Builder: Mr_Kleinstein
Region: Europe & Middle East
Category entered:
Year entered: 2024
Brand of building bricks used:
LEGO
Since 2026, the Brick Train Awards have accepted models created with other LEGO®-compatible construction brick systems.
About So. Austrian Railways 289 (pneumatic model) by Mr_Kleinstein
This is a model of an 1854 locomotive of the Southern Austrian National Railways, built by Haswell of Vienna. Although designed to pull express trains, this early design hasn´t even got a windscreen or a cab. Engine drivers on the southern Austrian mountain lines had a tough job, particularly in the winter.
Among several interesting prototypes of the period, I chose the No. 289, because it has inside cylinders. This allowed me to install a pneumatic drivetrain without compromising the design.
There is no photo of the original tender, but judging from images of other engines, a standard 3-axle tender was most likely employed.
The track gauge is 9 studs from railhead to railhead, or 7 studs in between rails.
All bricks except the train wheels are original Lego parts, including the pneumatics.
The prototype was found in the book "Lokomotiven der alten deutschen Staats- und Privatbahnen", by Hermann Maey & Erhard Born, transpress 1983 - a treasure trove of old and unusual locomotives.
Video of So. Austrian Railways 289 (pneumatic model)
The builder of So. Austrian Railways 289 (pneumatic model) has submitted a video, which can be viewed below:
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