Locomotive U-127

Russian steam locomotive U-127 is a 4-6-0 locomotive of type Russian locomotive class U, preserved at The Museum of the Moscow Railway next to Paveletsky Rail Terminal in Moscow. The locomotive was the first Russian steam locomotive preserved; forming part of a museum commemorating the funeral train of Vladimir Lenin.

Background and history

The Russian locomotive class U was a four-cylinder De Glehn Compound locomotive, which first appeared in 1906.^[1] 62 class Us were built between 1906 and 1916 at the Putilov factory (later the Kirov Plant.^[1] By the beginning of 1940 the inventory still listed 47 class U locomotives.^[1] The last locomotives were withdrawn in 1952.^[1] U-127 is famous for being Lenin's locomotive, hence its preservation. It was used to bring his body back to Moscow for his funeral. For this reason it has escaped the ravages of time and, much like Lenin himself, it was preserved in perfect condition. It has not moved since 1948,^[2] but it is still oiled and cleaned regularly.

U-127 was the Soviet Union's first and, until the 1980s, only preserved Russian locomotive. The only other preserved locomotive was H2.293 at Finland Station in Leningrad/St. Petersburg, which brought Lenin back from exile.^[2] However, H2.293 was built by Richmond Locomotive Works in the USA for the Finnish State Railways, and thus technically not a Russian locomotive.^[2]

U-127 was built in 1910 with builder's number 1960, and was destined for the Tashkent railway.^[1] The builder's plate is on the smoke dome. During the Civil War the locomotive was being used on front-line areas near Aktyubinsk, Orenburg Mertvye Soli station, where it was badly damaged. After that the locomotive was taken to Moscow and dismantled. In May 1923 the locomotive was restored at a "subbotnik" organized in Moscow depot of the Ryazan-Urals Railway. A "subbotnik" is a Soviet tradition when workers volunteer their labour free of charge on a Saturday (subbota). Once reassembled U-127 was painted in Soviet red and its tender adorned with revolutionary slogans. Lenin was elected the honorary engine driver. It was therefore seen as having a personal attachment to Lenin, which explains its role in his funeral.

Pallbearers Carrying Lenin's Coffin during his funeral, from Paveletsky Station to the Labor Temple. Felix Dzerzhinsky at the front with Timofei Sapronov behind him and Lev Kamenev on the left

On 23 January 1924 the locomotive U-127 hauled Lenin's funeral train from Gerasimovskaya platform up to Paveletsky Railway Station. After that it was used to haul passenger trains in Paveletsky Railway Station direction for another 13 years. It was Moscow train depot property. The locomotive was taken out of service in 1937. Then it was decided to preserve it for future generations. It was then completely overhauled and thoroughly restored. At the start of the Second World War the locomotive was evacuated to Ulyanovsk city and only in October 1945 did it return to Moscow. A special museum pavilion was built in 1948 next to Paveletsky Railway Station to shelter to the locomotive together with the van number 1691 in which the body of Lenin had been transported. The pavilion was rebuilt in 1980. As of 2011 it houses the Museum of the Moscow Railway.

Gallery

Locomotive U-127 and funeral train exhibit at the Museum of the Moscow Railway
U-127 in 1923 after repair  U-127 in 1937 after restoration  Cab  Inscription plaque  Tender with inscription  Builder's plate, steam dome and whistle  Van 1691

See also

• Restored trains
• Finland Station, St.Petersburg: arrival point of Lenin from exile

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Locomotive U-127.

• Lenin's Funeral Train Photographs