Sun Ning 2-6-0 Locomotives in China


Class Details by Steve Llanso of Sweat House Media

Class 19 (Locobase 15461)

Data from Baldwin Locomotive Works Specification for Engines as digitized by the DeGolyer Library of Southern Methodist University, Vol 79, pp. 425+. Works numbers were 60591-60592 in August 1928.

Locobase 13116 shows the earlier design of Moguls that Baldwin supplied to the Sun Ning (or Sunning) from 1907 to 1917. As satisfactory as those 2-6-0s may have been, they must have seemed overmatched by the late 1920s, if this follow-on design is any guide.

Cylinder volume increased slightly, the boiler's heating surface area grew by more than 20%, grate area by 50%, while firebox heating surface area actually decreased. A full ten short tons (9,072 kg) more of adhesion weight was added and the tender weighed a good deal more. The link motion was replaced by outside constant-lead radial valve gear, but they still actuated slide valves.


Class 4 (Locobase 13116)

Data from Baldwin Locomotive Works Specification for Engines as digitized by the DeGolyer Library of Southern Methodist University, Vol 30 p. 186 and Vol 60, p.163. See a reprint of 1982 Amerasia article on this venture in [], last accessed 6 September 2011. Works numbers were 30160-30161 in February 1907, 36206-36208 in March 1911, 40951-40952 in December 1912, and 45547-45548 in July 1917.

Small these Moguls may have been for the standard gauge, but the Sun Ning found them suitable enough to order in four batches over nine years with no changes.

The Sun Ning (also known as Sunning and Xinning) was one of only three Chinese railways to be financed solely by Chinese capital. Of even greater interest to the North American is its construction was accomplished "...mainly with the capital, technology, and management know-how of Chinese in America." This railway was in fact a product of the Chinese laborers who built the western part of the Transcontinental Railroad in the US among many other projects. 80% of all Chinese migrant workers in the continental United States came from Toisan County near the Pearl River delta.

Built in Guandong Province in South China, the railway began construction in May 1906 and was completed in March 1920 after 137 km (85 miles) had been completed from Kongyik (Gongyi) to Towsan (Tousan), Kongyik to Pakkai (Bijie), and Toising to Paksa. It was a busy line, but constant interference from local feudal lords and ultimately the Imperial Japanese push south during the Sino-Japanese War that began in 1931 led to its abandonment in 1939.

Principal Dimensions by Steve Llanso of Sweat House Media

Class194
Locobase ID15461 13116
RailroadSun NingSun Ning
CountryChinaChina
Whyte2-6-02-6-0
Number in Class29
Road Numbers19-204-5, 10-16
GaugeStdStd
Number Built29
BuilderBaldwinBurnham, Williams & Co
Year19281906
Valve GearWalschaertStephenson
Locomotive Length and Weight
Driver Wheelbase (ft / m)11 / 3.3514.17 / 4.32
Engine Wheelbase (ft / m)18.67 / 5.6921.50 / 6.55
Ratio of driving wheelbase to overall engine wheelbase 0.59 0.66
Overall Wheelbase (engine & tender) (ft / m)43.87 / 13.37
Axle Loading (Maximum Weight per Axle) (lbs / kg)
Weight on Drivers (lbs / kg)82,000 / 37,19562,000 / 28,123
Engine Weight (lbs / kg)98,000 / 44,45276,000 / 34,473
Tender Loaded Weight (lbs / kg)56,000 / 25,40155,000 / 24,948
Total Engine and Tender Weight (lbs / kg)154,000 / 69,853131,000 / 59,421
Tender Water Capacity (gals / ML)2500 / 9.472500 / 9.47
Tender Fuel Capacity (oil/coal) (gals/tons / Liters/MT)6 / 6
Minimum weight of rail (calculated) (lb/yd / kg/m)46 / 2334 / 17
Geometry Relating to Tractive Effort
Driver Diameter (in / mm)54 / 137254 / 1372
Boiler Pressure (psi / kPa)180 / 12.40180 / 12.40
High Pressure Cylinders (dia x stroke) (in / mm)16" x 24" / 406x61015" x 24" / 381x610
Tractive Effort (lbs / kg)17,408 / 7896.1515,300 / 6939.97
Factor of Adhesion (Weight on Drivers/Tractive Effort) 4.71 4.05
Heating Ability
Tubes (number - dia) (in / mm)188 - 2" / 51150 - 2" / 51
Flues (number - dia) (in / mm)
Flue/Tube length (ft / m)10.50 / 3.2010.73 / 3.27
Firebox Area (sq ft / m2)92 / 8.55100 / 9.29
Grate Area (sq ft / m2)21.10 / 1.9614 / 1.30
Evaporative Heating Surface (sq ft / m2)1117 / 103.77936 / 86.99
Superheating Surface (sq ft / m2)
Combined Heating Surface (sq ft / m2)1117 / 103.77936 / 86.99
Evaporative Heating Surface/Cylinder Volume200.00190.68
Computations Relating to Power Output (More Information)
Robert LeMassena's Power Computation37982520
Same as above plus superheater percentage37982520
Same as above but substitute firebox area for grate area16,56018,000
Power L145744739
Power MT368.92505.53

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