Skoda

* Overseas model shown. Free tyres for life. Tinted windows included.

Big thanks to everyone who helped us with our search for the locomotive on the case back of the University pocket watch in yesterday’s email. We have received so many suggestions but believe it or not, we still don’t have a definite answer. The two candidates with the most votes are the Soviet Passenger P36 steam locomotive and the Czechoslovak 4-8-2 Skoda. The Russian P36 steam locomotive was a 4-8-4 configuration manufactured between 1950 and 1956 for mainline use. A total of 251 were in production. The P36 was the last type of mainline steam locomotive built in Russia. There are at least five locomotives still in use today, used for private train experiences: https://www.goldeneagleluxurytrains.com/about-us/P36-Locomotive.php

The Czechoslovak 4-8-2 Skoda express passenger locomotive was introduced to Czechoslovak State Railways in 1938. 16 years later, in 1954, the design was developed further into the 498.1 class. The benefit of these locomotives was improved stability at speed. Both Czech locomotives were technically sophisticated for their time and allegedly capable of 11% thermal efficiency.

So which one? While the Czech 4-8-2 Skoda image looks exactly like that on our pocket watch, the obvious question is: Why would a Russian railway pocket watch have an image of a Czech locomotive on the case back? On the other hand, the Russian P36 would make more sense on the back of a Russian Molnia railway pocket watch, but the images don't really match up. So, could there be a third contender?

Full Steam Ahead

With all due respect, I don’t think any of you have ever heard of the pocket watch brand University. Neither had I, until I acquired one the other day. Disguised behind a western name it was our old friend, a Russian Molnia railway pocket watch, made for the export market. Watch export was not a huge money earner to the Soviet Union compared with other commodities. However, millions of watches were exported to central and eastern European countries, China, India but also to the United States and Germany. The Russian watches were very affordable, reasonably accurate and some examples like University railway came in a rather attractive full relief case. Clearly, it was intended to impress railway authorities. There is however a mystery to be solved. What is the make and model of the locomotive on the case back? Many watch enthusiasts have tried but I am yet to be convinced that we have an answer. Those who attempted began their research with a list of Russian locomotives: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Russian_steam_locomotive_classes The best candidates were SO18 or FD21, but in my opinion there is very little resemble between the two and the locomotive on the case back. My theory is that the locomotive was a 1930s German locomotive sold to Turkish railways. In order to please the Turkish customers, the Russians put that model on the watch case back and this is where the research should start. Unfortunately not my area of expertise, but as always your input is appreciated.