ThePureshi-class (プレシ) locomotives were a group of steam tank locomotives with2-6-2wheel arrangement of used by theChosen Government Railway (Sentetsu) inKorea. The "Pure" name came from theAmerican naming system for steam locomotives, under which locomotives with 2-6-2 wheel arrangement were called "Prairie".[1]
The Pureshi class consisted of 46Purei-class locomotives rebuilt by Sentetsu'sGyeongseong Works from 1925. Major modifications included increasing the size of thefirebox to allow the use oflignite, which has a lower caloric value thananthracite coal.Boiler volume was increased, the heat transfer area was increased, thestoker was enlarged, and special attention was given to the prevention of sparks. The performance was found to be good, and eventually 46 Purei class locomotives were rebuilt to Pureshi standard. The redesign work also gave Sentetsu engineers important experience, which was later applied to the design of thePashishi andMikasa-class locomotives.[3] After Sentetsu's general renumbering of 1938 they were numbered プレシ1 through プレシ46.
The original identities of the locomotives rebuilt is unknown.
After theLiberation andpartition of Korea, the Pureshi-class locomotives were divided betweenNorth andSouth, but the specifics of which engine went where are unclear; those going to theKorean National Railroad in the South would be designated푸러4 (Pureo4) class, those with theKorean State Railway in the North would be designated부러너 (Purŏnŏ) class.
Chosen Government Railway locomotives and rolling stock
Rolling stock ofKorail