NS 3500 (ex-SBB)

The NS 3500 was a series of steam locomotives of the Dutch Railways (NS), which were acquired second-hand from the Swiss railways SBB.

Power typeSteam

Power typeSteam

BuilderSchweizerische Lokomotiv- und Maschinenfabrik (SLM)

Build date1946

NS 3500
NS 3518, ex SBB A 3/5 642
Type and origin Power type Steam Builder Schweizerische Lokomotiv- und Maschinenfabrik (SLM) Build date 1946 Total produced 22
Specifications Configuration: ​  • Whyte 4-6-0  • UIC 2'C Gauge 1,435 mm (4 ft 8 1⁄2 in) Driver dia. 1,780 mm (5 ft 10 in) Length 18,740 mm (61 ft 6 in) Height 4,485 mm (14 ft 8.6 in) Loco weight 73 t (80 short tons; 72 long tons) Tender weight 41.4 t (45.6 short tons; 40.7 long tons) Fuel type Coal Fuel capacity 7 t (7.7 short tons; 6.9 long tons) Water cap. 18 m3 (4,000 imp gal) Firebox: ​  • Grate area 15.3 m2 (165 sq ft) Boiler pressure 14 kg/cm2 (200 psi) Heating surface: ​  • Firebox 2.8 m2 (30 sq ft)  • Tubes 135.7 m2 (1,461 sq ft) Superheater: ​  • Heating area 42.4 m2 (456 sq ft) Cylinders 4 (2 high pressure, 2 low pressure) Cylinder size high pressure: 425 mm × 660 mm (16.7 in × 26.0 in), low pressure: 630 mm × 660 mm (25 in × 26 in) Valve gear Walschaerts
Performance figures Tractive effort 14,390 kgf (31,700 lbf)
Career Operators NS Numbers 3501 - 3522 Nicknames Goudvinken (bullfinches) Withdrawn 1948 - 1952 Preserved None, All scrapped

After the Second World War, the NS urgently needed locomotives, as many locomotives had been destroyed or taken due to the war conditions. Among other things, 22 2'C (4-6-0) steam locomotives of the class A 3/5 603–649, which were withdrawn there, were taken over from the Swiss SBB.

The locomotives would actually be put into service as NS series 3651–3672, but because the last three locomotives of the NS 3500 series had been withdrawn shortly before, these locomotives were given the numbers 3501–3522. Between May and October 1946 they were taken in five locomotive convoys via France and Belgium to the Central Workshop of the NS in Tilburg. There were some adjustments made before they were put into service from June 1946 in unaltered black livery. The locomotives were allocated to Zwolle, Nijmegen, The Hague, Venlo and Zutphen depot. At the NS, they were nicknamed 'Goudvinken' (bullfinches) because of the narrow brass band around the chimney. But some locomotives were painted in NS green. After only a few years of service, the locomotives were withdrawn between 1948 and 1952.