Data from "Buenos Ayres Great Southern Type 0.4.0 Tank Engine" Locomotives Constructed by Kitson & Co, Limited (n.d.), and D[ouglas] S[tuart] Purdom, British Team on the Pampas (London and New York: Mechanical Engineering Publications, Ltd:, 1977), pp.. 36-37. Kitson works numbers were 4084-4088 in 1902, Robert Stephenson & Co works numbers were 3181-3186 in 1906.
As Locobase entered the data for Kitson's well tank design he concluded that this seemed a well-endowed four-wheel shunter. Comparisons with other standard or broad-gauge 0-4-0 tanks confirm that this little engine punched above its weight. D S Purdom observed that with those dimensions, "they could literally go into every hole and corner on the [BAGS] system."
His point nicely illustrates the ubiquity of steam locomotives during their land-transporation heyday. Any desired size, power, or duty called for and received a response from engineers and builders.
Purdom underscored this class's value: "Apart from operating on a number of the most precarious and lightly laid sidings throughout the line, [the class] could be found ...moving 'dead' engines on and off the turntables and similar jobs."
The engines used an outside valve gear patented by Kitson, which placed part of its linkage above the running board. Given that water tank lay under boiler, Purdom described the faux tanks as protection for the valve train. (Locobase examined Kitson's photograph and considered that the protection went both ways--of the gear and of any nearby human.)
All ten endured well into the 1940s. Eight of the retirement dates are unknown, but 2040 and 2031 were sold in 1943 to Argentina's Ministry of War and to a large brewery for siding clearance. Both remained active in the mid-1970s.
Principal Dimensions by Steve Llanso of Middle Run Media | |
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Class | 3C |
Locobase ID | 21001 |
Railroad | Buenos Ayres Great Southern |
Country | Argentina |
Whyte | 0-4-0T |
Number in Class | 10 |
Road Numbers | 196-205/2031-2040 |
Gauge | 5'6" |
Number Built | 10 |
Builder | several |
Year | 1902 |
Valve Gear | Kitson |
Locomotive Length and Weight | |
Driver Wheelbase (ft / m) | 6.33 / 1.93 |
Engine Wheelbase (ft / m) | 6.33 / 1.93 |
Ratio of driving wheelbase to overall engine wheelbase | 1 |
Overall Wheelbase (engine & tender) (ft / m) | 6.33 / 1.93 |
Axle Loading (Maximum Weight per Axle) (lbs / kg) | |
Weight on Drivers (lbs / kg) | 57,568 / 26,112 |
Engine Weight (lbs / kg) | 57,568 / 26,112 |
Tender Loaded Weight (lbs / kg) | |
Total Engine and Tender Weight (lbs / kg) | |
Tender Water Capacity (gals / ML) | 540 / 2.05 |
Tender Fuel Capacity (oil/coal) (gals/tons / Liters/MT) | 1.10 / 1 |
Minimum weight of rail (calculated) (lb/yd / kg/m) | 48 / 24 |
Geometry Relating to Tractive Effort | |
Driver Diameter (in / mm) | 38 / 965 |
Boiler Pressure (psi / kPa) | 160 / 1100 |
High Pressure Cylinders (dia x stroke) (in / mm) | 14" x 21" / 356x533 |
Tractive Effort (lbs / kg) | 14,731 / 6681.88 |
Factor of Adhesion (Weight on Drivers/Tractive Effort) | 3.91 |
Heating Ability | |
Tubes (number - dia) (in / mm) | |
Flues (number - dia) (in / mm) | |
Flue/Tube length (ft / m) | |
Firebox Area (sq ft / m2) | 43.30 / 4.02 |
Grate Area (sq ft / m2) | 9 / 0.84 |
Evaporative Heating Surface (sq ft / m2) | 475 / 44.13 |
Superheating Surface (sq ft / m2) | |
Combined Heating Surface (sq ft / m2) | 475 / 44.13 |
Evaporative Heating Surface/Cylinder Volume | 126.95 |
Computations Relating to Power Output (More Information) | |
Robert LeMassena's Power Computation | 1440 |
Same as above plus superheater percentage | 1440 |
Same as above but substitute firebox area for grate area | 6928 |
Power L1 | 1873 |
Power MT | 143.46 |