Kitson-Meyer Steam Locomotives in Spain

Class 180-0401 (Locobase 3263)

Data from Gustav Reder (Michael Reynolds, trans), The world of steam locomotives (New York: Putnam, 1974); []. See also Justo Arenillas in "La material ingles en las pequenas companias", Lineas Del Tren (as reproduced on [], viewed 28 April 2003); and "Historias del vapor (XCI): Las "articuladas" del Lorca-Baza-Aguilas (RENFE 180-0401 a 180-0403) 1908", on the Trenes y Tiempos website at [], last accessed 25 May 2026. (Thanks to Jenny Jones for her 25 May 2026 email correcting the driving wheel diameter.)

One of the peculiarities of the Kitson-Meyer type of engine was the provision of a second stack behind the cab to exhaust the rear set of cylinders. Note the single-ended nature of their layout: only the front engine unit had a leading truck. This articulated variant had the cylinders at the extreme ends of the locomotive (i.e., the front set led the front drivers, the rear set trailed the rear drivers).

Trenes y tiempos further explained that the two sets of four drivers each had a central pivot, the leading one under the boiler dome and the trailing one under the front edge of the bunker. This widespread layout, noted T y t, left plenty of room to allow a deep Belpaire firebox and ample grate area. This trio's eight driving axles also allowed for a large boiler while reducing the average axle loading.

These engines operated on the GS's Compania de Ferrocarriles de Lorca a Baza y Aguilas climbing 2% grades to haul empty coal cars from the port of Aguilas to the mines near Almendricos. Their tonnage ratings at 8-10 mph were as follows:

level track 3,584 tonnes (2,205 lb)

1% 865

1 1/4% 677

2% 456

4% 198

According to Tyt, the trio also worked the "rampa de Almajalejo entre Zurgena y Huercal-Overa -quizás el obstáculo orográfico más importante de la línea" (Almajalejo branch between Uzergena y Huercal, perhaps the most important mountainous obstacle on the line."

Babcock & Wilcox of Spain rebuilt these engines later and they entered RENFE service as class 180 (0401-0403) in 1941. Retirement came in 1953.