Grote Groene (SS 326)

The Grote Groene – ‘Big Green’ – takes its name from its unusual light-green colour and its big wheels. In the late 19th century, there was much demand for faster and stronger locomotives. The Dutch State Railway (SS) ordered 176 of these Big Greens, the NBDS 3 engines, made. They were ideally suited for express train service. What’s remarkable about these and the other SS locomotives is that the driver’s control panel is located on the left-hand side of the engine driver’s cab. At that time, the SS was the only railway company in the Netherlands to have installed its signals to the left of the tracks. Following the merger between the SS and the HSM, and to facilitate cooperation with other companies, everything was switched to the right-hand side. The SS 326 sustained severe damage during World War II. Later, in the 1950s, it was restored to its original condition with the help of blueprints and photos.