This Russian O Class steam locomotive – OV 5067 – was built in 1896 and was converted into an armored train during the war. More than 9100 of this O class types were built between 1890 and 1928 making it the second most produced class of train in Russia. Photographed at the Central Museum of Armed Forces in Moscow 2009.
Russian Armored Locomotive – O Class – number OV 5067 – Photo 2009
Russian Armored Locomotive – O Class – number OV 5067 – Photo 2009The Soviet or Russian Armored Locomotive – O ClassThe Russian Armored Locomotive – O Class was a heily armored railway locomotive used by the Soviet Union during the Russian Civil War and early years of World War II. Designed to protect vital railway routes and prevent enemy attacks on trains carrying troops, supplies, and equipment, the O Class locomotives were an innovative solution to rail transport security in hostile environments.
The O Class was based on the O-series Soviet steam locomotives, which were modified by adding armor plating to the engine and tender. The armor was typically 6 mm to 12 mm thick, designed to protect the locomotive from small arms fire, machine gun bursts, and shrapnel. The locomotive featured a large steam boiler that powered its piston-driven wheels, allowing it to achieve a top speed of 60 km/h (37 mph), depending on track conditions.
The armored O Class locomotives were equipped with multiple machine gun mounts and occasionally anti-aircraft guns to provide fire support during transport. They also had searchlights mounted for nighttime operations. The locomotives were used to pull armored trains, which often included artillery, troops, and additional armored cars, playing a key role in railway defense and offensive operations.
Although their use was largely limited to the early 20th century, the armored O Class represented an important step in the integration of armored vehicles into rail transport for military operations.
Russian Armored Locomotive – O Class – number OV 5067 – Photo 2009
Russian Armored Locomotive – O Class – number OV 5067 – Photo 2009
Russian Armored Locomotive – O Class – number OV 5067 – Photo 2009
Unconverted Steam Locomotive OV 7024 Moscow – curtesy of Wikipedia
Russian Armored Locomotive – O Class – number OV 5067 – Photo 2009We learned from Yuri Pasholok that the armored train has been expanded with a flak train and a gun train, a T34 with a 76 mm gun turret and anti-aircraft guns he been added to the train set. Below are photos taken by Yuri somewhere in the 2020’s at the Central Armed Forces Museum in Moscow. It seems that the panzer train has been merged with the wagons of Poklonnaya Hill open-air museum in Moscow.
Russian Armored Train – O Class Locomotive – photo by Yuri Pasholok
Russian Armored Train – Anti-aircraft wagon – photo by Yuri Pasholok
Russian Armored Train – Anti-aircraft wagon – photo by Yuri Pasholok
Russian Armored Train – Anti-aircraft wagon – photo by Yuri Pasholok
Russian Armored Train – O Class Locomotive– photo by Yuri Pasholok
Russian Armored Train – Gun Wagon, T34 with 76 mm gun – photo by Yuri Pasholok
Russian Armored Train – Gun Wagon, T34 with a 76 mm gun – photo by Yuri Pasholok
Russian Armored Train – Gun Wagon, T34 with a 76 mm gun – photo by Yuri Pasholok
Location details Located atThe Central Museum of the Armed Forces – Moscow, Russia
Ulitsa Sovetskoy Armii, 2, Moskva, Russia, 129272