In the 1920s VR was concerned about the low power and speed of their existing class Vk1-3 class locomotives that were used in local services, especially on the Helsinki commuter rail services. A decision was reached to order a new and powerful, by standards of that time, local traffic locomotive from Hanomag with the intention of licence manufacture of more units by Finnish locomotive works. At the same time a shunting locomotive based on a similar design, Vr3, was also ordered. The classes share many parts such as frames, boiler and space for coal, but wheel arrangement, domes and top speed are very different because of their completely different roles. The locomotive was of tank design with small coal bunker in the rear, which limited operational range. The first batch of six locomotives was delivered in 1924 by Hanomag. Later examples were manufactured in Finland with the last being delivered in 1926.
Operational history
Locomotives were placed in Helsinki local services immediately after delivery. They were especially designed for this. Since Helsinki was and is a dead-end terminus with no turntables, Pr1's were designed so that they could be run in both directions without turning the locomotive. Both ends had cowcatchers and normal lights. Also the speed limit was 80 km/h in both directions. Generally Pr1's were run with front / boiler end pointing at Helsinki central railway station. Pr1's pulled mostly local wooden-carriage passenger trains, but they also performed shunting duties at Helsinki harbours and pulled local freight. The Pr1 was considered to have a high tractive effort and it had good acceleration. Pr1's were among the rare locomotive types in Finland which were for some time oil-burning at the end of 1940s. Otherwise these locomotives were both coal and wood-burners.
End of operations and preservation
The era of Pr1's in passenger services came to an end in the 1960s with dieselization. The last passenger service run was in 1968. The locomotives were relegated to secondary freight duties, like gravel trains and some were moved to depots other than from Pasila. All of the locomotives were withdrawn by 1972. All were scrapped except one. Remaining number 776 was repaired for 125th anniversary of VR in 1987. It was used in heritage traffic. The boiler time expired in late 1990s. 776 is now on display at Finnish Railway Museum, but it is not in running condition.
