Red Star Train Graveyard, Hungary

The Rusting Soviet Star – Framed/Unframed Fine Art Print now available.

The Red Star Train Graveyard is a collection of rusting steam engines, located in Hungary. This collection of relics spans 140 years of Hungarian Transport history. We visited these trains in the winter of 2019, as part of our Seeing Red Tour 2019.

History of Red Star Train Graveyard

In the mid-1800s, the Hungarian railway network was rapidly expanding. Correspondingly, the extensive fleet of trains and carriages required regular maintenance and repair. This train yard was built at the dawn of the 20th Century. It became one of the most important repair workshops in Hungary. The workshops cover an impressive 25,000 square meters.

Nowadays, parts of the Red Star Graveyard are still active. Just a few meters away, engineers work on everything from modern Swiss-designed EMU engines to 1970’s diesel locomotives.

The workshops were heavily damaged during World War II. The facility was rebuilt and prospered for many years post-war. Eventually, steam locomotives were replaced by diesel engines. These rusting steam-powered hulks were brought to the Red Star Train Graveyard for storage

These trains are not “abandoned”, they are owned by the National Rail Museum. The plan was to install them in a museum, but it seems that never happened. Subsequently, the museum they were destined for closed permanently several years ago.

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The Magyar Államvasutak (MÁV) Steam Locomotives

Magyar Államvasutak (MÁV) is the Hungarian State Railway. The following steam locomotive types are stored at Red Star Train Graveyard.

MAV-424 Steam Engines – The “Red Star Train”

Year built: 1924-1958

Operated until: ca. 1984 (or, ?1991)

The MAV-424 Series steam locomotives is a well-known and nostalgic Hungarian machine. This double-chimneyed beast was often nicknamed “The Buffalo”. 514 of these steam engines were produced between 1924 and 1958. These engines were in service all over Europe until1984.

These were 4-8-0 wheel configurations; these are also called Twelve-wheeler or Mastodon designs. There are four leading wheels on two axels. Behind these, there are eight powered and coupled wheels on 4 axels. There are no trailing wheels. Their maximum speed would have been around 75kmph.

These trains saw their share of wartime use. Hungary shipped fifteen engines to North Korea during the Korean War (1950-1953). The locomotives travelled to the Hungarian-Soviet border, where they were disassembled. They were then shipped across the USSR and into China, where they were reassembled. The trains then made their way to North Korea under their own power.

These steam locomotives were designed to burn coal as a fuel. Subsequently, in the 1960s some engines were converted to burn oil. This gave a performance increase, and extended the service life of these models. However, the more modern diesel-powered trains were destined to eclipse the age of steam.

The iconic Red Star Train is one of these 424 Class steam locomotives. This specific engine was built in the 1940s. Some sources suggest it was in service, in some capacity, right up until 1991.

Fun Fact – What are those, “elephant ears”?

On the front of some of these trains, you can see a prominent cowling/fairing around the boiler. I have had a lot of questions about this. These are smoke deflectors; also known as elephant ears, blinkers or lifting plates.

Their purpose was the redirect the smoke when the train was travelling at speed. This would enable the driver to see the rails ahead clearly, as well as keeping passenger cars smoke free.

More information: Article on smoke deflectors

MAV-324 Steam Engine

Year built: 1909-1923

Operated until: ca. 1978-1981

The MAV-324 Series were the workhorses of Hungarian industry at the start of the 20th Century. These steam locomotives were built at the Royal Hungarian Ironworks in Budapest. They served as heavy freight haulers, as well as operating express services. Around 850 of these models were produced; more than any other Hungarian locomotive type.

They were well suited to use as lowland freight haulage engines, with a top speed of 75 kmph. These engines had a 2-6-2 or Prairie wheel arrangement; two leading wheels, six coupled driving wheels and two trailing wheels.

Several hundred 324s’ were built between 1909 and 1923; undergoing several phases of modifications as the years passed by. These engines were used across central and eastern Europe. The MAV-324 series engines were also used in World War 1, supplying troops on the frontline.

These were still operated in Hungary and Romania up until the late 1970s or early 1980s.

MAV-326 Steam Engine

Year built: 1880s-1912

Operated until: ca. 1970s

These engines were built at the Hungarian Royal State Railroads’ Machine Factory in Budapest. These engines were first built in the 1880s, around 500 units were built.

They were well suited to elevated terrain and had a maximum speed of 70 kmph. These trains feature a 0-6-0, or Six-coupled, wheel arrangement. There are 6 coupled wheels on 3 axels, which provide the power. There are no leading or trailing wheels.

Initially, these trains moved freight and ferried passengers. Eventually, prior to retirement, they were relegated to shunting services for more modern locomotives. The MAV-326 was suspended from service in the 1970s. Despite the large number of engines manufactured, there are no operational MAV-326 engines today.