The King of Oil-Burning Steam - ČSD 555.3008 "Mazutka"

Built in 1943 by Škoda Works in Plzeň as German DRB Class 52 No. 52 7447, the locomotive became part of the ČSD Class 555.0 fleet after the Second World War. In the 1960s it was rebuilt into ČSD Class 555.3, converting it to burn heavy fuel oil (mazut) instead of coal, earning the famous nickname "Mazutka." The oil-firing conversion reduced the need for manual firing while maintaining the locomotive's impressive hauling power, making it one of the most distinctive freight steam locomotives to operate in Czechoslovakia. Today, 555.3008 is the only operational Mazutka preserved, representing a unique chapter in European steam locomotive history.