HLD 5922

The HLD5922 was built by Cockerill-Sambre in 1954.

History

Around the 1950s, SNCB urgently needed heavy diesel locomotives as steam traction was systematically phased out.

Initially, SNCB wanted to order 95 heavy diesel locomotives. This order was divided into 40 locomotives types 202 and 203 which were especially suitable for the sloping Ardennes lines and 55 locomotives type 201 for the less steep main lines of Belgium. The six-axle locomotives of types 202 and 203 were directly derived from the American-inspired 'bulbous nose shape', but the type 201 locomotives were of an entirely Belgian design. Baume et Marpent eventually signed on to design the locomotive. The now famous engine was an existing and proven design by Baldwin, type Hamilton, built under licence by Cockerill. The reliable and powerful marine diesel combined with the relative small length of the locomotive made the 201 a wolf in sheep's clothing, and definitely in a positive sense. Cockerill at Seraing assembled the 55 locomotives and thus built the diesel engines under licence. Construction of the bare boxes was subcontracted to Atelier Métallurgiques de Nivelles and Baume et Marpent in Morlanwelz. Both firms built the locomotives almost simultaneously, and during much of the delivery process a locomotive was delivered alternately to Cockerill.

You can find out more about Series 59 at here find.

All her life, the 5922 mainly hauled heavy goods trains but also the occasional passenger train. Around the 1990s she was sold by SNCB she was then bought by an association in the High Fens: The Vennbahn. This association went bankrupt in 2004, the locomotive fell into the hands of the Eisenbahn-Freunde-Grenzland (EFG)

In 2010, a first attempt was made by non-profit organisation Tubize 2069 to purchase this unique locomotive without any result. Some time later, a technical analysis was done by Eisenhban-Freunde-Grenzland (EFG) to see if it was feasible to put it in technical order but it turned out that the repairs were too extensive. So she was put up for sale in 2014 to be scrapped. When the non-profit association Tubize 2069 heard this news they immediately intervened! And bought her immediately so she could not be scrapped.

In 2015, the Wertz demolition company informed that the locomotive could no longer remain on their premises. The non-profit organisation Tubize 2069 was requested to remove the locomotive within 10 days or it would be scrapped on the spot!!! But thanks to the transport company Dick, our locomotive could be removed in time. Thanks to the intervention of TSP (Toerisme en SpoorPatrimonium), the locomotive could be given temporary shelter in the diesel traction workshop in Schaarbeek.

Restoration

In 2017, the restoration began. Together with some people from our association and people from TSP, they went to work on the engine. The fuel injection pumps and batery connections were checked and repaired where necessary, after 14 years of downtime, this beast came back to life on 13 November 2017. (see video below)

On 4 August 2018, the Schaerbeek building was declared unsafe, forcing her to move back. As a temporary solution, she was transferred to the Kinkempois workshop where she would stay for 2 years. On 31 July, she left again, this time to the museum railway CFB (Chemin de Fer du Bocq) where restoration work continued.

It was found that the turbo had frozen completely, so a new one had to be made. In the meantime, new steel plates were made and welded in. Everything was thoroughly sanded down and painted back to the 1970s version. On 11 September 2021, she finally arrived at her final destination in Baasrode. Where the final works were carried out to make her roadworthy again.

On 2 January 2022, the moment finally arrived the engine will be run warm for the first time, to see that the restoration was a success and it certainly was! After a few hours of valve adjustment, the engine was running like it did 50 years ago.

Since then, you can hear her roar again several times a year!

At the association

The HLD5922 is owned by vzw Tubize 2069 and can be seen in action several times a year on the museum railway between Baasrode and Puurs. Mainly during Scheldeland in Steam, special rides, dinner trains...

Gallery