Contribution of O. S. Rayevskiy, Design Engineer, in upgrading of locomotive types used on the territory of Ukraine

Elena Sorochinska

Abstract— This paper highlights the contribution of prominent national figure, scientist, engineer and designer O.S. Rayevskiy to the development of domestic locomotive construction. Shown is the history of the main types of locomotives that operated on the territory of Ukraine and the Russian Empire. Highlighted are the reasons for creation of the new types of locomotives and upgrade of the existing ones. The activity of O.S. Rayevskiy in locomotive construction and his attempts to implement his ideas into practice were analyzed. This paper presents the assessment of his scientific work. During the analysis it was revealed that in creation of more powerful locomotives apart from the positive achievements there had been also a number of failings that were revealed later, when the new types of locomotives were put into operation on the railways of the Russian Empire. The article covers the history of the Kharkiv Locomotive Plant activity under the supervision of the O.S. Rayevskiy, Chief of the Locomotive Technical Office.

Key words: Alexander Rayevskii, engine, design, project design