Belgian State Railways Type 23

The Belgian State Railways Type 23, later known as the NMBS/SNCB Type 53, was a class of 0-8-0T steam locomotives built between 1904 and 1927.

Belgian State Railways Type 23 (NMBS/SNCB Type 53)
Type 23/53, as seen at Treignes railway museum (CFV3V)
Type and origin Power type Steam Builder Various Build date 1904–1927 Total produced 436 + a few examples for private operators
Specifications Configuration: ​  • Whyte 0-8-0T  • UIC Dt Gauge 1,435 mm (4 ft 8 1⁄2 in) Driver dia. 1,262 mm (49.69 in) Wheelbase 4,300 mm (169.29 in) Loco weight 53 tonnes (52 long tons; 58 short tons) Firebox:  • Firegrate area 2.24 m2 (24.1 sq ft) Boiler pressure 12.5 atm (1.27 MPa; 184 psi) Heating surface 125.4 m2 (1,350 sq ft) Cylinders Two Cylinder size 480 mm × 600 mm (18.90 in × 23.62 in)
Career Operators Belgian State Railways NMBS/SNCB Class Type 23 (NMBS/SNCB Type 53) Numbers Various 5300–5675 53.001–53.375 Withdrawn By 1966 Preserved One: 53.320 (as 5620) Disposition One preserved, remainder scrapped

The 436 members of the class were used as shunters at most of the railway stations operated by the Belgian State Railways and its successor, the National Railway Company of Belgium (NMBS/SNCB), which was established in 1926.

One member of the class, no. 53.320, has been preserved by the NMBS/SNCB, and will be part of the collection of Train World, the Belgian national railway museum. It is now painted in a chocolate livery, and bears its earlier NMBS/SNCB number, 5620.

The Type 23 was derived from this Grand Central Belge design.