4-6-0 Steam Locomotives in Argentina

Class 201 (Locobase 12905)

Data from Baldwin Locomotive Works Specification for Engines as digitized by the DeGolyer Library of Southern Methodist University, Volume 28, p.203. Works numbers were 27217-27221 in January 1906 and 36662 in July 1911.

Ordered at the same time as the Consolidations shown in Locobase 12906, this Ten-wheeler quintet followed them immediately on the production line. The specs limited axle loadings to a maximum of 11 metric tons.

As with the sixth Consolidation supplied to the Entre Rios in 1910, the 6th 201-class Ten-wheeler was delivered in 1911 with a relatively ineffective Baldwin-designed smokebox superheater that measured 204 sq ft of mildly influential heating surface.

Three other 4-6-0s were delivered in 1908 with changes in some plate thicknesses to reduce weight; see Locobase 12907.

Class 221/N (Locobase 11944)

Data from image 54b of FEPASA website ([], last accessed 27 December 2010). (Note: link no longer active, but Sinclair & Coombs reproduce the diagram); and David Sinclair and Martin Coombs, "Part 8 Paraguayan steam locomotive list (v.1), October 1920, p 30, available at [] . (Thanks to Ivo Rutishauser for his 27 February 2026 email noting a Paraguayan class's earlier and much longer life as the Argentine decade of Ten-wheelers described below.) Works numbers were 19207-19206 in 1910.

These 4-6-0s joined several batches of Baldwins (Locobase 12905, Locobase 12907, and Locobase 12908) delivered to the Entre Rios in 1906-1908. Upon their delivery, the ER had two dozen freight engines of very similar power and size. When Argentina consolidated its railways n 1948, the Entre Rios fell onto the FC de General Urquiza roster as class N..

Ivo Rutishauser used Sinclair and Coombs's Paraguay list to trace the class to its final owners, Paraguay's nationalized Ferrocarril Presidente Carlos Antonio López. Other than the name change, little else changed and four of the class appeared on the roster as "operational" as late as 1997.

Class 251 (Locobase 12907)

Data from Baldwin Locomotive Works Specification for Engines as digitized by the DeGolyer Library of Southern Methodist University, Volume 31, p.158. Works numbers were 32562, 32578-32579 in January 1908.

Apparently the first 5 Ten-wheelers delivered to the Entre Rios (Locobase 12905) were a bit too heavy, even though the rail weight was soon to increase from 47 lb/yard to 55 lb/yard. Careful paring of one long ton off the engine weight included shrinking the second boiler ring by 12" and not welding its longtitudinal seam. Also, plate thickness for both rings was cut from 9/16" to 1/2". Several other boiler components had their thickness by 1/16" to 3/8".

Complaints also came in about the link "striking hard" against the lifting link when in full reverse gear.

Class 601 (Locobase 12908)

Data from Baldwin Locomotive Works Specification for Engines as digitized by the DeGolyer Library of Southern Methodist University, Volume 32, p.329. Works numbers were 33038-33040, 33053-33054 in November 1908.

This fivesome of Ten-wheelers had smaller boilers and less cylinder volume than those delivered by Baldwin to the Entre Rios during this period (See Locobases 12905 and 12907). The new set had Walschaert radial valve gear of "improved design. So [sic] designed that cut off in full gear will occur at 80% of piston travel."