1925 2-6-2 locomotives Baldwin locomotives Gyeongseong Works locomotives Rebuilt locomotives